Periodontal (gum) disease is a progressive condition that can jeopardize the health of your smile. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to serious infections, bone recession in the jaw, and, eventually, tooth loss. Luckily, gentle periodontal disease treatments can help.
Don’t let gum disease rob you of the healthy, beautiful smile that you deserve. Take action today with Dr. Helen Ragsdale at Austin Laser Dentist. With gentle techniques, comprehensive treatments, and cutting-edge technology, our team can help you treat all stages of periodontal disease.
Schedule an appointment at our Austin, TX, dental clinic by sending us a message or by calling (512) 346-4690. Meanwhile, let’s explore six periodontal disease treatments to get healthier teeth and gums.
Preventive Care
Medical professionals often say that preventive care is the best care. Because when you can avoid painful, damaging conditions, your overall health benefits greatly.
So, the best way to prevent gum disease is with regular dental exams and cleanings. According to the American Dental Association, patients should get teeth cleanings at least every six months (or quarterly if they are prone to cavities and gingivitis).
Root Planing and Scaling
When routine dental cleanings just won’t cut it, patients may need a deep clean with specialized root planing and scaling treatments. Scaling treatments remove harmful plaque build-up above and below the gum line, while root planing smooths the surface of the tooth root.
Combining these treatments is like a hard reset for your smile. This is because scaling eliminates harmful bacteria, and root planing makes it more difficult for bacteria-containing plaque to stick to the teeth in the future.
Laser Pocket Decontamination
Gum disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, which can create deep pockets for bacteria and plaque to inhabit. Using advanced laser technology, Dr. Ragsdale can eliminate bacteria from periodontal pockets, effectively reducing the number of disease-causing microorganisms in the mouth.
This periodontal treatment also allows the gum tissue to heal and regenerate on its own. As a result, patients may be able to avoid gum surgery to treat advanced periodontal disease.
Laser Gum Surgery
Laser gum surgery uses laser-fiber technology to clear away gingival infections around the gumline and in periodontal pockets. This procedure is a modern, more comfortable take on traditional gum surgeries. The lasers sterilize soft tissue while cauterizing it shut, which is something that scalpels and stitches can never accomplish on their own.
As a result, patients experience significantly less pain and fewer postoperative complications with laser gum surgery.
Gum Grafts
Late-stage gum disease can significantly impact the health and amount of gingival tissue in the mouth. Gum grafts use the patient’s own tissue to repair receding gums.
The donor tissue easily assimilates into its new position in the mouth, effectively regrowing gum tissue wherever necessary.
Bone Grafts
Severe periodontal disease and prolonged tooth loss can eat away at more than just gum tissue–it can wear away at bone tissue, too. To properly restore the health of your smile, Dr. Ragsdale may suggest bone grafts to rebuild weak jaws before pursuing other periodontal disease treatments.
Ask Us About Periodontal Disease Treatments in Austin, TX
The longer you wait to address gum disease, the more likely you are to develop health-threatening oral and systemic health issues. Contact the friendly team at Austin Laser Dentist online here or call (512) 346-4690 to schedule your appointment now.
