At Beach Cities Dental Group, Dr. Haddad is here to help her patients improve and maintain their dental health for many years to come. One of the most common dental concerns that she treats in her Oxnard, CA dentist office is gum disease progression. Gum disease, if left untreated, can have huge impacts on the overall health of your smile. Dr. Haddad answers frequently asked questions regarding gum disease progression below:
What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis, also known as bleeding gums, is the first stage of gum disease development. If you’ve ever noticed any blood in the sink following brushing or flossing your teeth, you’ve likely experienced gingivitis. What this means is that your gums are irritated or inflamed due to plaque or tartar buildup. Plaque and tartar are the result of food residue sitting on your dental structures long enough to harden. Practicing a strict at-home oral hygiene routine daily will help reverse the effects of gingivitis. Also, a thorough dental cleaning at your Oxnard dentist office will reverse the effects as well.
What are the symptoms of advanced gum disease?
If left untreated, gingivitis will develop into gum disease, causing symptoms that go beyond bleeding gums. Signs and symptoms of advanced gum disease progression include tender gums, discolored gums, gum recession, increased sensitivity, bad breath, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. Patients should see their dentist in Oxnard as soon as possible if they notice they are showing signs of advanced gum disease. Our goal is to reduce your risk of tooth loss by treating your gum disease promptly.
What are my treatment options for advanced gum disease?
Your treatment options will depend on the extent of your gum disease progression. Beach Cities Dental Group will provide you with a treatment plan that best meets your needs. We offer periodontal therapy services including laser dentistry and scaling and root planing. These treatments aim to remove any infected soft tissue as well as clean the deep pockets of your gums where the bacteria resides. Laser dentistry may also be used to restore the gum line if the gums have receded due to gum disease.
How can I prevent gum disease progression?
Beyond brushing and flossing daily, patients should schedule routine dental cleanings with their Oxnard dentist. During dental cleanings, our team performs a periodontal screening to look for signs of gum disease development. We also remove any plaque or tartar buildup around your gum line that could potentially cause gum disease development. If it has been over six months since the last time you sat in the dental chair, we would love to have you join our dental family. Please schedule an appointment online, and we look forward to seeing you soon.