Periodontal Treatment in Houston, TX

To optimize your smile and dental wellness, it is important to achieve and maintain stable periodontal health. Gum (periodontal) disease is an oral issue affecting the teeth, gums, and jawbone that threatens the health of many of our Houston, TX. This disease is caused by bacterial toxins that destroy the connective tissues and bone around the teeth over time. When it progresses, this damage can affect the structures that support the teeth and cause tooth loss.

Biofilm is a major factor in the presence of gum disease. This sticky layer can cause gum inflammation and is made of bacteria, plaque, and food debris that coat the teeth. Plaque calcifies into tartar over time further irritating the gum tissue and eventually contributes to the onset of gum disease. To disrupt the biofilm and remove plaque and tartar below the gumline where your toothbrush and floss cannot reach, specialized periodontal care is needed. To reduce the risk of gum infection, it is essential to brush and floss thoroughly each day and visit the dentist for routine cleanings, but still, gum disease is quite common. When it occurs, it must be treated with professional periodontal care to halt the disease process and protect your smile.

If you notice symptoms like bleeding gums, red or puffy gums, gum recession, or bad breath, you may have a gum infection. As a multi-specialty practice, Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress can help you discover if gum disease is present. We may recommend non-surgical or surgical procedures for your gum disease. These procedures can help keep your teeth, gum, and jawbone from further damage. Early treatment of gum disease increases your ability to keep your smile healthy and happy for the long-term.

Our highly skilled Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress team routinely screens patients for gum disease in order to identify and provide treatment as early as possible. Gum disease can affect even your overall physical health and has been linked to a range of concerns like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Through early symptom identification and diagnosis, we can provide effective treatment to help reduce the risk to your oral and overall health. Many patients who have gum disease do not realize its full effects on the smile and general wellness. Gum disease can recur, even if you were treated for it previously. Call our office for a periodontal evaluation if you are suffering from tender or bleeding gums, abnormal discharge, loose teeth, or bad breath.

To stop the disease process and minimize the risk of tooth and bone loss, it is important to recognize the signs of gum disease and have the condition treated as early as possible. The treatment our dentist and the Made Ya Smile team will recommend will be based on how far your condition has progressed. Gingivitis may be completely resolved with a good cleaning and improved home care, and is the earliest stage of periodontal disease. When gingivitis is left untreated, periodontitis can occur and may require scaling and root planing (nonsurgical) and possibly locally administered antibiotics. Affecting the deeper layers of bone and gum tissue, advanced periodontitis may require treatment with oral surgery.

Digital x-rays of your jaw will help us evaluate your level of bone support and find out if your gum disease has already caused bone loss. The spaces between your teeth and gums, where bacteria cause damage and tissue destruction, will also be measured to determine your diagnosis. If these areas measure over 3mm deep and your x-rays show evidence of bone loss, we will typically diagnose a periodontal disease condition. Depending on the stage of your illness, we will recommend the best type of treatment to stop the progression of the disease.

After your gum disease treatment, the team at Made Ya Smile will explain any necessary recovery instructions to adhere to while you heal. It is important to your recovery that you maintain an excellent home care routine with daily brushing and flossing. We will go over the best techniques for you to use and may also advise you to supplement your care with other tools to use at home. Sometimes these extra tools can make your home care efforts more effective than just brushing or flossing. Smoking or using tobacco products of any kind can prolong your recovery and elevate your risk of oral cancer. Tobacco use is also a secondary risk factor and may lead to the development of periodontal infections.

Periodontal maintenance cleanings may be recommended for you because the bacteria that cause gum disease can grow rapidly. These cleanings are scheduled every 3 – 4 months and help keep the risk of recurring gum infection under control. Your periodontal maintenance cleanings will replace biannual prophylaxis visits and give our team a chance to clean your whole mouth thoroughly to keep plaque, tartar, and bacterial formation under control. These visits are important to protect your oral health, keep you from further bone damage and tooth loss, and support you as you manage your periodontal health in a more effective way.

Typically gum disease treatments are covered, at least in part, by most dental insurance plans. We accept most major PPOs and are happy to file your dental insurance claim for you. If your care requires you to pay any out-of-pocket expenses, the Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress team is here for you to help you find a financial solution appropriate for your budget. Our Houston, TX practice accepts several convenient payment methods along with patient-financing with no- or low-interest CareCredit® plans.

Treating gum disease as soon as possible can greatly support your oral health over the long term. The caring team at Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress in Houston, TX is proud to help patients improve their oral health by relying on effective nonsurgical and surgical periodontal care to treat gum disease. Left untreated, gum infection can cause jaw bone and tooth loss, and it can also negatively affect your general well-being. If you believe you have gum disease, schedule a treatment evaluation with our dentist today to find out how you can receive personalized periodontal care.