Tag: periodontal treatment

laser treatment for gum disease

Laser Treatment for Gum Pockets

Posted on | by mel | Leave a Comment on Laser Treatment for Gum Pockets

The New Laser Treatment Is Nearly Pain-Free!

When you have pockets forming on your gums, you already have a serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. This gum disease is the major reason for tooth loss today. The only way to stop the problem and prevent it from becoming worse and losing teeth is to get periodontal treatment. Choosing the new laser treatment to eliminate gum pockets is fast and nearly painless. 

 

About Gum Pockets

There are more than 500 different types of bacteria that exist naturally in your mouth. Some of them will produce cavities and gum disease because they produce acid whenever they consume sugar. If you do not maintain good oral care by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing, this bacteria will cause gum disease; first gingivitis, then it becomes periodontitis. 

As the gum disease progresses and becomes periodontitis, the bacteria will hide in the tartar at your gum line. Tartar is hardened plaque. It irritates your gums, gets into them, and an immune reaction is started that will not stop unless treated by a dentist. 

This gum infection will produce the pockets that form on your gums, and you will notice that your gums are inflamed and that they are pulling away from your teeth. This makes your teeth look longer and the roots of your teeth become exposed. 

The bacteria and inflammation start to deteriorate your gums, the ligaments that support your teeth, and your jawbone. At the same time, the bacteria and inflammation have entered your bloodstream. Once there, it is circulating throughout your body and causing buildups in your blood vessels and organs. In recent years, researchers have discovered that these buildups often lead to serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, dementia, and many more. 

 

Traditional Treatment for Gum Pockets

The traditional way that dentists would treat this problem was to cut open the pockets on the gums, manually scrape out the bacteria and inflammation, smooth out the rough spots on the teeth, and then stitch the gums closely to the teeth. This procedure was usually conducted while the patient was under general anesthesia – completely unconscious. Sometimes, gum grafting occurred at the same time. This process would usually require several sessions at the dentist’s office and recovery could take two to four weeks – while in considerable pain. 

 

Laser Treatment 

The development of lasers for the dentist’s office has resulted in a laser that makes a huge difference in the method of periodontal treatment. It literally makes every aspect better – including a tremendous reduction in treatment and recovery time. 

Some of the benefits of laser treatment include:

  • No scalpel – Although diseased tissue is removed, it is done without a scalpel. The laser is selective on what tissue is removed because it can distinguish between healthy and unhealthy tissue, and it only destroys the unhealthy. This enables this process to save more healthy tissue – without the need for sutures. 
  • Less pain – There is almost no pain at all with this procedure. The laser seals the nerves instantly. Patients may need a local anesthetic, but there is no need for prescription painkillers after the treatment. There is also less swelling.
  • More Bacteria Destroyed – Instead of having to physically remove the bacteria with hand tools, a very thin fiber-optic cable is inserted into the gum pockets. This will kill up to 99 percent of the harmful bacteria. An ultrasonic device will be used afterward to smooth the tooth roots to help prevent reattachment of the bacteria. After this step is completed, the periodontist will use the laser to create a seal between the teeth and the gums. This attaches the gums to the teeth closely and prevents bacteria from reentering. It also enables faster healing.
  • Faster Recovery – This method of gum disease treatment provides a much faster recovery than the traditional method. Instead of having to wait for days to go back to work, you will likely need only 24 hours to recover – but many patients go back to work as soon as the procedure is completed. 
  • Reduces Risk of Infection – Lasers are able to destroy bacteria that are near the site. This greatly reduces the likelihood of infection and enables faster healing. 
  • Speeds Healing – Laser light actually stimulates bone and gum cells to regenerate faster. This laser therapy reduces the healing time and encourages new connective tissues to the teeth, new bone and collagen. 

 

The LANAP Laser

The one laser that is used to treat gum pockets is called LANAP for short, which stands for Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure. It has been approved by the FDA just for this procedure.

 

When your gums are pulling away from your teeth and receding, you will likely have pockets on your gums. You cannot treat this condition yourself and it will continue to get worse, but laser treatment can help eradicate the problem. Champion Dental Clinic Board Certified Periodontists uses the LANAP laser treatment for gum pockets and helps to stop further gum decay. Most dental health insurance plans are accepted. For a consultation or more information about periodontal treatment, you can contact us at 214-747-0763 today

why gums recede dfw tx

Why Your Gums Are Receding

Posted on | by mel | 7 Comments on Why Your Gums Are Receding

The real reasons that you may not even think of

why gums recede dfw tx

When you have receding gums, it is often an indication that there is a problem. It reveals that your gums are not as healthy as they should be, and your oral health is declining. Healthy gums are necessary to help protect your teeth.

 

Symptoms of Receding Gums

Looking over your gums, there are some easy-to-spot symptoms that will help you know whether or not they are healthy. Some symptoms that reveal that your gums are in the early stages of gum disease include:

  • Bleeding gums 
  • Bright Red Gums
  • Bad Breath
  • Swollen gums
  • Increased sensitivity

 

Why You Should Stop Gum Decay

A receding gum line is often just the early steps to periodontitis. Unless it is treated and action is taken to stop it, it will gradually become worse. With the right conditions, it can quickly become serious. 

Gum decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth that is out of control. Normally, the good bacteria, a healthy diet, and saliva keep it under control. As the bad bacterium multiplies, it produces an acid that starts to work on the gums and teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly can remove the plaque (the bad bacteria) that forms on your teeth.

Without the proper dental care, pockets will begin to form on your gums before long. This provides the perfect hiding place for the bacteria to grow colonies – and produce more acid. This is called periodontitis. As the pockets become larger, it starts to break down the structures that hold your teeth in place, and the bone, and your teeth start to become loose and will eventually fall out. 

As your gums recede, it exposes the roots of your teeth. Prior to receding, the gums offered some protection for the roots, but as they recede, cavities can form on them and they become more sensitive. 

 

Inflammation and Other Disease

Researchers now know that the inflammation caused by gum disease is behind many potentially serious health problems. It can lead to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, a stroke, and many more.

 

Causes of Receding Gums

Before you can start to treat gum disease, you need to know what may be the cause of it. Some causes include:

  • Poor care of your teeth – A lack of regularly brushing your teeth and flossing will lead to gum disease. 
  • Grinding your teeth – If you grind your teeth (bruxism), you have an increased chance of developing gum disease. 
  • Brushing too hard – Brushing vigorously can wear away your gums, leading to gum recession. Using a toothbrush that has hard bristles can do the same thing. 
  • A gum injury – Trauma to your teeth can also help promote gum disease. 
  • Hormonal changes – Changes in the level of female hormones can help gums to be more likely to develop a disease of the gums. 
  • Illnesses – Various diseases can lead to the faster growth of the bacteria that causes gum disease. This includes diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia.
  • Genetics – It is possible that your genes may actually make you inclined to gum disease. WebMd says that as much as 30 percent of the population may be in this category, and how well you take care of your teeth may not prevent it.
  • Misaligned teeth – When your teeth are not aligned properly, it makes cleaning them more difficult. This often results in leaving food particles between your teeth – allowing bacteria to multiply and cause decay. 
  • Poor nutrition – Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the strengthening of your teeth and gums. Eating or drinking a lot of sugary foods provides food for the bacteria that causes gum disease. 
  • Obesity – Being overweight makes it harder to control gum disease.
  • Medications – Some medications will cause dry mouth, which encourages bacterial growth.
  • Drug abuse – Drug abuse generally promotes gum disease because the acids in them are strong, and those on drugs rarely take care of their teeth. 

 

Types of Gum Treatment

If you have a mild case of gingivitis, you can probably get rid of it by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. You will need to do it regularly to succeed.

If you already have pockets forming along the gum line, you will likely need to see a dentist for treatment. Periodontal treatment will be needed to stop it and repair the damage. Remedies include:

  • Non-surgical: medications, scaling and root planing.
  • Surgical: flap reduction surgery, gum grafting, soft tissue grafts, and bone grafting.

 

Preventing Receding Gums

The best way to prevent your gums from receding is to carry out a regular program of brushing for about two minutes at a time – twice a day, and flossing. This will usually eliminate the early stages of gum infection. 

If you are staying in and around Farmers branch , do call our clinic Champion Dental at 214-747-0763 for more information on gum disease treatment, and treatment for receding gums

How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Lungs

Posted on | by mel | 3 Comments on How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Lungs

The Surprising Connection Between Your Mouth and Respiratory Diseases

It may be difficult to realize that there is a connection between something like gum disease and what happens in your lungs. Gum disease is made up of very small bacteria but it can have a powerful and negative influence on your lungs and your body as a whole. 

About Gum Disease

Gum disease is caused by certain bacteria (Porphyromonas gingivalis) normally found in your mouth that gets out of control when an imbalance of some kind occurs. In a healthy mouth, the more than 500 other kinds of bacteria will usually keep it under control. Things like a lack of proper oral care, consuming a lot of sugary products, and smoking can produce the imbalance and promote gum disease. 

The bacteria irritate the gums because it produces acid whenever you consume sugar or carbs. After a while, you will see inflammation on your gums and they may bleed when you brush or floss them. This is the first stage of gum disease called gingivitis. By brushing twice a day and flossing, you can usually eliminate it at this stage. 

 

How Gum Disease Progresses

If you do not eliminate it soon, it will progress to become periodontitis. Once it has reached this stage, you cannot remove it. You will need to contact a dentist for help and it will continue to get worse. 

After it gets into your gums – through the tartar on your teeth, it also has gained access to your bloodstream. Everywhere the bacteria travels, it will trigger an immune response. Along with your platelets, it becomes stuck to the walls of your blood vessels and in your organs. This narrows the vessels, restricting the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your lungs.

 

Gum disease

 

How Bacteria Gets Into the Lungs

The harmful bacteria are in your mouth all the time. It is always continuing to multiply, and as it does, it forms plaque on your teeth. Saliva will normally help to wash it off your teeth and gums. As the bacteria become out of balance and there are more of them, they can be inhaled on drops of saliva.

In a healthy person, your lungs can usually defend themselves against invaders from this type of bacteria. In people who are not healthy, or who have a weak immune system, it can cause serious problems. It can make existing problems, such as asthma and COPD worse. It can also cause pneumonia, which could be fatal in someone with a weak immune system.  

One recent study involved 200 participants that were between 20 and 60 and had at least 20 natural teeth. Half of them were in a hospital because of respiratory illnesses that included COPD, pneumonia, and bronchitis. The rest of the participants were healthy and did not have any background history of respiratory illness. The study found that the hospitalized group all had worse periodontal disease than the healthy group. 

 

Pneumonia

One study conducted at the Yale University School of Medicine discovered that changes in the oral bacteria occurred before pneumonia developed. This connection indicates that there is a possibility that brushing your teeth and flossing more often may be able to reduce the likelihood of getting pneumonia. Knowing this can be very valuable to help protect the health of seniors and young children. It also helps to know that you may be able to ensure their health in a rather simple way. 

 

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that currently has no cure. It is presently the third most prevalent cause of death in the United States. It is likely that gum disease is also behind the formation of this disease. When you have this disease, an increase of the harmful bacteria in gum disease can cause flare-ups. If you have periodontal disease and you are in contact with other lung irritants, such as from smoking or smog, it can increase your risk of COPD. 

 

Why Dentures May Be a Problem

If dentures are not cleaned regularly, the harmful bacteria can also build upon them, and then it can be breathed into your lungs. Dentures should be cleaned daily to reduce the bacteria and to keep your breath fresh. 

 

Seniors at Greatest Risk

Seniors living in a nursing home or other close facility such as long-term care institutions are at a greater risk of developing lung problems. This is especially true if oral health is not maintained. Health issues such as pneumonia are also contagious, making this environment a potential health risk. 

senior citizen gum disease

To get more information about gum disease or periodontal treatment, you can contact Champion Dental clinic office at (214) 747 0763 and book a free consultation.