If you are experiencing the symptoms of early gum disease, there is still time to save your smile. Mild gum sensitivity, any amount of bleeding while brushing, and the start of a separation between your gums and teeth are signs that are telling you to get help now for the ailing soft tissues in your mouth.

Your gums protect your teeth and their roots from exposure and decay, as well as helping to support them so they can provide proper dental function. Without treatment early on, gum disease can progress quickly and threaten the stability of your teeth. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and can be prevented with proper professional and home dental care.

To reverse gum disease it’s important to first remove the accumulated plaque and tartar that causes it. The Periodontal Group in Highland and Valparaiso provides gum disease treatment by specialists with top skills and extensive experience, and are equipped with advanced dental technology, to provide superior care comfortably.

Treating Gum Disease

Root Planing and Scaling or Deep Cleaning: To begin treating gum disease, cleaning teeth below the gum line is essential. After using local anesthesia to numb the teeth and gums, specialized tools or a soft-tissue laser are used to remove calcified tartar and plaque from teeth, and around roots. Minimally invasive, this procedure requires no downtime and will not leave your mouth in any significant discomfort. This will prepare your teeth and gums for further periodontal treatments that may be necessary to repair the soft tissue, and possibly even bone loss, in severe gum disease or periodontitis.

LANAP: This is similar to root scaling and planing, but instead a dental laser is used to clean the teeth. A procedure that is comfortable and gentle on tissues, LANAP removes plaque beneath the gums and incites gum tissue to heal. Sanitary and safe for gums and teeth, LANAP is a new way to treat the smile, with positive effects one may not see with root scaling and planing.

Gum Grafts

While cleaning under gums is a vital first step, once this soft tissue has been compromised and become recessed, gums do not grow back naturally. A gum graft is the best way to cover tooth roots that make teeth look too long and regenerate this important tissue that helps support both your teeth and underlying bone.

In this procedure, your dentist removes tissue from another area of your mouth and attaches it to the affected gums. Gum grafting has become a simple and tried and true approach to restring gum health.

If gum disease has advanced far enough to seriously affect the health of your jawbone and extraction has been recommended, this, and other more advanced treatment may be necessary to fully restore your smile. 

The Periodontal Group provides diagnoses and treatment for early and advanced gum disease to prevent gum recession and tooth loss and in Highland and Valparaiso.

Contact our practice today, to find out how we can improve the health and appearance of your smile.