At Durham Dental Center, we are highly concerned with prevention and care regarding periodontal disease. Even though periodontitis is a prevalent condition, it is mostly avoidable. Because it is caused by poor oral hygiene, it may be successfully treated and prevented by brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and visiting the dentist for regular exams.

We encourage all of our patients in Plainfield, New Jersey, to pay close attention to their teeth to recognize any symptoms of periodontal disease. The sooner the symptoms are identified and the disease is diagnosed, the sooner you can start treatment to prevent permanent oral damage. Signs of periodontal disease include: 

• Swollen, red, and bleeding gums 
• Sensitive teeth 
• Loose teeth 
• Constant bad breath 
• Receding of gums 
• Painful Chewing 

The severity of your symptoms and the disease will determine the treatment plan necessary to cure your smile. Treatment for your smile will be determined by the severity of the disease in your specific circumstances. 

Treatment for Periodontal Disease 

In the first stage of this disease, it is known as gingivitis. Right when built-up plaque starts to turn to tartar, gums will begin to become infected and swollen. The primary way to cure gingivitis is to receive a deep professional cleaning from a dental professional. We will also use specialized dental instruments to ensure all built-up plaque is removed in your professional cleaning.

The later stages of periodontal disease take more therapy than a professional cleaning to clean and restore your smile. We may use the following treatments in efforts to clean your gums and prevent permanent damage: 

• Scaling: A scaler is a hooked, sharp dental instrument used by dentists and hygienists to scrape away plaque and tartar. It is hard to remove tartar with the high-powered toothbrush, so scraping it away is necessary. The scaler removes the tartar from the tooth right at the gumline. 
• Root Planing: One common issue that periodontal disease causes are the receding of gums. Tartar starts to eat away gum tissue, leaving the tooth’s root exposed and more likely to accumulate decay. Root planing is the removal of the plaque from the root of the tooth to promote gum healing and reattachment. 
• LANAP Procedure: The LANAP (laser-assisted new attachment procedure) laser is used to target and remove diseased gum tissue. Traditionally, removing gum tissue would include using a scalpel, but the LANAP provides a quicker and less invasive way to remove tissue and faster healing times. 
• Gum Grafts: When gum tissue recedes due to infection, tooth loss can become a more significant risk due to roots being exposed. A gum graft is where a small amount of healthy gum tissue is moved to a new area where none or little gum tissue exists. 

At Durham Dental Center, we take the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease very seriously due to the major effects it can have on your oral health and physical health. If you are in Plainfield, New Jersey, and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please give us a call schedule an appointment.