How can we help you?
Information and education are the keys to good health. Just as we believe in continuing education for ourselves, we recommend that our patients learn about their dental health. We are always happy to discuss your care with you, and we will never perform a procedure until you’ve been informed about the procedure we are treating and have given us your approval to proceed.
If you have a question, take a look at this selection of questions we are often asked about our practice, the services we offer, and dentistry in general. If your question isn’t answered here or if you need more information, you are always welcome to give us a call or send us an email using our convenient online form.
Periodontal Treatment
People with periodontal (gum) disease must maintain their periodontal health to keep the condition under control, even after treatment. Gum disease can quickly return without good oral hygiene and routine dental care. Royal Oak family dentistry at our dental office includes effective gum disease prevention and treatment. We personalize your care to meet your unique needs and standards of comfort.
Royal Oak Gum Disease Treatment
The type of treatment needed depends on the disease’s severity. Mild cases of gum disease can be treated with nonsurgical methods like scaling, root planing, and antibiotics. Advanced gum disease might require surgery like pocket reduction, gum grafting, or bone grafting.
Although gum disease is treatable, it isn’t entirely curable. You must remain vigilant and practice excellent oral hygiene and health habits to keep it under control.
Preventing Gum Disease
You can prevent gum disease by:
- Brushing twice daily and flossing at least once daily to remove plaque and bacteria that contribute to gum disease
- Visiting the dentist for preventive check-ups and cleanings
- Avoiding smoking and tobacco products
- Reducing your risk for gum inflammation and bacteria buildup in the mouth
Call Your Royal Oak Dentist Today
Call us today to schedule an appointment with our team. We can help prevent and treat gum disease so you can enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile.
Gums that bleed when you brush are a common indication that you have periodontal disease. It is the bacteria that remain on your teeth that inflame your gums, causing them to bleed.
Periodontal disease left untreated can lead to serious oral health problems, which can result in extensive, costly dental work. The good news is that it is quite simple to avoid the onset of gum disease.
Plaque develops on your teeth all throughout the day, attracting food debris and bacteria in your mouth. You can remove some of this buildup with conscientious oral hygiene.
No matter how diligently you brush and floss, however, you simply cannot remove the buildup of plaque and tartar. Tartar is a hard mineral-like substance that must be removed by a dental hygienist using specialized instruments.
That is why all dental professionals strongly advocate routine dental cleanings and checkups. By staying current with this simple oral health maintenance routine, we can stay one step ahead of gum disease.
Please contact our Royal Oak dental office to schedule your next appointment for a professional cleaning and exam. At that time we can review your brushing and flossing techniques and look for signs that gum disease is developing.
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a chronic, progressive disease that causes severe damage to your gums and the bone tissue that holds your teeth in place.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria that occur naturally in the mouth. These bacteria perform metabolic processes that form a film called plaque on the surface of teeth. If this plaque is not properly removed by good oral hygiene practices, it can harden into harmful tartar.
If tartar is allowed to form and stay on teeth, it can push the gum tissue away from around the tooth. This forms pockets around the tooth where further infection can occur.
In its earliest stages, gum disease can be treated and reversed with changes in oral hygiene habits and the addition of antimicrobial products. Once gum disease progresses past a certain stage, however, it is no longer reversible. With proper care and management, we can stop gum disease from further progression and treat any active infection.
It is important to seek treatment for gum disease because this chronic illness can have very serious health consequences if left untreated.
At Family Dentistry of Royal Oak, we take gum health very seriously and offer a comprehensive gum disease prevention and treatment program.
Many of the beginning symptoms of gum disease are ignored by sufferers as being harmless or normal. Bleeding gums, gums that are red or inflamed, and increased sensitivity are some of the symptoms commonly found in the early stages of gum disease.
If you’ve noticed blood in the sink while brushing, or pain while flossing, you may be experiencing the early stages of gum disease.
The best way to find out if you have gum disease is by visiting Dr. Chalasani. Gum disease causes pockets to form between the tooth and the surrounding gum tissue. Dr. Chalasani can check for gum disease by measuring the pocket depth around your teeth. Recession of the gum line may be another sign of disease.
By giving you a comprehensive exam, Dr. Chalasani can check for signs of periodontitis that you may not have noticed – or that you may have disregarded as being innocuous. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, we can advise you on the best treatment options for your situation.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease, make an appointment at Royal Oak Family Dentistry as soon as possible so that we can get you started on the path to better health.
There are two important components of prevention when it comes to gum disease – at-home care and in-office visits. A good at-home routine involves brushing thoroughly twice a day and flossing daily. We may be able to make recommendations regarding how to improve your care regimen and which ADA-approved products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, mouthwash
, etc.) may be right for you.
The second part of prevention takes place in our office at your bi-annual dental visit. You’ll get a comprehensive exam during which we’ll check for any signs of gum disease. Dr. Chalasani may advise that you make certain behavioral changes to reduce your risk of developing gum disease. For example, quitting smoking and making dietary changes may be advised.
Also, be sure to come to your visit prepared with a list of medications that you’re taking; and tell Dr. Chalasani about any medical conditions that you’re affected by. This is valuable knowledge in the fight against gum disease, because certain medications and conditions can contribute to the development of periodontal disease.
At your bi-annual visit, you will also receive a professional teeth cleaning. This can help prevent gum disease by removing hard-to-reach plaque from the surface of your teeth.
Yes. Gum disease is a chronic infection that can negatively affect both your oral health and your overall health.
Advanced gum disease ravages the tissues around the teeth, and also contributes to dental bone loss. This damage to the surrounding tissue and bone can directly lead to tooth loss. In fact, periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss.
Related dental bone loss can be detrimental to your health. Loss of bone can make it difficult for you to receive necessary dental procedures. It can even alter the shape of your face – making you appear older and contributing to the appearance of wrinkles.
Recent studies have also shown a link between periodontitis and potentially life-threatening illnesses. A two-way link has been discovered between gum disease and diabetes – diabetes sufferers may have weakened immune systems and thus be more susceptible to infections like gum disease; on the other hand, an infection like gum disease may cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate and contribute to diabetes.
Studies have also suggested a link between periodontitis and conditions like pancreatic cancer and heart disease.
To reduce your risk of developing serious overall health conditions related to gum disease, visit Dr. Chalasani to learn more about treatment options.
At Royal Oak Family Dentistry, our mission is to stop gum disease before it starts; therefore, we place emphasis on preventative care measures. If you do develop periodontitis, we are equipped with the latest treatment methods to restore you to health.
To determine what form of gum disease treatment is right for you, Dr. Chalasani will evaluate the condition of your gums and make a thoughtful recommendation. The necessary treatment approach often depends on what stage of advancement the disease has progressed to.
The earliest form of gum disease is known as gingivitis. You may be able to eradicated gingivitis and reverse its effects through simply intensifying your daily oral care routine. Dr. Chalasani will be able to offer you recommendations on how to improve your daily care.
In more advanced cases, a deep cleaning treatment may be necessary. This deep cleaning process is called scaling and root planing. During scaling, Dr. Chalasani scrapes away harmful plaque from below the surface of your gums – where an ordinary tooth brush can’t reach. Root planing refers to the process of scraping away the rough surfaces on the tooth’s roots where bacteria can collect and infect.
Dr. Chalasani may also recommend the use of antimicrobial medication in order to manage the disease.
The most advanced cases of gum disease may require surgical methods.