Having healthy gums is just as important as having healthy teeth. Gum disease can result in health complications not just for your teeth, but for the rest of your body as well. David Quigley Dentistry provides a range of periodontal services for the prevention and treatment of gum disease and the maintenance of healthy gums.
Scaling and root planing are ways to clean the tooth root surfaces to remove plaque, tartar and bacterial toxins.
Periodontal disease can sometimes result in "pockets" being formed in the gum tissue around your teeth. Over time, these pockets can become too deep to be reached by normal flossing and brushing and they become a risk for bacterial growth. Pocket depth reduction is a surgical procedure where we clean the pockets and reduce their depth.
Flap procedures are a treatment for gum disease where a "flap" of your gum is pulled back to expose the root and bone tissue, allowing the root to be cleaned and the bone repaired, if necessary. The flap is then re-attached with sutures.
Crown lengthening is a procedure in which your gums and bone tissue are reshaped to expose more of your natural tooth, making your teeth appear longer for restorative reasons.
Frenectomy is the removal of a "frenum" which is a muscular attachment between two tissues. (such as the one between your upper lip and your upper jaw.) In some cases a frenum can cause pain or impairment and needs to be removed or loosened.
There are always bacteria in the mouth, and over time, these bacteria can form plaque and tartar on our teeth, which if left untreated can lead to gum disease. The longer plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the worse the problem can become, so it is important to brush and floss every day and see your dentist for regular cleaning and scaling.
Untreated gum disease can result in periodontitis, when the gums pull back from the teeth and leave pockets of empty space between your gums and your teeth. Bacteria can infect these pockets and cause a serious infection which weakens the bone and tissue that holds your teeth in place. Periodontitis is a serious condition and requires medical care.
For more information on the prevention and treatment of gum disease, contact our office.
