Learn About Gum Disease
Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis if it gets worse. Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gums.
We take periodontal disease very seriously since it is linked to a number of complications and life-threatening diseases.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, affects millions of Americans every year. In fact, about 75% of people in the U.S. over the age of 35 years old have gingivitis which is a mild form of gum disease. From cancer to heart disease to diabetes and an increased risk of strokes, periodontal disease is nothing to take lightly.
The symptoms of gum disease are not major. In fact, they, at times, just start as minor inconveniences. That’s why it’s important to regularly visit your dentist since Dr. Gatgens can tell you if your gums are affected or how likely you are to develop gingivitis in the near future.
This will motivate and encourage you to boost your dental care to a higher level. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, that can be an indicator of gum disease. If your gums look puffy or if they are tender, that can be another indicator.
According to our Dickson & Belle Meade dentist, bad breath can result from periodontal disease as well as loose-like teeth. For a clear diagnosis, visit Dr. Gatgens and get professional answers.
We Can Help
If you have inflamed or bleeding gums, visit Dr. Gatgens to have your teeth examined. If he sees eroded bone around your mouth or abnormal pockets around the roots of your teeth, he'll advise you with the best dental treatment for you.
This may include a deep cleaning or more complex dental treatment like dental implants to replace missing teeth. There are a number of ways to deal with gum disease and every situation is different.
At Accent Smile Center in Dickson & Belle Meade, we use various technologies to ensure these dental treatments are completed as fast as possible in the most comfortable way for our patients. If you live in the Dickson, Tennessee area or Belle Meade, visit Accent Smile Center for your dental exam.
Using Lasers to Treat Gum Disease
Lasers in dentistry are used to cut hard and soft tissue, whiten, desensitize teeth, manage oral lesions, and much more! Lasers aren’t going away, so the question dentists have to ask is how to best utilize them. One thing to consider is that every mouth will respond in unique ways to treatment.
A treatment that works perfectly for one patient might not work at all for someone else. There’s isn’t a “silver bullet” to get rid of oral diseases, but incorporating laser energy to inflamed oral tissues has the potential to improve outcomes related to tissue integrity, pain management, and wound healing.
Dr. Ford Gatgens at Accent Smile Center is proud to be at the leading edge of using laser dental treatment.
To perform periodontal laser therapy, Dr. Gatgens uses a dental laser to access and remove the inflamed gum tissue from around the root of your tooth. Once the infected tissue has been removed and the root is exposed, root scaling can begin.
This involves scraping off calcification and plaque that has built up below your gumline and around your root. Dr. Gatgens will then smooth the root and remove any rough spots that might attract bacteria and cause future infections. The area between the gum and the root can then regenerate during the healing process.
Laser Treatment for a Healthier Smile
As with any medical treatment, there are some risks to using lasers to treat periodontal disease. One is the fact that you are a human being, and human beings are made of different types of tissues that are all highly sensitive and work in complicated ways.
If your dentist uses the wrong wavelength or power level, it could cause more damage to the periodontal tissue. Some providers are also concerned that the amount of advertising hype around laser therapy might tempt some providers to use it more than they should, or to use it without the proper experience.
You don’t want to trust your smile to just anyone. Fortunately, we have an expert on hand to provide the world-class skills and service you deserve! Dr. Gatgens has knowledge and experience with lasers allows him to provide patients with the best outcomes possible in all areas of dentistry!
Periodontal laser therapy is a convenient solution to many common dental problems, from cosmetic to complex. To find out more about what laser dentistry has to offer you, get in touch with our talented team to schedule a consultation at Accent Smile Center
