Periodontitis affects about half of Americans over the age of 30, which doesn’t include the millions more who have the early stages of gum disease, namely gingivitis. At Don E. Larson, DMD, the team of dental experts understands the role that your gums play in your overall dental health, which is why they provide evaluations and periodontal care. To learn more about periodontal care, call the office in Eagle, Idaho, or use the online booking tool.
Periodontal, or gum, disease is an infection in your gums that, left unchecked, can irreparably damage your teeth. In fact, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in America.
Gum disease occurs when plaque builds up on your teeth and gets beneath your gum line. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that can erode both the soft and hard tissues in your mouth — your gums and teeth — and left untreated, can lead to the loss of your teeth.
The signs of periodontitis include:
Gum disease is progressive, so the symptoms listed above are in the general (though not exact) order of appearance. The goal at Don E. Larson, DMD, is to catch the disease in its earlier stages, when it’s much easier to treat through good periodontal care.
Periodontal disease is progressive and there are several stages, which include:
Recently, the American Academy of Periodontology released new guidelines for evaluating gum disease, and the team at Don E. Larson, DMD, adheres to these new guidelines to stage and grade your periodontal disease to determine the best treatment.
In its earliest stages — gingivitis — the team at Don E. Larson, DMD, can clear up the infection with a professional cleaning or a deep cleaning. During a professional cleaning, your hygienist removes the plaque and tartar buildup from around your gums. If you require a more aggressive cleaning, your dentist performs a root planing and scaling procedure, which is designed to remove the infectious materials and eliminate the pockets in your gums where bacteria can build up.
If your gum disease is advanced, the team at Don E. Larson, DMD, works with the periodontal specialists at Idaho Perio to treat your periodontitis and preserve your teeth.
To learn more about periodontal care at Don E. Larson, DMD, call or request an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
