What to Expect for Periodontitis Treatment

During a routine oral examination, your dentist will be able to see signs of periodontitis. Your dentist will probe for the presence of gum pockets and measure them. If plaque and tartar are present, your dentist will do a professional cleaning to remove them. An x-ray may be taken to find out the degree of gum and bone involvement. Depending on the outcome of all these, your dentist may refer you to a periodontist for further testing and treatment.

Remember that the goal of perio-treatment is to free your teeth and gums of all plaque, tartar, and bacterial infections. That is why professional cleaning or deep cleaning (called scaling and root planing) is first done. This involves scraping all tartar on rough spots on crown and root, polishing and applying fluoride. Without bacteria, periodontitis will not progress.

Your periodontist will also instruct you to stick to an oral hygiene routine at home. This involves fluoride brushing, flossing, using an electric toothbrush which is more effective, a water pick, and mouthwash. Your specialist will also ask you to stop smoking, if you do. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed if gum infection is persistent and does not respond to cleanings alone.

Follow up with your specialist as often as needed to determine and assess your perio-treatment progress. If periodontal pockets are still present, surgery may be recommended. Flap surgery is done under anesthesia where your gums are lifted and your roots cleaned; your gums will be sutured back into place, fitting snugly around the roots. Hence, pockets are eliminated. If there is also bone loss, bone grafting may be done simultaneously with flap surgery. This regenerates the lost bone.

Without treatment, periodontitis will progress to the point that your jaw bone can be destroyed. You can have painful abscesses. Your teeth can drift apart, get loose in their sockets until they fall out or need pulling out. Gums will continue to recede and expose more roots. Periodontitis carries the risk of increased respiratory disease, heart disease, and diabetes.

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Perio-Protect at Overlake Dental in Bellevue

When you think you might be suffering from periodontitis, come see us in Bellevue and we can discuss about your treatment plan.

What Happens When You have Periodontitis?

Periodontitis is a serious form of gum disease characterized by inflammation of the gums. It starts off quite simply as gingivitis, with some swelling and redness of the gum tissue. Most of the time it is painless and hence, can go unnoticed. Over time, if gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis, leading to more serious consequences in oral and overall health. Here are the stages of this disease, including their symptoms.

Gingivitis is the early form of periodontitis.

There may be gum swelling or puffiness, irritation, and a change of color from healthy pink to red or reddish brown. There may be no pain but you may experience some bleeding when you brush or floss. The cause is the buildup of plaque on teeth and under the gums that contain bacteria that produce toxins irritating the gums. If untreated, it will proceed to early periodontitis.

You will notice your teeth as if they are elongating, but it is actually your gums receding or pulling away from your teeth, creating pockets. There are bacteria inside those pockets and they may spread across the gums. While your body is fighting the infection, the gums begin to pull away. You may experience bleeding as you brush and floss. If still untreated, as most people do not pay notice, it will progress to moderate periodontitis.

At this time, there is bleeding and pain is felt around the affected teeth where there is gum recession. You may not know it but your teeth are already losing bone support. You will feel those teeth are loose or are wobbly in their sockets. The infection is still going on and an inflammatory response is raging throughout your body.

In the advanced stage of periodontitis, the tissues that hold your teeth in place begin to deteriorate. Gums and teeth may be losing their usual color and form and the teeth may be spaced out. There may be severe pain while chewing your food, foul breath, and foul taste in the mouth. You might be losing some teeth.

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Seeking Help for Periodontitis in Bellevue

If you are experiencing any of these stages and symptoms, do see us promptly at Overlake Dental. Your Bellevue dentist is ready to help.

Depending on the Severity of the Tooth Decay

To treat a tooth cavity, your dentist will first do an oral examination. Your dentist may still do a dental x-ray of the tooth and area involved to find out the extent of the cavity. There are several ways to treat a tooth cavity, but the appropriate method would depend on the severity of the decay.

Tooth fillings

These are the most common options, to fill in the cavity with the dental filling material. Your dentist will drill in and around the cavity, removing all the decayed material, cleaning the area and preparing it to receive the material. It can be silver, gold, amalgam, or composite material. It is important that it is sealed in place and polished.

Crowns

If the decay is severe, such as it is already too expansive to save the tooth, a crown is a better option. Your dentist will have to remove all the decayed part of the tooth and cap it with a custom fit artificial tooth, called a crown. It should match the color and form of the affected tooth, and must be sealed in place.

Root canal

This procedure aims to still keep the tooth. If the pulp inside the tooth is already dying or dead, the dentist removes all the tissues therein – nerves, blood vessels, all debris, and all signs of infection – in the pulp chamber until the root ends. The dentist prepares the space to receive medication and filling material, usually gutta-percha. Finally, a crown may be placed on top of it.

Though tooth decay is very common, you can lower your chances of having cavities in several ways. Firstly, it’s necessary to fluoride-brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once-a-day. Limit these types of food: sugary and acidic foods, including snacking. Eat more of these: fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and calcium-rich foods. Drink more of these: unsweetened black or green tea and water with fluoride. And do not forget to pay your dentist a visit, at least every 6 months, not just for cavities but also other dental issues.

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Treating Cavities in Bellevue

If you think you may have a cavity, come see your Bellevue dentist here at Overlake Dental. Know more about treatments and prevention tips.

What are Cavities?

A cavity, or a tooth decay, starts as a discreet hole on your tooth. They have a variety of causes and present symptoms depending on how severe the decay is. There are risk factors which make some people more prone to it than others.

Cavities are very common across all age groups, including infants. It is one of the most common disease conditions in children worldwide. Due to the fact that they are, at first, unnoticeable, you may not know you have a cavity; even if you think you are practising good oral hygiene. Many do not present pain symptoms and so they grow larger and deeper. That is why regular dental visits are important to catch cavities early and prevent new ones from forming.

Symptoms of Cavities

So what are the usual symptoms that a cavity may be present on your tooth? Common symptoms are black or white staining on the tooth surface, tooth sensitivity, pain, and hole on the tooth.

Plaque is generally the cause of holes on your teeth. The sticky substance that is composed of food debris, saliva, acid and bacteria binds to the tooth surface and slowly but surely eats away at the enamel, the tooth’s first layer.

Some people are more prone to developing cavities than others. Here are risk factors that will make you more susceptible to cavities.

• A diet that is high in sugar; high consumption of acidic foods and drinks
• Oral hygiene neglect; not brushing and flossing regularly
• Not enough fluoride in drinking water, toothpaste, etc.
• Disorders like dry mouth syndrome, anorexia, bulimia, and acid reflux
• Crooked teeth that do not get cleaned well, especially back teeth

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Learning More About Cavities in Bellevue

Regular visits to your Bellevue dentist will catch cavities early and prevent the formation of new ones. If you think you may have a cavity, do not ignore it. Drop by for a consultation at Overlake Dental.

Weakened Enamel

In both cases – tooth cavity and tooth sensitivity – the enamel has weakened. What causes the enamel to become weak? Poor oral hygiene leading to excessive plaque is the most common; high consumption of sugary and acidic foods and beverages with neglect of proper brushing and flossing can surely weaken enamel. Other causes are: bruxism or grinding of teeth, excessive or forceful brushing, excessive use of alcohol-based mouthwashes, among others.

Treatment for Cavities and Sensitive Teeth

The simplest way to treat sensitive teeth is to avoid the triggers. There are also many toothpaste brands you can use that are designed specifically for sensitive teeth. For severe cases that have not responded to other treatments, including installation of crowns and veneers.

In the case of tooth decay and cavities, professional treatment by a qualified dentist is best. The dentist makes a visual assessment, takes x-rays, drills out the damaged tooth area to completely remove the decay, and either fill, cap, or replace the tooth for complete pain treatment.

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Learn more about Cavity Pain & Tooth Sensitivity at Overlake Dental

If you are suffering from pain or discomfort, and don’t know if it’s a cavity or experiencing tooth sensitivity, come see our Bellevue dentists for consultation and treatment.