A Few Facts About Treating Gum Disease

Would you know if you developed gum disease? Most patients want to say yes, but many people who experience severe gum disease didn’t realize or treat their condition in time to stop it from growing worse. Because of this, many patients require comprehensive periodontal treatment to restore their smiles by the time they do seek help. At our Oxnard, CA, dental office, we can help you prevent gum disease or detect it in its earliest stages. This helps you better protect your smile by boosting your chances of preventing the disease, or at least controlling it before it has time to progress and cause more serious oral health issues.

Treatment is different for everyone
Because gum disease is progressive, patients who seek to treat it experience it at different stages. For example, early gingivitis may be addressed with a deep periodontal cleaning, or scaling and root planing. More developed gum disease could require ongoing periodontal maintenance, while severe gum disease can lead to the need for extensive treatment and smile restoration. The extent of treatment you require to address your gum disease and its consequences will depend on how severe the disease has grown by the time you visit your dentist.

Time matters more than you think
When gum disease first develops, it begins as a small infection in a certain area of your gums (known as gingivitis). A regular schedule of exams and cleanings will boost your chances of detecting the earliest signs of gingivitis so that we can design an appropriate treatment plan. However, if you hesitate to seek treatment or skip visiting your dentist for a while, then your gum disease will only grow worse in the meantime. In severe cases, it can erode significantly amounts of your periodontal (gum) tissues and jawbone structure, leading to increased risks of tooth loss.

Your treatment might include tooth replacement
Gum disease affects mainly the periodontal tissues and ligaments that surround your teeth roots. Not only do these tissues protect the roots, but also help support your teeth as they bite and chew. As gum disease progresses, it can also begin to erode the jawbone structure underneath your gums, which is responsible for supporting and sustaining your teeth roots. Severe gum disease can cause enough damage to these structures that tooth loss or the need for tooth extraction becomes inevitable. To fully restore your smile, your treatment plan may include an appropriate replacement for your lost tooth/teeth in addition to ongoing care and maintenance for your gums.

Learn more about treating gum disease
If you fail to prevent gum disease, then you’ll have a better chance at preserving your smile if you know all you can about treating it. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.