Periodontal Care Available in Charlotte, NC
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Caring for your teeth isn’t the only important part of maintaining a healthy smile for life. The health of your gums matter, too. When it comes to keeping them strong, a few simple steps can make a big difference in preventing the development of periodontal problems.. Here’s what you need to know about preventing and treating periodontal disease before scheduling a routine dental exam and cleaning with the trusted team at Luminous Dental in Charlotte.
What is Periodontal Care?
Periodontal care involves advanced dental cleanings, also known as scaling and root planing, and is used to stop the progression of periodontal disease. Periodontal or gum disease is a common infection that affects your gum tissue and surrounding bone. While many factors can contribute to the development of gum disease, it’s usually and mainly caused by poor oral hygiene habits, including not brushing and flossing regularly. Most people aren’t aware that they’re at risk for or have periodontal disease. However, the condition can exhibit symptoms such as:
- Inflamed or red gums
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing and flossing
- Gum tenderness
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth due to bone loss around the teeth
- Generalized pain/sensitivity of teeth or gums
- Issues with eating and hot/cold temperatures
- Tooth loss
How Do You Prevent Periodontal Disease?
Fortunately, periodontal disease is easy to prevent with good oral health habits. These include:
- Brushing your teeth two times a day
- Flossing and using mouthwash daily
- Limiting your consumption of foods that are difficult to remove from the crevices of your teeth
- Visiting the dentist every six months for routine check-ups and professional cleanings
What Happens at a Periodontal Cleaning?
If Dr. Carli identifies that you have periodontal disease , she will recommend a periodontal cleaning (scaling and root planing) She determines the need for this type of advanced cleaning by examining your radiographs for bone loss around the teeth and built up tartar/calculus, in addition to taking measurements around your teeth using an instrument called a periodontal probe. This instrument measures the attachment, or tightness, and health of your gum tissue. Like routine dental cleanings, periodontal cleanings are used to remove the sticky plaque that can lead to gum disease from the surface of your teeth. They also remove hardened tartar buildup from underneath and along your gum line. Periodontal cleanings are usually performed by a trained dental hygienist using a special tool to scrape the plaque and tartar away gently.
Here at Luminous Dental, if your periodontal disease state is progressed, Dr. Carli will use the Waterlase laser as an adjunct to scaling and root planing, which will disinfect underneath your gums, where the bacteria are present, in a nonsurgical, minimally invasive way. The use of the laser is a scientifically proven technology which uses light energy to disinfect and has simply become a better way to treat periodontal disease. Also to note, the laser is of no extra cost to the patient.
After your initial periodontal treatment is complete, you will be placed on a more frequent cleaning recall, called a periodontal maintenance. These additional cleanings are crucial for monitoring and keeping the disease in check. They will be scheduled every 3 months, as opposed to 6 months, until the disease is controlled and the gum attachment to your teeth has tightened. At that point, with the discretion of Dr. Carli and the hygienist, recall cleaning appointments can be spaced out to every 6 months.
Periodontal disease can be halted, but it is imperative that you do your part at home too.
Why is Periodontal Disease Treatment Needed?
Even though gum disease may not seem like a big deal since it often occurs without noticeable symptoms, it’s important to remember that it’s a severe oral health condition that should be taken seriously. Gum disease won’t get better or disappear on its own. On the contrary, if left untreated, gum disease will only worsen over time and can lead to more complicated dental concerns, such as oral pain or tooth loss. When the diagnosis of peridontal disease requires a periodontal cleaning, only doing a prophy, or regular cleaning, will not address the problem. Regular preventive care only addresses what is above the gum line, which means it will not get rid of the bacteria that is below the gum line and causing the disease in the first place.The good news is that treating your periodontal disease early can offer many benefits, including:
- Preventing the infection from spreading or worsening
- Treating uncomfortable symptoms, such as gum tenderness, bleeding, and bad breath
- Improving the health of your teeth and gums
With this in mind, it’s best to see your dentist for routine check-ups and professional cleanings twice a year. This includes when your teeth and gums appear to be healthy. A trained eye can identify oral health problems that you might not be able to, including periodontal disease.
Luminous Dental: The Best Choice for Healthy Gums
The best way to prevent and treat gum disease is to practice good oral health habits and visit your dentist every six months. If you can’t remember the last time you had your teeth examined or cleaned at the dentist, now’s the time to schedule your next routine check-up. At Luminous Dental in Charlotte, Dr. Carli and her experienced team are proud to offer our patients exceptional service in a safe, comfortable environment. Contact us today to take the first step in preventing gum disease and achieving a smile you’re proud to call your own!