Gum Disease

Diagnosis

Early symptoms of gum disease include swelling, redness and inflammation around the gum line. If you have these symptoms, Dr. Karagodsky will examine your mouth to see if you have any tarter below the gum line. Dr. Karagodsky will then use a probe to measure periodontal pockets. When gums become unhealthy, they pull away from the teeth, forming periodontal pockets. If your periodontal pockets are deeper than 3mm, you have gum disease.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. The gums become red, swollen and bleed easily. Gingivitis is reversible. A thorough, professional cleaning, along with daily brushing and flossing, and regular dental exams can restore gums to good health.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease develops when plaque build-up is not removed. Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. Periodontal disease damages the structures that secure, surround and support the teeth, which includes the gums, jawbone, and the fibers that anchor the teeth to the gums, Regular dental exams and following a strict oral hygiene regimen at home can effectively prevent periodontal disease.

Treatments

Even when gum disease is in a fairly advanced stage, it is possible to improve or even reverse the condition with non-surgical procedures. Scaling and root planing are deep cleaning techniques designed to improve and even reverse gum disease by removing the germs causing infection. Scaling can be done above or below the gum line and involves the scraping and removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the tooth. After scaling, planing is performed. This process involves smoothing the root of the tooth so that any remaining tartar is removed. With either of these procedures, local or systemic antibiotics and a specially indicated mouth rinse may be prescribed to kill any remaining bacteria.