Gum Disease, its Risks & Treatments | Rockland County, NY

Gum Disease Treatment

Your dentist will need to perform thorough examinations to determine the status of your oral health. In doing so, they will be looking for signs of dental decay as well as gum disease. Gum disease is often the cause of poor oral hygiene, making it important to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Without gum disease treatment at Alan Pressman DMD’s office near you, you may suffer from several more dental issues due to worsening gum disease.

Periodontal disease or gum disease is an infection of the gums surrounding the teeth. It is one of the main reasons for tooth loss in adults. As it is virtually pain-free, many people don’t even realize they have the disease. During every checkup with Dr. Alan Pressman your dentist in Spring Valley / Chestnut Ridge using a periodontal probe (a little ruler) will check for signs of disease by measuring the space between your gums and teeth. 

Schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Alan Pressman DMD and maintain healthy teeth.

Causes of Gum Disease

Periodontal diseases are caused by plaque buildup. If plaque not removed by regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental cleanings, it will continue to build up and produce toxins that can cause damage to the gums. In addition, it forms below the gum line to create small pockets that segregate teeth from the gums.

Gum disease is divided into two stages:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontal disease and is reversible with proper care. During this stage of the disease, the gums may become uncomfortable. In addition, patients may notice that the gums become swollen, prone to redness, and bleed when brushing or flossing teeth. The effects of gum disease can be reversed by taking care of your teeth and keeping them clean. Dr. Pressman DMD can also perform a deep cleaning to get rid of bacteria and plaque on teeth.

You may be at a higher risk of contracting gum disease if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are a tobacco smoker, you are experiencing puberty, or some other factor is contributing to your oral health. In addition, malnutrition, HIV infections, pregnancy, stress, and other factors can also result in a higher chance of gum disease. Dr. Pressman DMD is happy  to speak with you about, and provide in depth oral health information .

 

Periodontitis

If gingivitis goes untreated, it can develop into periodontal disease – or periodontitis which is not reversible. When this occurs, plaque ends up below the gum line and can lead to the tooth becoming loose as it is separated from the gum line and pockets of disease from underneath teeth. This disease continues to progress and can lead to teeth being lost or removed from the mouth.

Periodontitis which can cause gum tissue to recede can be an aggressive, chronic disease. The bacterium that causes gum disease has been linked to many systemic problems, such as: diabetes, Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis, cardiac disease, and premature birth. Due to the damage periodontitis can cause, it is recommended that you visit Dr. Alan Pressman DMD for proper  examinations.

Treating Gum Disease

Dr. Alan Pressman will recommend periodontal treatment when necessary and offers several options tailored according to the patient’s oral health requirement to maintain and restore healthy gums. In addition to cleaning, there are medicaments that can be used to help arrest gum disease.

Thorough dental cleaning, including removing tartar and plaque, is conducted depending on the stage of the periodontal disease. More intensive treatment includes scaling and root planning, antibacterial rinses, and even gum surgery when required in advanced gum diseases.

Feel free to call to schedule an appointment with a dentist with decades of experience, Dr. Alan Pressman DMD .