Treating Periodontal Disease

Find out the best way to handle gum disease if it happens to you.

Gum disease affects about half of the American population, according to the CDC, and yet many people don’t even realize that they have it. Since gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss it’s important that you visit our Pasadena, CA, periodontist Dr. Peter Cooper if you notice any changes in your gums. Luckily, if you do have gum disease, treatments are available.

There are many ways in which to treat gum disease depending on the severity of your condition. In fact, if we are able to catch gum disease in its earliest stages (known as gingivitis) then it can actually be treated with the proper care; however, not everyone experiences symptoms of gum disease and if they don’t visit a dentist regularly they won’t often know until the disease has advanced.

Our Pasadena, CA, gum disease specialist offers both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for helping you get your gum disease under control. The most common gum disease treatment is known as scaling and root planing. Simply put, this treatment is just like giving your teeth, gums and even tooth roots a deep professional cleaning. This is a non-surgical procedure performed right here in our office.

During scaling and root planing, we will remove plaque and tartar buildup that sits above and below the gumline with special scaling instruments. We will also smooth down the roots of the teeth to make it a less hospitable environment for bacteria to thrive and grow. Also, by smoothing these rough areas of the tooth roots we also make it easier for the gums to reattach to the teeth after treatment.

If your symptoms are more severe or if your gum disease has caused extensive bone, tooth and gum loss then you may require surgery in order to manage your gum disease symptoms and improve the health and appearance of your smile. The most common surgical treatment is flap surgery in which incisions are made in the gums to open them up and remove the tartar buildup underneath.

After the tartar has been removed we will pull the gums taut so that they fit tightly around the tooth (gum disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth and recede). In other instances, soft tissue grafts or bone grafts may also be necessary to rebuild the jawbone and tissue.

If you have questions about getting gum disease treatment in Pasadena, CA, or if you have questions about any other dental services we offer, don’t hesitate to call our office today to schedule an appointment. Call (626) 796-1241 today.