Periodontics Specialists

What is periodontics?

Periodontics includes evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gum disease and its complications. Gum disease gradually destroys your oral health over time when left untreated. Treating gum disease early before complications develop is best to prevent receding gums, jawbone loss, tooth loss, and other potential problems.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Common symptoms and complications associated with gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums
• Bright red gums
• Receding gumline
• Pockets between your teeth and gums
• Loose 
• permanent teeth
• Permanent tooth loss
• Teeth shifting
• Swollen or tender gums

Gum disease appears to increase your risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions. It affects about three in four adults at some point during their lifetime. 

Recognizing the signs of gum disease and getting treated early is the best way to prevent jawbone loss and permanent tooth loss.

Is periodontics treatment right for me?

To find out if you’re a candidate for periodontics treatment at New Jersey Dental Specialists, your provider discusses your symptoms and oral health history with you. They examine your teeth and gums, measure the depth of your gum pockets, and take dental X-rays to determine if you have jawbone loss. 

If needed, New Jersey Dental Specialists then personalize a periodontics treatment that best matches your needs. 

What are the risk factors for gum disease?

Gum disease can happen to anyone, but some factors increase your risk of developing it. Examples include:

• Family history of gum disease
• Poor oral hygiene habits
• Skipped professional teeth cleanings
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Ongoing stress 
• Weakened immune system
• Poor nutrition 
• Teeth clenching or grinding
• Some medications 

The best way to reduce your risk of developing gum disease is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. This includes practicing good at-home oral hygiene habits and attending professional teeth cleanings at least every six months.

What happens during periodontics treatment?

Your personalized periodontics treatment plan at New Jersey Dental Specialists depends on the severity of your condition. Your provider could recommend that you take medications, use medicated mouthwashes, or undergo deep teeth cleaning (scaling and root planing). 

You might also need gum grafting or other types of regenerative treatments to restore affected tissues and reduce the risk of permanent tooth loss.

Suppose you already have tooth loss because of gum disease. In that case, your specialist offers bone grafting procedures, as well as dental implants, to replace missing permanent teeth with natural-looking artificial teeth. 

Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about periodontics treatment at New Jersey Dental Specialists.