Multiple dental conditions, including gum disease, could negatively affect oral health. Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is an often chronic gum condition that impacts a huge number of Americans each year. Caused by damaging oral bacteria, periodontal disease is considered a major source of tooth loss in older patients and has been related to various general health conditions. These bacteria live within tartar deposits that accumulate on the teeth and produce toxins that can damage the gumline, bone, and tissues that hold each tooth in the proper position.
Periodontal disease is classified into three separate stages. The first stage is gingivitis, followed by periodontitis. The last and most damaging stage is advanced periodontitis. Diagnosing and managing gum disease as early as possible could halt its progression and protect your overall wellness. For those who have symptoms, like swollen or red gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, or chronic foul breath (sometimes known as halitosis), periodontal disease could be diminishing their dental wellness.
Dr. Palmer at Palmer Dental Group of Houston performs several innovative procedures to eliminate gum disease, no matter the severity. Contact our office in Houston, TX to plan your biannual comprehensive dental exam, and learn more about your options to address gum disease.
Diagnosing and treating gum disease when the first symptoms develop can be necessary to preserve the condition of your gums and teeth. To determine whether periodontal disease is impacting your oral health, our team will use a small device to measure the spaces between your gums and teeth. It is considered concerning if these pockets are bigger than three millimeters in depth. Advanced x-rays will also enable Dr. Palmer to measure the amount of bone tissue holding the teeth and determine if a more-progressed periodontal disease phase has set in.
At Palmer Dental Group of Houston, we perform thorough tests to diagnose your current phase of periodontal disease and develop a comprehensive treatment plan to address the condition. The beginning stage of gum disease (gingivitis) is often treated with a thorough cleaning and proper at-home dental hygiene. To manage periodontitis, the next level of gum disease, SRP (also known as scaling and root planing) treatments are offered and could be combined with externally applied antibiotics. Advanced-phase cases of periodontal disease could be more effectively treated through a more invasive solution, such as flap surgery and jawbone transplant methods.
Because of our advanced dental care approaches, Palmer Dental Group of Houston can help men and women who have gum disease receive effective treatments to restore the health of their teeth and gums. When you experience symptoms associated with periodontal disease, we recommend contacting our Houston, TX practice right away. Dr. Palmer and his team offer a range of procedures to treat any phase of gum disease.
Periodontal treatment provides a number of benefits geared toward enhancing your dental health and overall wellness. Some of the advantages of periodontal treatment at our Houston, TX practice include: