Periodontal Disease Treatments in Wellsboro, PA

Several types of oral issues, including gum disease, can impact a patient's general wellness. Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is a progressive dental condition that affects many Americans every year. Caused by dangerous oral bacteria, periodontal disease is one of the primary reasons for tooth loss in patients over the age of 35. If not treated, it can impact your overall health. Harmful bacteria live within tartar deposits that collect on the enamel and create toxins, which ultimately begin to break down the gums, jawbone, and other tissues that hold your teeth in place.

Gum disease has three different levels. Patients can suffer from gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. When identified in the earlier stages, we can treat periodontal disease and preserve your smile. If you notice symptoms, like swollen or red gum tissue, bleeding while brushing or flossing, or persistent foul breath (sometimes known as halitosis), periodontal disease may be impacting your oral health.

Fortunately, at Complete Family Dentistry, we perform several innovative procedures to treat periodontal disease, no matter the severity. Please call our office in Wellsboro, PA to schedule an appointment, and learn more about your options for addressing gum disease.

People who could benefit from treatment for gum disease range from those who have slight gumline inflammation and bleeding to anyone with shifting teeth and severe damage to the neighboring ones. In cases where we detect and treat periodontal disease early, patients have more treatment options to reduce adverse symptoms.

If you experience one or more symptoms of gum disease, we recommend scheduling an appointment at Complete Family Dentistry. Symptoms can include:

• Gums that appear swollen or discolored
• Gums that feel sensitive
• Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
• Chronic bad breath or a lingering bad taste

Individuals who have advanced gum disease might also have missing teeth, increased discomfort, a receding gumline, or discharge in the mouth.

Identifying and managing the issue as early as possible is crucial to maintaining the health of your teeth. To learn if periodontal disease has started to impact your oral health, our team will use a specialized device to measure the pockets between your gumline and teeth. If these pockets exceed three millimeters deep, it can indicate gum disease. Detailed x-rays will also allow us to review the amount of bone tissue securing the teeth and confirm if a more severe stage of periodontal disease has started.

At Complete Family Dentistry, we have comprehensive tests to detect the current phase of gum disease, which can help us design a treatment plan. We can often address the beginning phase of periodontal disease (gingivitis) with periodontal maintenance (deep cleaning) and a consistent, at-home dental hygiene routine. To manage periodontitis, the second phase of periodontal disease, we may perform scaling and root planing (SRP) treatments and combine it with antibiotics. For more advanced cases of periodontal disease, we can successfully treat it with osseous surgery and bone transplant procedures.

After treating your periodontal disease, practicing good oral hygiene is critical to your health. Before you leave, our team will show you proper brushing and flossing techniques and provide any aftercare information. Scheduling routine periodontal maintenance services are critical to your oral health. Generally, you need several appointments each year to ensure your gums and teeth stay healthy. At Complete Family Dentistry, these treatments take the place of your regular (prophylaxis) cleanings.

At Complete Family Dentistry, we proudly offer innovative treatments that reduce the effects of periodontal disease. If you experience one or more symptoms because of periodontal disease, please call our Wellsboro, PA office. We can perform a range of treatment options to treat every stage of gum disease.