Dr Richard Seidler The Colony, Texas

Periodontal Disease Diagnosis And Treatment

Does your teeth or gums bleed while brushing or flossing?

If so, you should have your teeth and gums evaluated. You may have periodontal disease and not realize it. This disease is the primary cause of the loss of teeth after age 35. If caught in its early stages, however, periodontal disease can be reversed with proper care. Contact our office at 972-625-2222 to schedule an appointment today.

A thorough oral examination, including x-rays, is crucial to diagnosing periodontal disease. In most cases, we recommend an in-office exam and teeth cleaning for all adults twice a year. At that time, we may use a special instrument called a periodontal probe to measure the depth of the pocket between the tooth and the gum tissue. The pocket depth measurement, clinical examination and x-rays help us determine the precise location, extent and severity of gum disease.

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What Are The Signs?

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth • Red, swollen or tender gums • Gums that have receded or shrunken away from your teeth • Pus between your teeth when you press your gums with your finger • Pain when chewing • Calculus or tartar buildup • Teeth that seem loose or that change position • Changes in your bite • Changes in the way your partial dentures fit • Bad breath or a chronic bad taste in your mouth • Teeth that are overly sensitive to hot and cold

Diagnosis and Treatment

The type of treatment you require depends on how advanced your particular case is. Individualized treatment may include any of the following:

1. More frequent cleanings. It may take the bacteria at the base of the pocket up to three months to colonize into numbers able to destroy bone. Frequent cleanings can prevent this buildup.
2. Scaling and root planing. Scaling is removing the calculus deposits from your teeth. Root planing is the smoothing of the root surfaces so that the gum tissue can reattach to the tooth.
3. Curettage removes the soft tissue lining the periodontal pocket. This helps the gum tissue to heal.
4. Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of the periodontal pocket to allow easier access for cleaning.
5. Flap surgery allows us to gain access to the root of the tooth for removal of calculus, plaque and diseased tissue. The gum is then secured back into place.

Chances are you or a family member has some stage of gum (periodontal) disease. Rest assured, while many adults do develop some degree of periodontal disease, there are steps you can take to prevent it.