Periodontal Maintenance

Your smile is more than just your teeth. Your surrounding gums, known as your periodontal tissue, are there to keep your teeth safely secure. Without the support of your gums, you can experience loose teeth and an increased risk of tooth loss.

This means that it is vital to keep your gums healthy, starting with a dedication to flossing. If you currently go light on your oral health regimen, it is time to make a change. The infection and inflammation of your gums puts you at serious risk.

Have you started to notice a shift in your gumline?

Call your local Grand Prairie, TX dentist and schedule an appointment to determine your next steps. Periodontal disease is a serious condition, and it can require dedicated treatment. Our team is here to help you renew your gum health through periodontal maintenance!

Your Gums Are A Key Part Of Your Oral Health

When your gums become infected, they can pull away from the base of your teeth. This can happen due to infection, and this happens most commonly due to a lack of oral health hygiene. As plaque and tartar accumulate along the gumline, this tissue can pull back, exposing the root of the tooth.

Since your gums provide support for your teeth, this causes the teeth to start to become loose, if left untreated. If you have started to notice a shift in your gumline, you need to talk to your dentist about treatment as soon as possible.

Periodontal Tissue Does Not Regrow

After your gums have started to recede due to plaque and tartar buildup, a dentist can help you to slow and even stop the progression of periodontal disease. It is important to remember, however, that this tissue cannot regrow in the same way that your skin or the insides of your cheeks can.

This means that treating your periodontal disease early is key in keeping your smile safe. Make an appointment today for a dental cleaning and discuss your next steps with our team.

Scaling And Root Planing Help Reduce Your Risk

Keeping your smile clean after the development of gum infection is one of the most important ways to slow down gum recession. Once you have started to develop an accumulation of tartar, you can no longer safely remove it on your own. When this happens, a trained dentist or dental hygienist will need to do it for you.

At our office, we use powerful ultrasonic technology to break up and remove tartar accumulation from the surface of your teeth and even deep below your gumline. Cleaning of this kind is known as scaling and root planing. This is a great first step in stopping your gums from shifting further.

Continuing Your Care After Your First Treatment

Talk to your dentist about your next steps after your periodontal care. These forms of treatment can require additional scaling and root planing to ensure that all plaque and tartar buildup has been fully removed.

If you have extensive loss of your gum tissue, we can refer you to a periodontist for further treatment, including grafting. This procedure takes healthy periodontal tissue from one area of your mouth, using it to restore your gums.

Notice A Shift In Your Gumline? Call Dr. Maxey Today!

Your gums are a vital part of your oral health, and when they aren’t as healthy as they need to be, your smile is at risk.

To learn more about periodontal maintenance, schedule an appointment with Dr. Maxey, DDS and we can help you with a dedicated treatment plan. Give us a call at our Grand Prairie, TX office today at (972) 264-5795!

From Our Blog:

Is the Dental Implant Prone to Cavities or Gum Disease?

The dental implant procedure includes a small piece of titanium inserted into gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred. This serves as the base for a cosmetic restoration. The patient will go from tooth loss to a fully functional tooth that is so close to natural, no one will be able to tell the dental implants from biological teeth.

Implant dentistry is a process that can take about one year to complete. Tooth loss can have occurred from trauma, decay or infection, but the cause should not impact the result.

The implant process is initiated by surgically embedding a titanium post into the gum tissue where one or more teeth have been lost. A healing period of four to six months follows this surgery. During this time, the implant will be grafting to bone tissue. The beauty of titanium is that extensive research has proven this metal has unique properties that not only promote metal and bone to merge, but also encourages bone growth in the area of tooth loss. Read More…

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

As with most illnesses or medical conditions, there are several degrees of severity. The same pertains to gum disease. From the onset of gingivitis to the more serious periodontitis, there are usually many signs that would warrant a visit to The Dental Place in Grand Prairie, TX for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Chronic bad breath can be an indicator that you are experiencing gum disease. The usual culprit to halitosis is attributed to the foods we eat. But excess bacteria build-up in the mouth can linger on teeth, gum tissue and in between teeth causing gingivitis and the onset of gum disease. Read More…

My gums bleed when I brush: Should I be concerned?

Many patients ask the dentist about bleeding gums and whether that symptom is cause for concern. The answer, in short, is a resounding yes! Bleeding gums are never normal, and they often indicate a mild form of gum disease known as gingivitis.

Gum disease is a progressive condition, and as it advances, it causes more damage to your gum tissue. In its most severe forms, gum disease can even lead to tooth and bone loss.

Fortunately, the mildest form of gum disease can be readily treated by your dentist with a thorough professional cleaning. If you act early, you can avoid the more invasive treatments that are needed for advanced periodontal disease. Read More…