Durham Dental Studio | Ceramic Crowns, Dental Sealants and Laser Dentistry

Periodontal Treatment

Durham Dental Studio | Ceramic Crowns, Dental Sealants and Laser Dentistry

Did you know that the most common cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease? According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease. However, the good news is that periodontal disease is almost entirely preventable. At the office of Durham Dental Studio, we offer a comprehensive range of services to help patients maintain optimal periodontal health and enjoy the benefits of a smile that look, feels, and functions at its best.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory diseases that affect the "periodontium", which are the hard and soft tissues surrounding and supporting your teeth. Just like tooth decay, gum disease is attributed to the harmful bacteria in dental plaque and tartar that accumulate around the teeth and under the gums.

Since the progression of periodontal disease is often painless, you may not even be aware of an ongoing disease process. For this very reason, it’s essential to practice good oral hygiene and schedule visits for regular checkups, professional cleanings, and routine care.

Taking care of your smile includes being mindful of the signs and symptoms of gum disease.

Some indications that you may have periodontal disease include:

  • Inflamed and red gums

  • Bleeding when brushing or flossing

  • Receding gums and exposed tooth root surfaces

  • Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures

  • Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth

  • Teeth that feel loose

  • New spaces developing between the teeth or a change in the bite

  • Change in the fit of existing partial dentures

  • Discharge around the teeth and gums

  • Sharp or dull pain when biting down or chewing food

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The Importance Of Good Oral Health

Taking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition; good oral health also supports systemic health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and a number of medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

At the office of Durham Dental Studio, we emphasize the importance of prevention, early detection, and timely treatment of periodontal disease. We provide patients the guidance, support, and care required to maintain optimal periodontal health.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis represents the initial stage of gum disease. Although it doesn’t cause overt discomfort and often goes unnoticed, there are specific signs to be aware of that indicate the start of a problem. If you notice your gums bleed when you brush, look red and inflamed, or feel a little tender, you more than likely have gingivitis.

The good news is that by treating gingivitis early, the tissue damage associated with more advanced stages of gum disease can be avoided. Despite the presence of inflammation, the overall integrity of the periodontal tissues in this stage remains intact.

Treatment instituted at this point is often sufficient to reverse the course of the disease and to avoid any permanent damage to the periodontal tissues. A series of deep dental cleanings, an improved home care regimen and a commitment to regular maintenance may be all that is required to prevent this stage of periodontal disease from progressing.

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What is Periodontitis?

When left untreated, a case of gingivitis develops into a more advanced and damaging stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis. At this point, the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place begin to break down. With the progression of periodontal disease and periodontitis, more and more tissue loss ensues. Damage often includes an increase in pocketing between the teeth and bone, gum recession, and bone loss. As unresolved periodontitis goes from mild to moderate to severe, it increasingly compromises the soft and hard tissues supporting the teeth.

Periodontal treatment in this phase is designed to halt the progression of the disease and to restore tooth support as possible. Treatment may involve medications to control the bacteria and reduce the size of the pockets between the teeth and gums, gum surgery, as well as bone and tissue grafts.

Let Us Help You Maintain Optimal Periodontal Health

At the office of Durham Dental Studio, we offer personalized, state-of-the-art solutions to help you maintain healthy gums and an attractive, well-functioning smile. As skilled providers of care, we utilize leading-edge technology and treatment methods to address a broad range of periodontal conditions and needs.

Thanks to advances in care, periodontal treatment today not only helps to halt the progression of gum disease but also delivers effective solutions, including bone grafting and regenerative procedures to repair tissue damage, restore bone volume, improve cosmetics, or provide adequate support for the placement of dental implants.

Gum Disease: Prevention and Treatment

Did you know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all adults over 30 in the U.S. have some form of periodontal disease. The good news is that gum disease is largely preventable with proper oral hygiene and routine dental care.

At the office of Durham Dental Studio, we prioritize your periodontal health by providing comprehensive preventive care, early detection, and effective treatment options to help maintain healthy gums and a confident smile.

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Understanding Gum Disease

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an inflammatory condition affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It begins with plaque buildup, which harbors harmful bacteria that irritate and inflame the gum tissue. If left untreated, gum disease can progress from mild gingivitis to more severe periodontitis, potentially leading to gum recession, bone loss, and tooth mobility.

Since gum disease often develops without noticeable pain, routine dental checkups and professional cleanings are essential for early detection and treatment.

Protecting Your Periodontal Health

Maintaining healthy gums involves a combination of at-home care and professional dental visits. Brushing twice daily, flossing, and using an antibacterial mouthwash help reduce plaque buildup. Regular checkups allow for early intervention if signs of gum disease appear.

At Durham Dental Studio, we offer personalized treatment plans to help halt the progression of gum disease and restore your periodontal health. Whether through deep cleanings, non-surgical therapies, or advanced treatments when necessary, our goal is to protect your smile and overall well-being.

For more information on our office and the many services we provide, give us a call today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is gum disease?

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Most people don’t realize that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease.

What causes gum disease?

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You may be surprised to learn that the human mouth is home to a wide variety of microbes. The fact is that over 700 different strains of bacteria have been detected in the oral cavity. Although some of these bacteria are beneficial, others are harmful to oral health. Without proper oral hygiene and routine dental care, these harmful bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease, compromising both your oral health and overall wellbeing.

Are there other risk factors for periodontal disease?

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In addition to inadequate oral hygiene and infrequent professional care, other factors, including smoking, genetic tendencies, and unchecked diabetes, can contribute to the escalation of periodontal disease.

Why are healthy gums so important?

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Your gums and teeth have an interdependent relationship, which means healthy teeth depend on the support of healthy gums. Also, taking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition; good oral health also supports systemic health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and a number of medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory problems, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term and low birth-weight babies.

What are the symptoms of gingivitis?

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If you notice that your gums are bleeding with the slightest pressure while brushing or flossing, it’s a sign of gingivitis. Although gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, it can easily be reversed with deeper cleanings as well as an improved regimen of oral hygiene at home.

What happens as gum disease progresses?

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In the absence of professional treatment and better home care, gingivitis progresses to the next stage, which is known as periodontitis. In this stage, the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place begin to break down with an increase in pocketing between the teeth and bone, gum recession, and bone loss. Without proper treatment by your dentist, periodontitis will progress from a mild to moderate loss of supporting tissue to the destruction of the bone around the teeth.

What are the best ways to manage and treat more advanced gum disease or periodontitis?

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Although gingivitis can often be reversed with improved oral hygiene and professional cleanings, as periodontal disease advances, more extensive procedures are required to halt its progression. Based on a complete assessment of your periodontal health and a review of possible contributing factors, our office will recommend the best options in care. Treatment for periodontitis may include a series of deeper cleanings known as root planing and scaling, surgical procedures to reduce pocket depth, bone or tissue grafts, laser procedures, or antimicrobial medications.

How much does periodontal treatment cost?

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The cost of care depends on the type of procedures required to restore your periodontal health. If you have dental insurance, plans often cover treatment to prevent gum disease as well as many procedures to treat the various stages of gum disease. Our goal is to help patients restore and maintain good oral health. We do all we can to help you begin care without additional stress or delay. Our business office works with you to maximize your benefits and provide easier, more convenient payment options.

What is the best way to prevent gum disease?

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By seeing our office regularly for care and doing your best to eat a healthy diet and practice good oral hygiene, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape as well as protect your overall wellbeing.

Why choose the office of Durham Dental Studio for care?

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At the office of Durham Dental Studio, we provide a comprehensive range of services to address all your oral healthcare needs. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands at our office. Our skilled and experienced team maintains a position at the forefront of advances in care and remains dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate treatment.

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