Periodontics In Ardmore,Pa

What is Gum Disease? 

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is very common, yet many people know little about it and may even suffer from the condition without knowing. Gum disease is also called periodontal disease because it affects the periodontium, or structures that support teeth. They are: 

- The gums (gingiva). 

- The cementum (calcified covering over a tooth root). 

- The periodontal ligaments (attach a tooth to the bone). 

- The alveolar (jaw) bone with tooth sockets. 

- Periodontal disease is an infection that can damage the teeth, gums and supporting jaw bone if not treated in its early stages. In her Philadelphia dentistry practice, Dr. Lindsey Marshall emphasizes the importance of proper dental hygiene and oral care. 

How Does Gum Disease Start? 

Gum disease starts as gingivitis, where bacteria have invaded the space between teeth and gums and damaged both structures. If gingivitis is not treated, it will progress to periodontitis, the second and more destructive stage of gum disease. Now bacterial damage extends below the gumline, starts to damage the tooth roots, and at some point spreads into the jawbone. Bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel around the body, causing problems with the heart, increasing stroke risk, and contributing to diabetes. Periodontitis is thought of in three stages: Chronic periodontitis – inflammation is ongoing and established. Aggressive periodontitis – infection is spreading quickly through the gums. Necrotizing periodontal disease – infection is entering the jawbone and causing significant pain, bleeding and loss of gum tissue, as well as chronic bad breath (halitosis).

In addition to gum therapy and soft tissue laser, Dr. Marshall also offers multiple periodontic treatment options. A local anesthetic may also be used to help numb the gums and the roots of the teeth. These include: 

Scaling and Root Planning: This is what's called a deep cleaning method that will help remove the bacteria that is taken from below the gum line and your teeth roots. Local anesthetics will be used to help with the pain. 

Root Surface Debridement: This procedure helps to remove any damaged tissue you may have in your mouth. This procedure is performed with an ultrasonic instrument or hand tools. 

Flap Surgery: This procedure lifts away from the gum tissues so that it can be cleaned underneath. Often, this procedure is performed when your gum disease can not be cured by any drugs or antibiotics. 

Gum or Bone Grafts: Gum and bone grafts are performed to help your bones and gums regenerate what is damaged or lost because of periodontitis.

Dental Implants: If a patient loses their teeth because of periodontal disease or any other reasons, they can choose dental implants to help restore missing teeth. Implants are a crucial part of periodontics because we are fusing the bone with the gums. These implants act as a root for replacement structures but also require the same care against periodontal disease as other teeth. 

A series of appointments customized to a patient’s individual needs, designed to eradicate periodontal diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis. During each appointment, our hygienists instruct patients on the proper way to prevent periodontal disease at home, providing a personalized home care routine, which is crucial to treating disease.

Dr. Marshall’s dental philosophy is focused on prevention. Her first priority is to catch problems early when treatment is quick and easy. If a problem has already progressed to a more serious stage, her priority is to preserve as much healthy tooth and gum tissue as possible.

 

When it comes to periodontal disease, Gingivitis is defined as a mild form of gum disease that causes your gums to begin to become red, bleed, and swell because of inflammation. Gingivitis usually results from a buildup of bacteria and plaque on your teeth because of poor hygiene. This can also, unfortunately, be a side effect of using certain drugs during an infection or potentially from poor nutrition. Typically, our patients do not experience pain or discomfort, but they should seek the proper treatment when symptoms begin to arise because there is a lot of potential for multiple complications.

Gum disease is progressive and can advance quickly if left untreated. The gums recede from the teeth, exposing tooth roots and increasing tooth sensitivity. Bacterial inflammation leads to infection, and pus may form in the open pockets between the teeth and gums. Typical symptoms of periodontal disease include: 

• Swollen and bleeding gums. 
• Bad breath.
• Toothache. 
• Loose or shifting teeth.

Studies have shown that tobacco users may be at higher risk for gum disease because tobacco tends to increase plaque and intensifies the infection, making gum and bone loss more likely. It also lowers a person’s ability to heal and fight infection.

The goal of gum therapy is to remove all decayed tissue, plaque, and tartar from your entire mouth – although one must keep in mind that bacteria are always in the mouth and the trick is to keep their number down through daily dental care. While early treatment is the easiest, Dr. Marshall can still treat gum disease that has progressed and become severe.

Our soft tissue laser makes this far quicker and safer than gum treatments used to be before lasers were introduced into dentistry. The laser instantly removes damaged and infected gum tissue and reduces bleeding by sealing the remaining tissue. Sealing the tissue also makes post-treatment infection far less likely. No stitches are necessary. Depending on how severe the gum disease is, Dr. Marshall may do your gum therapy in several visits rather than all in one visit. After each laser treatment, your mouth will feel tender for a short while and you will need to stick to a soft diet. Dr. Marshall may prescribe an antibiotic.