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Gum Disease Treatment in Dallas
Our doctors educate you on how gum disease is affecting you and explain your treatment options.
Gum disease treatment is one of the many services we offer here at Dallas Periodontal Associates. Gum disease affects millions of Americans and is a “quiet” disease that usually progresses without pain or discomfort until it is severe. It is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gum disease has also been linked to serious health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, osteoporosis and cancer.
What is Gum Disease
Gum disease, or periodontal disease (from perio “around” and odont “tooth”) is a continuous bacterial infection in the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. The disease progresses as the bacterial infection grows. If left untreated, the bacterial infection and resultant inflammation detach the gum from the teeth and eat away the supporting bone. If let go for too long, the teeth become loose and are often lost.
Leading cause of tooth loss
Symptoms of Gum Disease
If you have any of the following gum disease symptoms, you should see us and get a full examination to see if you are developing gum disease and how severely it has progressed.
- bad breath that will not go away
- red or swollen gums
- bleeding or tender gums
- gums that have pulled away from your teeth
- receding gums or teeth that appear longer than normal
- teeth that have shifted position
- loose teeth
- an abscess coming from below the gumline
Stages of Periodontal Disease
The first level of gum disease is known as gingivitis, which is a bacterial infection of the gums only. If the bacterial infection is fully treated by thorough cleaning, health can be easily restored.
The second level is more severe and is known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is an infection of both the gums and the surrounding bone, which causes the gums and ligaments to detach from the teeth and causes bone loss.
As the gums detach, with periodontal disease, a pocket develops under the gumline between the gums and the teeth. Bacteria accumulates in the pocket and hardens into calculus (also known as tartar). This irritates the gums further and accelerates the infection, gum detachment and bone loss.
Minimally invasive treatments
As periodontists, Dr. Tanur and Dr. Ovadia are highly trained specialists in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease and periodontal disease. The doctors can remove the disease-causing bacteria, restore your oral health and in many cases reverse the damage that was caused when the disease was active.
They trained for an additional three years post-dental school to receive their specialty certifications in Periodontics and firmly believe that saving your teeth is always the primary objective to achieve.
Comprehensive exam and diagnosis
Our doctors use thorough diagnostics, patient education and advanced minimally invasive procedures to effectively treat gum disease and save teeth and bone beyond what a general dentist is trained to accomplish.
Dr. Tanur or Dr. Ovadia first conduct a comprehensive exam to discover the extent of gum disease and determine the appropriate treatment. We take digital X-rays to get a complete picture of the gum and bone levels surrounding your teeth, and we take a 360° 3D image of your entire jaw using our cone beam 3D CT scanner. The doctor will also review your medical and dental history.
Our digital X-rays help us determine the extent of bone loss around your teeth.
To make an appointment, call 214-377-0855 or request an appointment online.
Treatment plan
Dr. Ovadia or Dr. Tanur will formulate a treatment plan aimed at saving your teeth and will educate you on the specifics of your case so you know exactly what is going on and what they will do for treatment. They will make sure all your questions have been answered so that you are informed and comfortable.
Deep cleaning – the first line of attack for treating gum disease
The first line of attack against periodontitis is a full deep cleaning, where we remove the accumulated bacterial plaque and calculus on the tooth surfaces above and below the gumline. We also smooth out the tooth root surface, which makes it harder for bacteria to attach to the tooth and makes it so the gums can re-attach easily.
We use ultrasonic scalers in addition to hand instruments to clean the surfaces of your teeth. The ultrasonic scalers emit high-frequency vibrations that gently remove the plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces. The scalers can be adjusted for patient comfort and are less invasive than standard hand instruments in treating gum disease.
Antibiotic Therapy
The doctor will sometimes use local antibiotic therapy to kill the bacteria that remain after deep cleaning treatments. The local antibiotic formula is placed in the gum pocket in the form of tiny microspheres.
In certain cases the doctor will take a sample of your bacterial plaque and send it to a microbiological lab to determine the exact bacteria that are present. He can then prescribe bacteria-specific antibiotics to accelerate healing.
Laser disinfection treatment to speed healing
In certain cases of periodontitis, Dr. Ovadia or Dr. Tanur will use a dental laser to gently remove damaged gum tissue and eliminate bacteria from deep pockets.
Follow-up evaluation
The doctor will assess your healing four weeks after your deep cleaning. He will determine if healing has been adequate or if further actions are needed to achieve the optimal result. He will explain everything that is happening and what he will do so you are totally informed.
To make an appointment, call 214-377-0855 or request an appointment online.
Patient Education and Good Oral Hygiene
Dr. Ovadia and Dr. Tanur educate you on how gum disease progresses before treatment is started. They will also explain exactly what will be done so you know what to expect during treatments.
Our hygienists will show you proper home oral care techniques to effectively maintain your oral health after treatment. She will show you good oral hygiene practices including proper brushing and flossing techniques, and will recommend the oral care products that can achieve the best results.
Our hygienists will show you how to effectively take care of your oral health at home.
Other Options to Treat Gum Disease
Gum surgery
In some cases of severe periodontitis, the doctor will need to access deeper into the bone defect and around the gum tissue covering the root of the affected tooth. He will then remove all the accumulated plaque and calculus residing on the tooth roots and smooth the root surfaces so the gum can reattach firmly to the tooth. A firm attachment eliminates any pocket where bacteria can accumulate.
Gum grafting
Periodontitis can sometimes cause the gums to recede and expose the roots of teeth. Gums can also be very thin and fragile making them more susceptible to recession. Dr. Ovadia and Dr. Tanur can replace lost gum tissue through gum grafting.
Bone Grafting
Severe gum disease can eat away the jawbone supporting your teeth. Dr. Ovadia and Dr. Tanur can replace lost or missing bone using state-of-the-art bone grafting techniques and procedures.
$89 New Patient Exam Special Offer
A $249 Value
- Digital panoramic X-rays and 3D CT
- Periodontal probing and charting
- Comprehensive oral exam
- Oral cancer screening
- Consultation with the doctor
- Discuss your treatment options
- Get all your questions answered
- Written treatment plan
To make an appointment, call 214-377-0855 or request an appointment online.
To make an appointment, call 214-377-0855 or request an appointment online.
Gum Disease Frequently Asked Questions
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