Your teeth are not the sole focus of your dental care at our Grand Prairie dental practice. We believe that protecting your gums is equally important for preventing oral diseases. Our practice offers comprehensive care for your gums, also known as periodontal tissue.

One primary oral health concern for patients and dentists alike is periodontal disease. The bacteria found in plaque cause inflammation that attacks the gums, leading to periodontal disease.

If left untreated, your periodontal disease can affect the underlying bone as well, putting you at risk for tooth and bone loss. Beyond its effects in the mouth, periodontal disease has also been linked with systemic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that occurs in stages. The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis, in which the gums may be red and swollen but no permanent damage is evident.

The next phase is periodontitis, when pockets develop in the gums and the connective tissue that holds the teeth in place is compromised. Patients who have advanced periodontitis may face bone and tooth loss, as those connective tissues are destroyed.

While examining your gums, your dentist will look for signs of periodontal problems, like redness, swelling, bleeding or pockets in the gums. If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms at home, be sure to bring them to your dentist’s attention.

Your symptoms will help your dentist determine what treatment is appropriate. For gingivitis, a thorough professional cleaning that removes plaque and tartar and reduces the amount of oral bacteria will typically suffice.

As periodontal disease advances, however, the treatments become more invasive. Periodontitis may necessitate a root planing and scaling, in which the dentist cleans between the roots and the gums and smoothes the surface of the root to prevent the collection of plaque.

Gum flap surgery, when a dentist makes an incision in the gum for better access to the clean the root, may also be necessary if other treatments are ineffective.

Our practice is capable of treating all phases of periodontal disease and helping you to develop a plan for home care that can prevent a recurrence.

In addition to treating periodontal disease, our dentists can also make aesthetic improvements to your gums if they are needed.

Your teeth may get most of the attention, but your gums also have a significant influence on your smile’s appearance. If the gumline is asymmetrical, uneven, or the gums are too prominent, your smile may look strange.

Dr. Maxey and Dr. George can perform cosmetic gum surgery to improve your appearance. Ask the dentist if such a procedure would be helpful for your case.

 

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…