Periodontal Therapy - Brandon, SD
Restore a Healthy Smile Today
Besides the health of your teeth, your gums are equally important. The biggest threat to your gums is an infection called periodontal (gum) disease. Although it’s preventable, it’s the primary cause of adult tooth loss because many people aren’t aware that they have the infection until it’s too late. In fact, 75% of American adults have some form of periodontal disease. We can stop the infection and save your smile with periodontal therapy.
What is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that triggers your body’s immune system to create inflammatory cells that destroy the supporting bone around your teeth. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
In addition to damaging your smile, medical and dental professionals have been aware of the systemic risks associated with inflammation. Research shows a deep connection between oral infections and systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary infections, diabetic conditions and pregnancy complications.
Diagnosing Gum Disease
In its early stages, gum disease shows very few symptoms. You may not even notice reddened gums or a bad taste in your mouth; however, these symptoms can quickly progress, eventually leading to advanced-stage gum disease.
Regular dental visits and adjustments in home hygiene practices can arrest and reverse the earliest stages of gum disease. Your routine appointments are also essential to early diagnosis. We will measure the depth of the gingival pockets and evaluate the health of your gums to detect the infection while it’s still easily manageable. If we find any signs of the infection, we’ll provide a customized treatment plan.
Is Gum Disease Treatable?
Gum disease doesn’t need to leave a lasting mark on your smile. Wehrkamp Dentistry’s mission is to treat not only your mouth, but also improve your overall health. Our goal is to diagnose periodontal infections early and use the latest technology to treat and control this chronic disease process.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling removes plaque and calculus from below the gum line using special dental tools. Root planing smooths the surface of the roots to discourage future buildup. It also encourages your gum tissue to adhere to your teeth.
Antibiotic Therapy
We may recommend an oral or topical antibiotic to help kill the harmful bacteria causing the infection. Antibiotic therapy can be used alone or with another treatment.
Laser Decontamination
Lasers allow us to use very safe light energy to decontaminate the bacteria that become embedded within the gum tissue. This is a highly effective and noninvasive solution to target diseased tissue while reducing the risk of infection, swelling, and bleeding during your recovery. When compared to more traditional treatments, laser gum therapy is virtually pain-free to restore a healthy smile.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth or you’re experiencing chronic bad breath, you might have periodontal disease. Don’t wait until it’s too late to benefit from periodontal therapy. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation. We’ll stop the infection and save your smile using the latest innovations in dentistry.
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