Office Address: 44644 Ann Arbor Rd. Suite FPlymouth, MI 48170
Periodontal / Gum Disease
Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue around your teeth. Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease; it can begin unnoticed but becomes very painful as it progresses.
Some symptoms to look for are:
- Gums that are swollen, tender, and red.
- Bleeding when cleaning or flossing.
- A bad taste in your mouth or having persistent bad breath.
As the disease becomes more advanced, you are likely to notice:
- Gums loosening around teeth.
- Teeth shifting and not coming together correctly during biting.
- Changes in the fit of partial dentures.
- An increase in the frequency and extent of bleeding when cleaning teeth and gums.
- Oozing or pus coming from the gums.
By measuring the gum pockets that are present around the teeth, your dentist can identify gum disease at an early stage. If you have bleeding from the gums, together with a pocket exceeding 3 mm, it is likely you may require treatment for gum disease.
Treatment of Gum Disease
Treatment depends on what stage your dentist identifies the health of your gums. Attending twice-yearly dental exams is crucial. If caught early, treatment can involve removing the bacteria and other debris that may have built up in the pockets.
Bacteria removal is a delicate procedure called scaling and root planing an iscarried out in our office. A hygienist will perform this treatment.
If gum disease is at a more advanced stage, your dentist can consider surgical options or the use of antibiotics.
Treatment can span several appointments. When your dentist is satisfied, they have removed the bacteria, you will be put on a maintenance program usually every 3 months to ensure the disease does not continue to progress.
