Healthy gums are essential for optimal oral and overall health. If you don’t have healthy gums, you may suffer from numerous oral health problems and systemic issues, such as gum disease, inflammation, gum bleeding, and periodontal disease, which can increase the risk of diabetes, heart problems, strokes, and more. Dr. Anjali Rajpal periodontist in Beverly Hills, uses cutting-edge techniques to examine your gingival health and offers comprehensive periodontal care.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Most people experience gum problems at various points in their lives. Periodontal disease occurs when the continuous accumulation of plaque and tartar in your gum line leads to bacterial infections, gum inflammation, and a receding gum line. If you don’t seek treatment, periodontal disease can eventually weaken your teeth, increase the gap between gums and teeth, cause bone deterioration, and eventually lead to the loss of teeth. Optimal oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings can help you avoid periodontal disease.
Stages of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that advances in multiple stages. The initial stages of gum disease lead to mild gum redness and swelling because of the accumulation of plaque and tartar under the gumline. You might notice the symptoms of early gum disease while brushing or flossing, especially if your gums feel sensitive or start bleeding. You can reverse the symptoms of gum disease with prompt treatment, which usually involves in-office deep cleaning.
But if you don’t treat gum disease at the earliest stage (gingivitis), bacteria may continue infecting the gum tissues and underlying bone tissues. Periodontitis is the final stage of gum disease, and it’s marked by extremely deep pockets of space between the teeth and infected gums, a clear sign that your teeth are loosening. The bacterial infection may also spread to the surrounding bone tissues, leading to the eventual loss of teeth.
If gum disease is identified at the earliest stages, you can reverse the symptoms with simple procedures, such as root planing and scaling. But if periodontitis is allowed to continue, you may eventually need laser treatments, gum surgeries, and flap surgeries. Your periodontist in Beverly Hills uses cutting-edge diagnostic techniques to examine the precise extent of gum disease and curate a personalized treatment plan that restores optimal gingival and oral health.
Periodontal Disease & General Health
Periodontal disease certainly affects your teeth, gums, and overall oral health. But it also affects your overall oral health. If periodontitis isn’t treated promptly, the harmful bacteria may eventually spread throughout the body via your bloodstream, leading to a high risk of systemic health problems, such as diabetes, bone loss, heart disease, strokes, cancer, respiratory disease, cognitive problems, Alzheimer’s disease, and much more. As such, periodontal care is essential for your oral and overall well-being.
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease:
- Persistent bad breath
- Persistent bad taste in your mouth
- Gum redness
- Gum swelling
- Gum tenderness
- Gum bleeding
- Painful chewing sensations
- Loosening teeth
- Increased teeth sensitivity
- Gums pulling away from the teeth
- Changes in your bite or dental alignment
- Changes in the fit of your partial dentures
Tips to Prevent Periodontal Disease:
- Practice Optimal Oral Hygiene: You must maintain optimal oral hygiene at home — brush and floss twice daily and rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Visit the Dentist Regularly: You must visit the dentist at least twice a year for a routine dental cleaning and oral exams. The dentist will look for the earliest signs of gum disease, such as inflammation and swelling, allowing you to resolve the issue before it worsens.
- Remain Vigilant of the Symptoms: You must educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease and visit the dentist if you notice any of the symptoms.
Your Periodontal Treatment Options
Periodontal disease gradually escalates in stages, starting with gingivitis and ending with severe periodontitis. You should identify and treat periodontal disease at the earliest stage possible. The longer you delay treatment, the worse the symptoms will become. Your periodontist in Beverly Hills carefully examines your teeth and gums, identifies signs of gum inflammation, and measures the pockets of space between your gums and teeth to determine the precise stage of periodontal disease. After a thorough evaluation, she curates a personalized periodontal treatment plan.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing (collectively known as “deep cleaning”) are suitable for treating gingivitis and early periodontitis. During a deep cleaning, the dentist will use a special scaling device to scrape all the plaque and tartar off your teeth and gum line (scaling), following which the dentist will smoothen the root’s surface to facilitate gum regeneration and healing (root planing). Your gum tissues will heal around your teeth and reverse the effects of gum disease.
Flap Surgery
Gingival flap surgery is a unique procedure that allows you to access and remove bacteria from the roots of your teeth. During flap surgery, the dentist creates small incisions in your gums and gently folds the tissues back to expose the underlying tooth structure, following which the bacteria are removed from the roots. Once the bacteria are removed, the dentist sutures the gum tissues to facilitate healing. This procedure is suitable for moderate to severe periodontitis.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is a painless and comfortable periodontal treatment for patients with moderate to severe periodontitis. Your periodontist in Beverly Hills uses a specialized laser to remove diseased gum tissues and bacteria from the deep pockets of space between the gums and teeth. The dentist may also use a scaler to smoothen the surface of the dental roots to facilitate gingival healing and regeneration, which will prevent bacteria from reentering the space.
Gingivectomy
Gingivectomy is usually the last resort for severe periodontitis, especially if all other periodontal treatment options fail. Performed under local anesthesia, gingivectomy involves making a small incision to remove diseased and infected gum tissues, following which the healthy tissues are repositioned. The dentist will apply sutures to hold the healthy gum tissues in place and tighten the pockets between the gums and teeth.
Schedule a Consultation
Beverly Hills Dental Arts is a luxurious dental practice specializing in cutting-edge general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry options in Beverly Hills. Dr. Rajpal carefully examines your teeth and gum tissues and offers comprehensive periodontal care to help you achieve and maintain perfect oral health. Her personalized approach to periodontal care ensures long-lasting results and improves the aesthetic value of your smile. Please schedule a consultation with your periodontist in Beverly Hills to explore your options.
