Periodontist, Maryland Heights, MO
When plaque and other bacteria cling to a person's teeth and harden, over time, it can spread to the gums and cause a severe gum infection known as periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease (Periodontitis) affects the area of the gums that holds the teeth in place. Minor gum infections can cause bad breath, bleeding gums, and sensitivity, but severe infections such as Periodontitis can cause tooth loss, jaw bone damage, and other permanent damage to a person's smile.
While periodontitis can take weeks to heal and require surgery, specialty oral hygiene products, and other treatment, it isn't a permanent condition. The best way to limit the effects of periodontal disease is seeking immediate medical attention from an experienced Maryland Heights Periodontist.
Martin Dental & Associates provides periodontal disease treatment, restoration of dental implants, and other types of surgical dentistry in Maryland Heights. If you are experiencing swelling, bleeding, or receding gums, you need to call (314) 739-1222 (Maryland Heights) or (573) 764-2425 (Gerald) and book an appointment with a periodontist right away to preserve your smile.
When Should You See a Periodontist?
Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting a dentist twice a year can help prevent gum disease, but some patients are more susceptible to certain oral health conditions.
Periodontal disease is typically detected during standard dentist appointments. During a dental examination, your dentist will use a "probe," which is a tiny ruler, to measure the depth of your teeth's pockets, search for bone loss or damage, and look for other signs of gum disease, oral cancer, and other conditions.
If you have noticed any of the following symptoms, you could have periodontitis and require immediate treatment from a Maryland Heights Periodontist:
- Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums - periodontal disease affects the gums and jaw bone - if your gums are bright red, sore, swollen, or painful, you could have gum disease
- Abnormal spaces between teeth - plaque, tartar, and other buildup can cause a person's gums to recede, tooth loss, and, over time, erode the jaw bone
- Severe tooth pain - periodontal bacteria can destroy a person's gums and cause deep and painful pockets that can become filled with pus and abscess
In many cases, periodontal disease are preventable with biannual visits to the visit, brushing twice a day, and glossing, but if you do contract periodontitis, it's important to remember that it's entirely treatable and can be cured with aggressive periodontal disease treatment.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in Maryland Heights
There are several stages of gum disease; gingivitis and slight, moderate, and advanced periodontitis. Each level of gum disease has its own challenges and therefore, requires specific types of treatment.
If your Maryland Heights Periodontist thinks that you might have periodontitis, you could require one or more of the following types of periodontal disease treatment:
- Scaling, or, plaque and buildup removal, which is performed using a dental scaler to scratch buildup from the surface of each individual tooth and between the gums
- Root planing, commonly known as "deep cleaning," is perfomed using a dental scaler to smooth down the roots of teeth to prevent infection. Root planing also helps teeth that might have loosened reattach to gums
- Applying topical antibiotics to remove harmful bacteria from between a patient's teeth, inside deep pockets, and under the gum line
- Flap surgery is performed using a small dental knife to make a slight incision in the infected gum, then pulling back the flap and deep scaling/root planing
- Soft tissue grafting restores soft tissue damaged by periodontal disease
- Bone grafting, which is used during advanced periodontal disease treatment, takes small samples of bone from non-infected areas to help aid natural regrowth of bone and prevent future tooth loss
- Guided tissue regeneration, which involves placing a fabric between existing bone and tooth to prevent deeper infection and allows bone to grow back over time
- Tissue-stimulating proteins are carefully applied to the root of infected teeth to prevent further infection and generate natural bone and healthy tissue
After your periodontist performs in-office treatment, at-home oral health maintenance involves brushing twice daily, flossing every morning and night or after every snack and meal, using special mouth rinses to prevent infection, and a dental pick to clean deep under the gums.
Maryland Heights Periodontist
If you think that you might have periodontitis or another type of gum disease, you need to seek treatment from an experienced periodontist immediately. Early detection of gingivitis can prevent severe oral health damage such as tooth loss, gum decay, and bone destruction.
Dr. John Martin and Dr. Tyler Musto have more than 35 years of experienced in the St. Louis dental industry. Our periodontists' goal is to get your oral health in optimal shape, prevent future tooth, gum, or other oral health conditions, and ensure that you are satisfied with our Maryland Heights dental services every time you visit our office.
If you are looking for a periodontist in Maryland Heights, call (314) 739-1222 (Maryland Heights), (573) 764-2425 (Gerald), or contact Martin Dental & Associates today to schedule an appointment.
Martin Dental & Associates serves residents in the following cities in the Greater St. Louis Area: