Gum Treatments in Maitland
What is Gum Disease?
There are many different diseases that can affect the gums and these can have quite serious long term consequences.
Many of these conditions are painless and hence without regular checks, you may be experiencing severe damage to your gums without any knowledge of the problem.
The most common diseases of the gum are gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis refers to inflammation of the gums and can be a sign of periodontal disease.
A common symptom of gingivitis is bleeding from the gums while brushing and flossing.
Periodontal disease affects the gum and jaw bone around the teeth and over time can lead to shrinking gums, mobile teeth and tooth loss.
There is also evidence of periodontal disease negatively affecting people with heart conditions and diabetes. To ensure that your gums are healthy please contact our friendly staff for an appointment.
How is it gum disease treated?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for periodontal disease. However, through regular professional care and good oral hygiene routines at home, the disease can usually be managed well. Thorough management is essential to avoid losing periodontally diseased teeth and must be carried out regularly from the time the disease is diagnosed.
Management of periodontal disease and gingivitis usually involves cleaning around the teeth and gums with an ultrasonic device. This helps to remove the plaque (soft deposits of bacteria) and the calculus (mineralised plaque)from around the teeth. Once the bacteria that cause the disease are kept under control, the disease cannot progress. The frequency at which you will need to attend for cleaning around the gums is based upon your condition and ranges from every 3 months to once a year.
What happens if my teeth become loose and fall out?
If a periodontal condition worsens to the point where teeth are loose and either fall out or require extraction, the space can be left or a denture, bridge or implant can be used to fill the gaps.
Give us a call at Rutherford Dental on (02) 4932 8366, we will guide you in how to look after your teeth easily and efficiently.
You can also book Maitland dentist online here.