Periodontal and Gum Disease Treatment

Almost half of all adults over 30 have some degree of gum disease. Sean Monaghan, DMD, Gina Petrarca, DDS, and the team at Cole Street Dental in Enumclaw, Washington, specialize in periodontal and gum disease treatment, including nonsurgical procedures and restorative surgeries. Call Cole Street Dental or schedule an appointment online for a periodontal examination today.

What are some signs I need periodontal and gum disease treatments?

Gum disease is a widespread condition often due to inadequate oral hygiene practices. You might also be at an increased risk of gum disease because of your genetics or habits like smoking. 

In the early stage, gum disease is called gingivitis. Later it progresses into periodontal disease (periodontitis) without treatment. Some telltale signs of periodontal disease are:

• Persistent bad breath
• Painful chewing
• Red gums
• Gum swelling
• Tooth sensitivity
• Gum pocketing
• Gums that bleed easily

As the disease progresses, you might notice a shift in your teeth. Suddenly, the upper and lower rows don’t fit together as comfortably. Report this or any other gum disease symptoms to your dentist at Cole Street Dental immediately. 

What are nonsurgical periodontal and gum disease treatments?

Mild to moderate cases of gum disease don’t require surgery. There are plenty of nonsurgical treatments to alleviate your symptoms. 

The team at Cole Street Dental typically starts treating gum disease with a procedure called scaling and root planing, which involves removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and their roots. Then, your dentist smooths the roots of your teeth to help the gums reattach to them. 

To avoid needing further treatment after scaling and root planing, you must brush and floss daily, eat a healthy diet, avoid using tobacco in any form, and visit Cole Street Dental for dental checkups. 

What are surgical periodontal and gum disease treatments?

The Cole Street Dental team recommends gum disease surgeries for periodontal disease that doesn’t improve with conservative treatment. You might need:

Pocket depth reduction
Pocket depth reduction closes pockets that form between your gums and the roots of your teeth. Pocket depth reduction is also called flap surgery because it involves folding back your gum tissue to remove bacteria from the pocket as well as any dead tissue in the area. Then, your dentist sews the tissue flap into place. 

Regeneration
A regeneration procedure sometimes involves a bone graft to restore bone tissue damaged by gum disease. Otherwise, your dentist applies protein to the area to stimulate new tissue growth. 

Soft tissue graft
If you have significant gum recession, a soft tissue graft uses tissue from somewhere else in your mouth to restore your original gum line. 

To schedule your next periodontal and gum disease treatment consultation, call Cole Street Dental or book an appointment online today.