Periodontal Care & Gum Health Treatment

Millions of Americans suffer from periodontal disease. At Paul Sioda Dental, we treat patients throughout the Tacoma area who are struggling with this condition and provide a variety of treatment options to help relieve symptoms and heal the gums. If you are concerned that your gums are unhealthy, call 253-759-7941 to schedule an appointment with The Team at Paul Sioda Dental and receive a dental examination.

​

What are the signs of gum disease?
You may have gum disease if your gums are red, swollen, or bleeding. It is natural for this to happen from time to time after eating something that irritates your gums or brushing too aggressively. If, however, this happens regularly, you probably have some type of gum disease. Another symptom is bad breath, loose teeth, pain while chewing, sensitive teeth or teeth that appear longer. If you live in the Tacoma area, we can examine your gums and tell you what's causing the problem.

​

The consequences of periodontal disease
In its early stages, gum disease can cause some irritation and bleeding. There may be some discomfort, but it will be minimal. This stage is called gingivitis. If left untreated, the disease will spread, and the gums will start to recede as they pull away from the tooth. This creates pockets in the gum tissue that can expose more of the tooth structure and the root system. Once exposed, the tooth and roots are more susceptible to infection, as bacteria can gather and irritate the area. This can lead to cavities, infections, and bone loss. In severe cases, bone loss combined with receding gums can lead to tooth loss. In many cases, adult teeth fall out due to gum disease.

​

What causes gum disease?
In short – bacteria. When bacteria remain on the teeth, they can form plaque and tartar. When this substance becomes stuck between the teeth and gums, it can lead to gum complications. The best way to prevent this is to brush and floss several times a day and visit the dentist for regular cleanings.

 

Are certain people at risk for the condition?
Certain factors can increase your risk of gum disease. This includes smoking, hormonal changes, pregnancy, diabetes, certain medications, and genetics. Any time blood flow is constricted or reduced, your risk of the disease increases. This is why diabetics and pregnant women are more susceptible to the condition. At Paul Sioda Dental, we recommend that pregnant patients visit our office at least twice during pregnancy to reduce their risk and the pregnancy complications that can come with it.

​

How is it treated?
At Paul Sioda Dental, there are several ways that we treat gum disease. The Team at Paul Sioda Dental will make a recommendation after examining your teeth and gums to determine what the source of the problem is and what should be done to address it. The treatment plan is often dictated by the severity of the periodontics. We recommend that patients throughout Washington look for the signs of gum disease and schedule an appointment immediately so that the least invasive procedure can be used to correct the problem.

 

Once the disease has progressed too far, more significant procedures may be necessary to heal the gums. At times, this involves surgery. The first step in addressing gum disease is to complete a deep cleaning. By removing plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums, we can help patients throughout the Tacoma area start the healing process. Once the bacteria and plaque have been removed, the gums will start to heal naturally. If the plaque is only around the edge of the gum line, a standard teeth cleaning will work. If it has become trapped between the gums and teeth, a scaling and root planning procedure will be required. In this case, The Team at Paul Sioda Dental will need to scrape the plaque off from the teeth underneath the gums. Some dentists use a laser to do so in order to complete the procedure faster.

 

When surgery is required, it is typically because the gums have receded so significantly. When pockets form in the gum tissue, they need to be restored in order to protect the tooth again. In this case, a gum graft can be helpful. This works by taking tissue from the roof of the mouth or another area and grafting it to the gums so that the gum tissue can start to regenerate. The gums then need to be secured back around the tooth in order to protect it and the roots. If bone loss has occurred as a result of gum disease, a bone graft may be necessary in order to restore and strengthen the tooth. In this procedure, we compact natural or synthetic bone into the area and seal it so the bone can begin to regenerate.

 

Together, these procedures can help heal and restore your gums. In order to determine which procedures are necessary for you, call 253-759-7941 and schedule a consultation with The Team at Paul Sioda Dental. We may start with a deep cleaning to see how well your gums react and begin healing. If they don't recover quickly, we may move to surgical procedures as needed.

 

How to Keep Your Gums Healthy
You can prevent periodontitis by taking simple steps, including brushing your teeth after meals, flossing daily, and rinsing your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash once a day. This helps remove bacteria and sugar from your teeth and gums before they turn into plaque. Eating a healthy, low-sugar diet can also help keep your gums healthy. At Paul Sioda Dental, we also recommend having your teeth cleaned professionally at least twice a year so we can remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas. This helps keep your gums healthy.

​

​

HELPFUL RELATED LINKS

• American Dental Association (ADA). Glossary of Dental Terms. 2015

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry® (AACD). Home Page. 2015

• WebMD. WebMD’s Oral Care Guide. 2015