Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Are your gums sensitive to cold foods and drinks? You may have gingivitis. While gingivitis, or gum inflammation, is easily reversible, it can develop into a problem that can be more difficult to eliminate: gum disease. At Dupont Dental, we offer periodontal disease treatment in our Washington, DC, dental office for patients to restore gum health.
Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a common but highly damaging dental problem that requires professional care. Luckily, expert dentist Dr. Christopher Banks can keep your gum disease symptoms in check as part of restorative dentistry services in our DC office.
Gum Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors
The early stages of gum disease are subtle. Many people don’t realize they have a problem until it gets worse. That’s why you should pay attention to any changes in your mouth and visit our dentist regularly. The most common signs of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums
- Sensitive gums
- Bad breath
- Gum recession
- Deep gum pockets
- Loose teeth
Multiple factors can increase your risk of gum disease:
- Age
- Genetics
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Poor oral hygiene
If you notice these signs of gum disease and have one or more of these risk factors, please contact our office. Dr. Banks will perform a visual exam and take digital X-rays. Let us know about all your symptoms to help us determine the right treatment for your stage of gum disease.
Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a serious oral health problem that gets worse over time if it’s not treated. Knowing the signs can help you get the right care before it causes lasting damage. Gum disease has four main stages.
Gingivitis
This is the only reversible “stage” of gum disease, also known as gum inflammation. When harmful bacteria begin to build on the gums, they irritate and inflame the tissue. Your gums can feel sensitive and bleed when you brush and floss. The best ways to treat gingivitis are through routine dental cleanings and regular brushing and flossing at home.
Mild Periodontitis
As gum inflammation becomes gum disease, your gums will begin to pull away from your teeth. This process will create bacteria-filled gum pockets. You may need regular deep gum cleanings to treat these pockets.
Moderate Periodontitis
As the disease progresses, the pockets around your teeth become deeper, and the gum infection spreads. More gum tissue is destroyed, and the damage becomes harder to treat. You may start to feel pain, soreness, or bleeding in your gums more often. At this stage, your dentist may need to use more advanced treatments to clean the infected areas and help save your teeth.
Advanced Periodontitis
This is the most serious stage of gum disease. By now, the infection has caused major damage to your gums and the bone that supports your teeth. Your teeth may feel loose or even fall out. At this stage, you need surgery to clean deep areas of infection, rebuild lost tissue, or remove teeth that cannot be saved. Without treatment, you risk permanent tooth loss and serious health problems.
Periodontal Disease Treatment at Dupont Dental
You can reverse gingivitis with good daily oral care at home and regular professional dental cleanings. But once gingivitis turns into gum disease, you need professional care to save the teeth and gums. We provide multiple periodontal disease treatment options in Washington, DC.
Scaling and Root Planing
This combination of deep cleaning treatments removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline. It’s typically the first line of defense against periodontitis.
Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the surface of your teeth and the pockets between your teeth and gums. Root planing smooths the roots of your teeth to remove bacterial deposits. This helps your gums reattach to the tooth and prevents further plaque buildup.
Scaling and root planing usually takes one to two appointments. We use local anesthesia to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure.
Antibiotic Therapy
In some cases, we prescribe antibiotics to help eliminate infection and prevent it from returning. Antibiotics may be delivered as pills or as a medicated mouthwash. We may also place antibiotics directly into the gum pockets after scaling and root planing.
Antibiotic therapy works best when combined with other treatments. After your treatment, we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress and make sure the antibiotics are working.
Laser Gum Treatment
We use soft tissue diode lasers to treat gum disease. Lasers can remove damaged tissue, kill harmful bacteria, and stimulate healing. Unlike traditional surgery, laser treatment doesn’t require sutures and involves less discomfort and downtime.
Laser dentistry treatment is often used in combination with scaling and root planing to improve results. It’s a gentler option for patients who are anxious about traditional gum surgery.
Restorative Care for Tooth Loss
When gum disease becomes severe, it can lead to permanent tooth loss. If you’ve lost teeth from gum disease, we can help restore your smile once your gums are healthy.
We offer dental implants, bridges, and implant-supported dentures to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are the gold standard because they look, feel, and work like natural teeth.
Referral for Advanced Cases
In the most advanced cases, we may refer you to a trusted periodontist for surgical treatment. Surgeries may include gum grafting to add healthy tissue over deep gum pockets or tooth extraction if a tooth cannot be saved. We work closely with specialists to ensure you receive the same quality of care we would provide.
Patient Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more questions? We welcome you to learn more about gum disease. Read answers to these common questions about periodontal disease treatment in our Washington, DC, dental office.
Does gum disease treatment hurt?
Anesthesia is common in gum disease treatments for pain-free care. However, sensitivity is common when you already have sensitive gum tissue because of an infection. You may have sensitive gum tissue after a deep cleaning, but this will fade. After you tackle gum disease, you will no longer feel gum pain or discomfort.
Will gum disease go away on its own?
No, gum disease will not stop on its own. If left untreated, gum disease will progress. Thorough brushing and flossing can help reverse gum inflammation. However, if you develop gum disease, you need professional dental care. Scaling and root planing, restorative care, and even surgery can treat your gum disease.
Can the gums grow back naturally?
No, once your gums recede, they will not grow back. Grafting is your best option to restore healthy gums if you have gum recession. For this reason, care for your gum health at home with regular brushing and flossing. If you notice changes in your gum health, call our office for professional care.
How often should I get a deep cleaning if I have gum disease?
If you have gum disease, you’ll likely need a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) at least once every 6 to 12 months. In more severe cases, we may recommend cleanings more frequently, sometimes every 3 to 4 months, to effectively manage the disease. Dr. Banks will create a personalized schedule based on your condition and closely monitor your progress.
What happens if I decide not to treat my gum disease?
Untreated gum disease worsens over time, leading to significant issues like gum recession, tooth sensitivity, infections, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. Beyond oral health, chronic gum disease increases your risk for other serious conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
You want to treat gum problems early to stop them from getting worse. Don’t ignore the signs. Visiting Dr. Banks regularly and getting care quickly can help protect your health.
Will I eventually lose my teeth if I have gum disease?
Not necessarily. If you treat gum disease early, you can save your teeth and gums. However, untreated or advanced gum disease can severely damage gums and bone, eventually causing teeth to become loose and fall out. Most people can keep their natural teeth even after a gum disease diagnosis with timely intervention, consistent oral care, and professional support.
Are electric toothbrushes better for preventing gum disease?
Electric toothbrushes remove more plaque with their consistent motion, and built-in timers ensure you brush long enough. Studies show electric toothbrushes can reduce gingivitis by about 11% more than manual brushing. Pressure sensors also help prevent aggressive brushing that often damages gums.
That said, a manual toothbrush works well if you brush gently in small circles with a soft-bristled brush and take your time. What matters most is brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
Restore Your Gum Health
Are you noticing changes in your gum health like bleeding, swollen, or red gums? Call Dupont Dental for periodontal disease treatment in Washington, DC, at (202) 946-4720. You can also schedule a gum disease consultation with Dr. Banks online.