At Smiles 4 Texas, we care greatly about the oral health of each of our patients. We want to make sure everyone has the best opportunity to pursue and maintain pique oral health. Of course, this comes with providing pertinent information about how to best care for teeth, but is also means that the dentist must at times work hand-in-hand with the patient.

For every person, periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a possible problem. Remaining diligent about brushing twice daily, as well as rinsing and flossing daily, is the first step toward keeping teeth clean and free of disease. Along with these methods, visiting the dentist every six months for check-ups and dental cleanings is the best way to undergo a deep cleaning and stay abreast of any possibilities of problems along the gumline and the rest of the mouth.

During these check-ups and cleanings, our dentists are able to recognize certain issues in the mouth and may end up recommending the administering of dental scaling and root planing.

WHAT IS DENTAL SCALING AND ROOT PLANING?

When it is evident a patient has gum disease, our dentists suggest the patient undergo dental scaling and root planing to clear up the disease.

Dental Scaling

This is conducted by the dentist with ultrasonic and manual instruments to remove plaque and tartar buildup. First, the dentist utilizes the ultrasonic instrument to create sonic vibrations around the teeth in order to break up the plaque and/or tartar. Once the dentist completes this step, the use of a manual instrument is utilized in order to remove the remaining plaque and tartar.

Root Planing

During the root planing phase, the dentist will scale the gums to remove any excess plaque or biofilm. This means getting into the root system of the gums and eliminating target areas in the gums that have been affected by the disease. This method will decrease the inflammation in the gumline.

For many patients this dental procedure of dental scaling and root planing must be done multiple times, on average about two to four times. The purpose is to remove any and all plaque, tartar, and biofilm buildup that is affecting the gumline.

RESULTS OF GUM DISEASE

Gum disease can lead to many health problems, not just in the mouth. Periodontal disease has been known to be linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory disease. Along with these extreme results, here are some more common problems that stem from gum disease:

Bleeding Gums

Many patients think that bleeding gums are normal, especially after brushing. This is not the case. This is a sign of the early effects of gingivitis, which untreated can lead to gum disease.

Tooth Support

Gum disease eats away at the structural support in the jawbone and can cause teeth to become loose. When this takes place, teeth can easily be knocked out or may be recommended by the dentist to be extracted as they will not be able to serve their intended purpose.

Severe Forms

In severe forms of gum disease, it can affect more than just the gums or teeth. It can impact and deteriorate the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone.

DO YOU HAVE GUM DISEASE?

If you are showing signs of gum disease, then you need to make your appointment immediately with our Memorial City dental office. Taking care of the situation now will ensure you won’t have more serious problems down the road. Contact our office at 713-360-7963 to schedule your appointment.