Treating Gum Disease

At Walker Square Dental Associates in Dover, we take gum disease very seriously.  If we aren’t in a position to help you avoid gum disease, then we need to act quickly to stop gum disease and reverse the damage it is causing. The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. This is when the tissue is red or swollen. When you have passed the gingivitis stage gum disease becomes periodontitis. During periodontitis bone loss occurs, and the tooth may become loose and eventually fall out. Bone loss can become permanent at a certain stage and can even prevent a person from being a candidate for dental implants.

How to Tell if You Have Gum Disease

• Gums are red, swollen, and tender and bleed easily
• Gums have pulled away from teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste
• Loose or separating teeth
• Change in your bite or in the fit of partial dentures

Treatment of Gum Disease with Lasers

Dr. Rogge and his team are well-versed in the treatment of gum disease.  Traditional treatment includes scaling and root planing, which is non-surgical and removes tartar, plaque and bacteria from the gum surrounding the root of the tooth.  Another alternative is gum flap surgery where the gum tissue is cut to allow for an even deeper cleaning around the root underneath.  This requires the stitches and the healing time that nobody wants to deal with, but is sometimes necessary.  At Walker Square Dental Associates in Dover, we prefer laser therapy that removes inflamed gum tissue around the root of the tooth.  We scale the root and smooth the root with instruments to remove any rough patches that might attract bacteria for future infections.  No sutures are required and the healing process begins.  Other benefits include:

• No general anesthesia is required
• The laser is more precise and accurate than with gum flap surgery
• The bleeding, pain and swelling are limited because laser therapy is less invasive
• Recovery time is shorter

Treatment of Gum Disease with Antibiotics

In our Dover office, we use antibiotics to kill specific bacteria.  It can be placed under the gums or we can provide it to our patients in pill form to treat the disease.  There are also some forms of medicated toothpastes that can be used.  As you may know, antibiotics are used to kill bacteria.  Plaque contains bacteria so antibiotics will reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. With proper oral hygiene this method can actually reverse gum disease and allow your gums to heal.

The Bottom Line

There are many options for treating gingivitis and gum disease.  If you are in Dover, it is critical that Dr. Rogge and his staff see you to tailor your oral health plan to best suit your circumstances.  Whether you have questions about specific procedures or questions about the health of your gums, we would love for you to contact us today and schedule a consultation. We care about your oral health and want to do everything possible to make you comfortable and bring a smile back to your face.