Periodontal Disease

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease (gum disease or periodontitis) is a bacterial infection of the soft tissue around your teeth. When left untreated, it damages the bone supporting the teeth, causing the teeth to loosen and sometimes fall out.

At Lotus Dental, Dr. Anne focuses on early detection and treatment to protect your smile and overall health.

What are the signs of periodontal disease?

Symptoms differ depending on the disease’s stage, but common signs include:

• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Gums that bleed easily when brushing or flossing
• Receding gumlines
• Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
• Changes in how your teeth come together when you bite down
• Pus-filled abscesses or gaps forming between teeth

How you’re treated will depend on how severe your condition is. In the early stages, Dr. Anne can often reverse or control periodontal disease with nonsurgical treatments. In more advanced cases, surgical procedures can be necessary to restore gum and bone health.

Which periodontal treatment choices are available?

Periodontal treatments offered by Lotus Dental include:

Antibiotics

Oral or topical antibiotics fight infection.

Scaling and root planing

Scaling and root planing is a deep-cleaning procedure to remove plaque and bacteria from below the gumline and smooth the roots so that bacteria are less likely to return.

Flap surgery

Flap surgery involves lifting the gums to clean the roots and reshape bone when needed.

Dental bone grafts

Bone grafting involves adding natural or synthetic material to areas where periodontal disease has caused bone loss.

Gum grafts

Gum grafts restore lost gum tissue using tissue from the roof of your mouth or donor tissue.

Guided tissue regeneration

This procedure encourages bone regrowth by placing a special membrane between the bone and gum.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP uses growth factors from your blood to regenerate bone and gum tissue.

Is periodontal disease preventable?

Brushing twice a day, flossing each evening, and visiting Lotus Dental for regular cleanings are the best ways to prevent periodontal disease. Early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) is often reversible with good oral hygiene and professional care.

If you notice bleeding gums, swelling, or persistent bad breath, schedule an appointment right away. The sooner you treat periodontal disease, the better the possibility of keeping your natural teeth healthy for life.

Call Lotus Dental to arrange your periodontal disease checkup or book an appointment online today.