Periodontal Treatment in Tempe, AZ

Did you know that the most common cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease? According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease. However, the good news is that periodontal disease is almost entirely preventable.

At Cereus Dental Care, we offer a comprehensive range of periodontal disease treatments to help patients maintain optimal gum health and enjoy the benefits of a smile that look, feels, and functions at its best!

What is Periodontal Disease?

patient getting her teeth checked during a periodontal appointment at Cereus Dental CarePeriodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory diseases that affect the hard and soft tissues surrounding and supporting your teeth. Just like tooth decay, gum disease is attributed to the harmful bacteria in dental plaque and tartar that accumulate around the teeth and under the gums.

Because the progression of periodontal disease is often painless, you may not even be aware of an ongoing disease process. For this very reason, it’s essential to practice good oral hygiene and schedule visits for regular checkups, professional cleanings, and routine care.

Taking care of your smile includes being mindful of the signs and symptoms of gum disease.

What are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?

Some common indications of periodontal disease include:

  • Inflamed and red gums
  • Bleeding when brushing or flossing
  • Receding gums and exposed tooth root surfaces
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
  • Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
  • Teeth that feel loose
  • New spaces developing between the teeth or a change in the bite
  • Change in the fit of existing partial dentures
  • Discharge around the teeth and gums
  • Sharp or dull pain when biting down or chewing food

Periodontal Health and Total-Body Health

patient smiling during his dental appointment at Cereus Dental CareTaking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition; proper oral health also supports systemic health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and a number of medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

At Cereus Dental Care, our dental team emphasizes the importance of prevention, early detection, and timely treatment of periodontal disease. We provide patients the guidance, support, and care required to maintain optimal periodontal health.

Gingivitis Treatment

Gingivitis represents the initial stage of gum disease. Although it doesn’t cause overt discomfort and often goes unnoticed, there are specific signs to be aware of that indicate the start of a problem. If you notice your gums bleed when you brush, look red and inflamed, or feel a little tender, you may  have gingivitis.

By treating gingivitis early, the tissue damage associated with more advanced stages of gum disease can be avoided. Despite the presence of inflammation, the overall integrity of the periodontal tissues in this stage remains intact.

Treatment instituted at this point is often sufficient to reverse the course of the disease and to avoid any permanent damage to the periodontal tissues. A series of deep dental cleanings, an improved home care regimen and a commitment to regular maintenance may be all that is required to prevent this stage of periodontal disease from progressing.

Left untreated, gingivitis may evolve into periodontitis, requiring fast treatment to preserve the structure of the tissue and bone surrounding the gum. Treatment may involve medications to control the bacteria and reduce the size of the pockets between the teeth and gums, gum surgery, as well as bone and tissue grafts.

Periodontal Treatment at Cereus Dental Care

Cereus Dental Care offers personalized, state-of-the-art solutions to help you maintain healthy gums and an attractive, functional smile. As skilled providers of care, we utilize leading-edge technology and treatment methods to address a broad range of periodontal conditions and needs.

The type of periodontal treatment you receive depends on several factors including the stage of periodontal disease, the extent of tissue damage, your overall oral health, existing medical conditions, and other considerations in care. After a thorough assessment of your case, we’ll discuss your options to reestablish and maintain optimal periodontal health. We welcome your questions and are always on hand to provide guidance and address your concerns.

Our periodontal treatments in Tempe, AZ include:

Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment 

woman showing off her new smile after a periodontal appointment at Cereus Dental CareWhen periodontal disease is detected early in its onset, conservative or non-surgical methods of care combined with improved hygiene routines can restore periodontal health. While periodic, professional cleanings are sufficient to maintain periodontal health in patients that do not have gum disease, once gingivitis is present, deeper cleanings and possibly other non-surgical methods of care are recommended to treat the condition.

The American Academy of Periodontology emphasizes achieving periodontal health by means of the least invasive and cost-effective treatment approaches to care. Periodontal deep cleanings, which include Scaling and Root planing, are non-surgical procedures that are considered the first line of defense against the progression of periodontal disease.

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

With scaling and root planing, any plaque and tartar (hardened dental plaque) that have accumulated below the gumline are carefully removed, and then the root surfaces of the teeth are smoothed. Since periodontal disease is an inflammatory response to plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins, by simply mechanically eliminating these agents, the progression of gum disease can be halted. In addition to removing plaque and tartar with a scaling and root planing procedure, antimicrobial medication placed under the gumline or systemic medications can be used as adjuncts to care to further reduce the bacterial population.

If non-surgical approaches to managing periodontal disease do not achieve the desired outcome, surgery may be recommended to halt its progression and repair damage as possible

Periodontal Surgery

When gum disease has advanced beyond the initial stage, periodontal surgery is often recommended to effectively remove bacteria and tartar from around the teeth, reduce gingival pocket depth, restore lost tissue as possible, and halt disease progression. It’s essential to keep in mind that gum disease is a progressive condition. If appropriate measures are not taken, gum disease continues to compromise the support of the teeth and have consequences to one’s overall dental health and well-being.

As untreated gingivitis evolves into more advanced stages of gum disease, periodontal pockets deepen, the bacteria become more difficult to remove, and the gaps between the surface of the teeth and gums get larger. When pocket depth increases to the point of being beyond the reach of deep cleanings and other conservative methods of care (5mm or more), gum surgery to clean and treat the damage to gums and underlying bone is typically recommended.

Schedule Your Periodontal Treatment

For any treatment your smile needs, Cereus Dental Care is with you every step of the way, offering comprehensive care to promote your healthiest smile. If you suspect you may need periodontal therapy, call us today for a consultation with Dr. Daniel J. Lyu, DDS FAGD!

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