Periodontal (Gum) Disease Therapy
Wylie, Texas
Our Services
Stabilizing the Foundation of Your Smile
Have you had persistent bad breath lately? Or maybe your gums are red, swollen, or bleed when you brush and floss. These may be signs of periodontal (gum) disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. At Berry Family Dentistry, we offer personalized periodontal disease care to keep your gums as healthy as possible and your teeth intact.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a chronic, progressive condition that affects the gums, bone, and connective tissue supporting your teeth, often due to poor oral hygiene. Without daily brushing and flossing, and regular professional dental cleanings, plaque and tartar buildup along and under the gumline, leading to irritation and inflammation.
The earliest stage of periodontal disease, known as gingivitis, is characterized by red, swollen, or bleeding gums. Without prompt treatment, the gum inflammation and infection can progress to a more serious condition known as periodontitis, leading to gum recession, the formation of deep spaces between the gums and teeth known as periodontal pockets, bone loss, and even tooth loss. Prompt treatment can promote your gum health and helps keep your teeth intact.
In addition to impacting your oral health, the chronic inflammation linked to periodontal disease has been shown to elevate the risk of health concerns, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory infections, Alzheimer's disease, and pregnancy complications.
How Is Periodontal Disease Treated?
The ideal treatment for periodontal disease will depend on the extent of inflammation and infection and your unique needs. In general, the following is a look at what you can expect:
- Step 1: We will start with a thorough evaluation of your smile's unique needs. Our Wylie dentist will determine the severity of your periodontal inflammation and infection and create a custom treatment plan to promote healing.
- Step 2: The first line of treatment is scaling and root planing (SRP), a non-surgical deep cleaning designed to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and under your gumline, followed by cleaning and smoothing your tooth root surfaces. We may follow this with fluoride treatments to support healing and reduce sensitivity. Deep dental cleanings have been shown to reverse gingivitis in most cases. If you have periodontitis, your scaling and root planing treatment can prevent the condition from progressing, maintaining your gum health.
- Step 3: After treatment, we typically recommend periodontal maintenance appointments every 3-4 months. We will clean your teeth, monitor your gum health, and recommend intervention, if needed to prevent the infection from taking hold once again. Our goal is to ensure the long-term stability of your gums and teeth. Your periodontal maintenance plan will also include meticulous at-home oral hygiene practices to promote gum health.
What Are the Benefits of Periodontal Disease Care?
Periodontal disease care offers numerous benefits, including the following:
- Stops Gum Infection and Inflammation: Treatment removes harmful bacteria and helps reduce swelling, bleeding, and discomfort, allowing your gums to begin healing.
- Protects Your Natural Teeth: By controlling infection and strengthening the gum and bone support around your teeth, periodontal care helps lower the risk of tooth loss.
- Supports Healthier Gums and Bone: Maintaining your gum health helps halt bone deterioration and encourages healthier gum tissue, maintaining a strong foundation for your smile.
- Enhances Long-Term Oral Health: With regular periodontal maintenance, you can keep infection from returning and protect your smile for years to come.
- Promotes Better Overall Health: Treating periodontal disease is not just about saving your teeth, it is critical to reducing the body's overall inflammatory burden and promoting long-term health and well-being.
Periodontal Disease Care Near Me in Wylie, TX
If you would like to learn more about treating and managing periodontal disease, contact Berry Family Dentistry to schedule a consultation. Our patient-centered team will recommend the most conservative treatment options to support your gum health and enhance your general well-being.
We invite you to call (972) 442-0078 to schedule your appointment today.