Gum Disease Treatment in Houston, TX
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When it comes to problems with the soft tissue in your mouth, few things are worse than gum disease that is left untreated. Gum disease starts mild, but the further it goes, the more damage it can do and the worse it gets. Having gum disease doesn’t mean you are out of options, though; it just means you will have to head to your local dentist and ask them about gum disease treatment and what can be done to halt the progression of gum disease and reverse the damage.
Luckily, there are a few different ways that your dentist can treat your gum disease and get your gums healthy again. Remember that gum disease can always come back if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene.
How Will My Dentist Fix My Gum Disease?
Gum disease doesn’t have to ruin your smile; the trick is recognizing the signs and getting in to see the dentist as soon as possible.
For mild gum disease, you shouldn’t need anything more than a good cleaning and a rinse before being sent home and told to brush and floss regularly. Getting rid of all the plaque and debris is enough to stave off gum disease, so long as it is only mild.
Once the disease progresses to something more moderate, your dentist may have to take more drastic steps. The typical treatment for moderate gum disease is a procedure known as scaling and root planing. This involves the dentist deep cleaning the gums, inside the pockets, and along the roots of the teeth. This is where most bacteria can hide and can be where most of the damage is done if it is left untreated also.
Severe gum disease can erode the gums and even the jawbone if it gets bad enough and can cause teeth to fall out or become exposed. In these cases, your dentist may need to resort to surgical correction to properly fix the damage and then work on fixing the cause of gum disease.