Periodontal Care Tumwater, WA
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is a chronic oral health condition that begins with an infection in your gums. Left untreated, this condition can significantly impact both your gums and teeth, leading to serious oral health complications. Because of these potentially severe consequences, regular periodontal maintenance and care at Deschutes River Dentistry is essential for your oral health. Our experienced team monitors the health of your teeth and gums through routine oral examinations and professional cleanings, helping to protect you from developing gum disease or preventing its progression.
What Is Periodontal Maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance refers to the comprehensive preventative treatments specifically designed to keep your gums healthy. This process involves thoroughly cleaning your gums and removing harmful plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to infection. Our team uses a combination of specialized handheld instruments and advanced dental equipment to ensure your gums receive the thorough care they need.
What Are the Effects of Gum Disease?
Gum disease typically begins with relatively mild symptoms, but these early warning signs indicate that prompt treatment is necessary to prevent more serious complications. The earliest indicators of gum disease include noticeable discoloration in your gums and increased sensitivity, particularly during your daily oral care routine.
As sensitivity increases, you may notice that your gums bleed easily when you brush or floss your teeth. This bleeding is often one of the first signs that many patients recognize, signaling that professional intervention is needed.
When gum disease is allowed to progress untreated, the natural pockets that exist between your teeth and gums begin to deepen significantly. Eventually, these enlarged pockets may require specialized pocket reduction surgery, allowing our team to access and thoroughly clean away accumulated plaque while reducing pocket depth.
Without proper treatment at this stage, you’ll likely experience gum recession, where your gums pull away from your teeth. In the most advanced stages of gum disease, tooth loss becomes a serious concern. While our team can still provide effective treatment even at this advanced stage, the procedures become much more complex, and typically require multiple surgical interventions.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
When detected in its early stages, gum disease can often be successfully treated using non-surgical approaches. These conservative treatments closely resemble standard periodontal maintenance procedures and can frequently be performed during your regular cleaning appointments.
The primary non-surgical treatment is called scaling and root planing, sometimes referred to as a deep cleaning. During the scaling portion, our dental professionals carefully remove tartar buildup from your teeth using specialized handheld instruments. Following the scaling process, root planing is performed to smooth the surfaces of your tooth roots. This smoothing process creates an optimal environment for your gums to heal properly and reattach to your teeth. While this procedure causes minimal discomfort, it’s important to understand that scaling and root planing is most effective when gum disease is caught early. If your condition has progressed significantly, more comprehensive and time-intensive treatments may be necessary.
Don’t compromise your oral health or risk your beautiful smile. Schedule your preventative care appointment with our professional team at Deschutes River Dentistry today. We’re committed to providing you with exceptional care that will keep your smile healthy and bright. Call us at 360-786-9354 to book your appointment and take the first step toward optimal oral health.