Gum Disease Treatment
What is gum disease?
The condition of the gums is just as important to the overall health of your mouth as clean teeth that are free from decay. That's why it's important to our Nashville cosmetic dentistry team that every patient receives comprehensive care of the teeth as well as the soft tissues in the mouth. If you should develop gum disease, you can rest easy knowing that we have a number of gum disease treatments that will help address the condition. Let's look at these matters right now.Gum disease refers to a bacterial infection of the gums. It's caused by the same bacteria in the mouth that causes cavities, tooth decay, and bad breath. There are various stages of gum disease that vary by severity. From least severe to most severe: gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. It's important that you visit our cosmetic dentistry practice serving Nashville as soon as you notice any issues with your gums. Doing so will allow us to give you the treatment that you need as soon as you need it.
About Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. The common symptoms of gingivitis include bleeding gums, sore gums, gum recession, gum discoloration, and bad breath. If left untreated, it will progress to periodontitis.About Periodontitis
In the earliest stage of periodontitis, people will experience more severe forms of the symptoms experienced in gingivitis. In addition, people with periodontitis will also experience loose or wiggly teeth, tooth decay under the gumline, and changes in the spacing between the teeth. If advanced periodontitis develops, patients might experience tooth loss, tooth misalignment, and even infections of the jawbone.Treating Gum Disease
When it comes to treatments for gum disease, it's first important that we control the infection of the gum tissue. In cases of gingivitis, we usually manage this through special antiseptic rinses and oral medications. Deep cleanings can also be performed. For more advanced cases of gum disease, more involved drug therapies and invasive in-office treatments will be considered as part of a full mouth reconstruction approach.Addressing Other Dental Problems Related to Gum Disease
Once the gum disease itself is under control, the team can then address all of the side effects and symptoms of gum disease. If you have experienced gum recession and tooth decay under the gumline, the teeth will be restored and filled followed by soft tissue grafting to rebuild the gumline. The latter can be accomplished through the use of tissue transplantation or artificial grafts.If you have experienced tooth loss as a result of the gum disease, replacement for the missing teeth will be fashioned. This may involve the use of Nashville dental implants to support dental bridges, dentures, or even individual dental crowns.
