Gum disease. It's the leading cause of tooth loss for American adults, and it affects 75% of Americans over the age of 35, according to the FDA. The first signs of gum disease include tender, red, puffy gums, or gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. However, some patients have gum disease without any symptoms.
The only way to know for sure if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease is to see your dentist for a checkup. While other offices might refer you to specialists for periodontal care, we perform periodontal therapy in house, allowing you to experience uninterrupted care from the dentists you’ve come to trust. Dr. Scott Wyatt DDS, and our hygiene team will gently inspect your soft tissues and let you know if you have any stage of gum disease.
Gum disease leads to bad breath, unsightly gums, gum loss, bone loss, and tooth loss. Gum disease is tricky, showing no symptoms in the beginning, but as this problem steadily progresses, symptoms include:
- Redness or swelling of the gums
- Bleeding when you brush
- Bad taste in the mouth or bad breath
- Loosening of teeth
- Change in your bite or the way dentures fit
The first symptom that most people notice is bleeding gums, and many choose to ignore this problem, thinking it’s normal. However, it isn’t normal, and if you’ve noticed bleeding when you brush or floss, you should visit our Oklahoma City dental office for periodontal care.
Periodontal treatment involves deep cleaning the infected gum tissue and smoothing the tooth root for easier cleaning in the future. With periodontal therapy, we can combat your gum disease, protecting your mouth from even bigger problems in the future.
We can use soft tissue lasers to perform periodontal therapy for treating your gum disease. Laser periodontal therapy offers the advantages of being more precise and less invasive, affecting only the infected area. Soft tissue lasers also cut down on bleeding during periodontal care, and they speed healing.
If you’ve noticed any of the signs of gum disease, please contact us for an appointment. Surrey Hills Dental Clinic provides periodontal care for the Oklahoma City, Yukon, and Piedmont areas. We look forward to improving your smile!