Gum Treatment in West Hartford

What Does Periodontal Disease Mean?

Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, is inflammation of the gums. How far the inflammation has spread will determine your stage of gum disease. The first stage is gingivitis, which is when the infection hasn’t spread to beneath your gums where it can do considerable damage. The second and third stages of gum disease are destructive, so we offer patients treatment for gum disease in West Hartford to stop the disease from destroying the bone and tissue which hold the teeth firmly in place.

Why Do Some People Get Gingivitis and Others Don’t?

People who don’t clean their teeth properly at the gumline often develop gingivitis as the plaque buildup irritates the gums. A schedule of six-month exams with teeth cleanings can catch problems before gingivitis starts. Of course, some people are more susceptible than others; heredity, smoking and certain medications can increase your chances of developing gingivitis.

What Are the First Signs of Gingivitis?

You may notice these gingivitis symptoms if you have the earliest stage of gum disease:

• Tender gums that may bleed during your oral care routine
• Puffy gums
• Gums that are bright red or purple instead of a healthy pink color

Please phone us for an exam and gingivitis treatment if you notice any of the warning signs of gingivitis. The disease could progress if you don’t get gingivitis treatment. Gingivitis does not automatically turn into periodontitis, but everyone with periodontitis once had gingivitis that wasn’t cured.

Which Gum Disease Symptoms Are Visible First?

The first signs of gingivitis are usually visible, but people may mistake them for normal changes in their mouth as they get older. Bleeding gums are not normal. If gingivitis progresses to the next gum disease stage, you will notice:

• Chronic bad breath
• Gum recession
• Teeth appear longer
• Pus pockets between teeth
• Changes in your bite
• Gums bleed for no reason
• Teeth begin to shift or become loose

Don’t ignore these gum disease symptoms, since they’ll only get worse without treatment. Gum disease at this stage won’t stop by itself.

Gum Disease Stages

1. Gingivitis: Gingivitis is a form of gum disease that’s reversible. The disease only affects the gum that surrounds your teeth. Many people ignore gingivitis symptoms, such as bad breath, believing they’re normal occurrences. A gingivitis cure will prevent the disease from manifesting into a more serious form of gum disease. You can still get gingivitis if you have implants or dentures, since plaque can accumulate on artificial and natural teeth.
2. Periodontitis: Gingivitis will turn into periodontitis when the bacteria in plaque get under your gum line. The area under your gum is a periodontal pocket that should be one to three millimeters deep. Your dentist will painlessly measure the pockets to see if they’re four or more millimeters deep, which will help to diagnose periodontitis. This moderate form of gum disease generally occurs in people in their 30s and 40s. There can be some bone and tissue loss at this point.
3. Advanced Periodontitis: Advanced periodontitis is characterized by additional bone and tissue loss resulting in loose teeth or teeth that fall out on their own. You may notice severe halitosis, painful chewing and gums that ooze pus.

Is There a Reliable Gingivitis Cure?

You can find OTC products that claim to offer a gingivitis cure, but none can match the results you’ll see when you visit a dentist. Many patients with gingivitis have tartar, as well as plaque, at their gum line. Dental professionals are the only ones who can scrape tartar off your teeth. Gingivitis treatment supervised by a dentist works well because it includes a professional teeth cleaning.

What Is Gum Disease Treatment Like If I Have Periodontitis?

Treatment for periodontal disease will vary depending on whether you have periodontitis or severe periodontitis. Periodontitis treatment usually consists of a scaling and root planing procedure, commonly called a deep cleaning. You may also receive antibiotics. Advanced periodontitis treatment may include surgery to reduce pockets, and grafts to replace bone and gum tissue lost because of advanced gum disease.

Is Reversing Gum Disease a Treatment Option?

Reversing gum disease is a treatment option if you have gingivitis symptoms because there is a gingivitis cure. If you have one of the two later stages of gum disease, there isn’t any gum disease cure, only treatment to minimize the signs of gum disease and stop further damage. You won’t automatically lose your teeth if you get proper dental care. Our dentists offer treatment for gum disease in West Hartford that will stop gum disease from causing any further damage.