Periodontal Disease Treatment – Midland, TX

Scaling &
Root Planing

If you get diagnosed with gum disease, we may suggest scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning. During this process, one of our skilled dental hygienists will scale away plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line of your teeth. During the root planing process, we’ll even the root surfaces so these plaque and bacteria are less likely to stick to your teeth and begin the development of gum disease again.

Antibiotic Therapy

In combination with scaling and root planing, we may also recommend antibiotic therapy. The antibiotics that we prescribe typically come in the form of a mouthrinse or pills to target your gums and reduce the number of harmful oral bacteria in your mouth. This will minimize any gum disease symptoms you’re experiencing and prevent permanent damage from occurring to your mouth, such as tooth loss.

The Root Cause of Gum Disease

Gum disease is actually a bacterial infection. Where does the bacteria come from? It comes from right inside your mouth. The human mouth is filled with millions of bacteria, and some of them are essential to the process of digestion. However, when you have too many harmful bacteria in your mouth, they can multiply and pair with mucus and food particles to form bacterial plaque that sticks to your teeth. This sticky substance can be removed with good oral hygiene care at home. If this routine is neglected though, plaque can harden and become tartar, which requires professional cleaning in order to be removed.

Signs & Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gingivitis and periodontitis are the early and advanced stages of periodontal disease. Gingivitis begins with gums that become red and swollen. They may also be sensitive and bleed when you brush and floss. This is not an indication to stop cleaning your teeth! On the contrary, regular brushing and flossing may help you avoid the need for more in-depth periodontal disease treatment in our Midland, TX, dental office.

If left untreated, gingivitis becomes periodontitis. This stage of gum disease is marked by receding gums, enlarged gum pockets around your teeth, visible pus, bad breath, loose teeth, and ultimately tooth loss.

Health Risks of Gum Disease

In addition to the consequences to your oral health, gum disease has been linked to a number of systemic diseases and illnesses. Although research thus far has not determined that gum disease is the direct cause of these illnesses, it has shown that this condition can increase your risk of diseases and other medical problems that occur throughout the body.

Some of the general health concerns associated with gum disease include:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses
• Low birth weight babies