Healthy Gums, Happy Teeth

The number one reason behind tooth loss is gum disease. Gum disease symptoms is caused by several different things, but all of them lead back to a lack of care for the gums over time. In other words, you stopped getting your teeth and gums cleaned at the dentist, or you began to neglect your teeth and gums at home.

One of the biggest issues with gum disease is that it is often painless in the early stages. The main symptom is bleeding from the gums, noticeable during brushing or flossing your teeth. As your gum disease progresses, you may experience loose or shifting teeth.

A staggering statistic from the American Dental Association reveals that an estimated 8 out 10 people suffer from some stage of gum disease. That is an amazing amount of people afflicted by a completely preventable disease. The good news is that there are ways of treating this disease.

The treatment for more advanced cases of gum disease require surgery. Luckily, the majority of those who have gum disease are still at a level that we can treat with nonsurgical options.

Regular Exams & Cleanings

The first and most common nonsurgical treatment for early stage gum disease is to have your teeth professionally cleaned. At Ascension Premier Dental, you will be given a top-to-bottom check of your teeth and gums.

The dental cleaning process will help remove plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth and along the gum line. This aids in eradicating the disease-causing bacteria and keeping it from causing you further gum health issues. After the professional cleaning is complete, it is important to create a regularly scheduled plan to keep your teeth and gums free of plaque and tartar buildup.

Other Nonsurgical Options

Another nonsurgical form of treatment for gum disease is what is called scaling and root planing. This is a more in-depth cleaning procedure than what is involved with a regular professional dental cleaning.

This treatment is a two-part process done under local anesthesia. The first part is scaling. This involves our hygienist cleaning hardened plaque and tartar from around and under the gum line. This plaque and tartar is much more stubborn and harder to remove than the plaque and tartar found above the gum line.

Once the scaling has removed all of this hardened material, our hygienist will move on to the root planing part of the treatment. This is where the rough areas on the root of the tooth are smoothed to allow for a clean, bacteria-free surface. This gum treatment procedure is used only when Dr. Calvin Bessonet determines that the gums and underlying bone are still healthy enough to warrant this in-depth cleaning process.

Gum disease is big deal. It is the biggest reason behind adults losing their teeth, and it can also negatively affect your overall health. Taking care of your teeth and your gums is important. That is why Ascension Premier Dental is here to help you keep your gums healthy and your teeth happy. Give us a call at 225-673-6910, or refer to the online contact form to get in touch with us.

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