WHAT ARE GUM DISEASES?
Caringbah Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums that can progress into severe dental complications. The disease of and starts as bleeding gums or gingivitis. If left untreated, the bleeding gums soon progress to serious infection.
Gum disease can often be silent. The symptoms of the disease may not appear until it is pretty advanced.
At The Caringbah Dentists, during dental consultation our dentist will check for signs of gum disease and start treatment at the earliest.
The following are some of the warning signs of gum disease:
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Bleeding gums when you brush, floss, or eat food
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Persistent foul breath
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Receding gums that makes teeth look longer than usual
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Pain in the gums
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Teeth coming loose
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Pus oozing out from between gums and teeth
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Swollen or tender gums
Gum disease is a serious infection and must not be neglected. If you leave it untreated, it can progress into severe infection leading to even tooth loss.
Professional dental cleaning
During a typical dental cleaning, our dental hygienist will remove the hardened plaque and tartar that has built up on the tooth surface and from between the gums. In the beginning stages of gum disease, this cleaning is enough to arrest the disease in its tracks. However, if the disease has advanced to more severe stages, our dentist will recommend more treatments.
Scaling and root planing
This is a type of deep cleaning for the teeth and gums. It is a non-surgical procedure which is typically done under local anaesthesia. Hardened plaque and tartar from deep under the gum line are scraped away. Any rough spots on the teeth are smoothened to provide a smooth surface for the gums to be attached and to make it harder for bacteria to collect.
Pocket reduction surgery
In severe cases of gum disease, the gums are lifted back to reveal and scrape away the hardened tartar. The irregular surfaces inside the gum line may be smoothened to limit the area where disease causing bacteria can colonize.
Soft tissue graft
Soft tissue grafts are used to strengthen areas where gums have receded and the root of the tooth is exposed. Tissue graft is usually taken from the roof of the mouth and stitched into these areas.
To learn more about the above gum disease treatments, give us a call right away. Our friendly team will fix an appointment for you at the time of your convenience.
Call us on (02) 9525 0595 to schedule a visit.
