Periodontist, New Melle, 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) is a severe oral health condition, that, if untreated, can damage a patient's jaw bone, form deep pockets in a person's gums, cause chronic gum pain, and in its advanced stages, lead to the erosion of enamel and tooth loss.
If periodontal disease goes untreated, it won't clear up on its own. Periodontitis requires aggressive treatment from a periodontitis, specially formulated dental solutions, and at-home treatment to heal properly. The best way to limit the effects of periodontal disease is seeking immediate medical attention from an experienced New Melle Periodontist.
Martin Dental & Associates provides periodontal disease treatment, restoration of dental implants, and other types of surgical dentistry in New Melle. 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 today to protect your oral health.
When Should You See a Periodontist?
Gum disease is preventable with daily brushing, flossing, and bi-annual dental cleanings. But, even with regular oral health maintenance, some patients are more genetically predisposed to gingivitis, periodontitis, and other 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.
Symptoms that require periodontal disease treatment in New Melle include:
- Swollen, tender, or bright red gums - when periodontal bacteria develops, it can lead to extreme gum sensitivity, bleeding gums, and spacing between teeth
- Abnormal spaces between teeth - under the gum line can lead to gum recession and tooth loss, and destroy 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 develop periodontitis, it's important to keep in mind that it's entirely treatable and can be cured with aggressive periodontal disease treatment.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in New Melle
There are four stages of periodontal disease; gingivitis and slight, moderate, and advanced periodontitis. Each level of periodontitis has its own challenges and therefore, requires specific types of treatment.
If your New Melle Periodontist thinks that you might have periodontitis, you might need one of the following New Melle gum disease treatments:
- Scaling, or, tartar 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, or, the smoothing of a tooth's roots, to remove bacteria and other buildup in the area
- Applying topical antibiotics to remove harmful bacteria from between a patient's teeth, inside deep pockets, and under the gum line
- Flap surgery involves making a small incision in the gum, lifting it back, and performing deep scaling and root planing
- Soft tissue grafting repairs soft tissue damage caused by periodontitis using small pieces of healthy tissue from other parts of the mouth
- 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 a special gel that is applied to a diseased tooth root to prevent deeper infection and stimulate natural growth of bone and tissue
After your periodontist performs in-office treatment, at-home oral health maintenance involves brushing twice daily, flossing daily or after every snack and meal, using special mouth rinses to prevent infection, and a dental pick to clean deep under the gums.
New Melle Periodontist
If you think that you could have periodontitis or some form of gum disease, you need to seek treatment from an experienced periodontist right away. 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 goal at Martin Dental & Associates is to improve your oral health, prevent future tooth, gum, or other oral health conditions, and make sure that you are happy with our New Melle dental services every time you visit our office.
If you are looking for a New Melle Periodontist, 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: