The dental hygiene aspect of Saratoga Smile Care is the strongest that you will experience because our hygienist will provide you with not only a gentle thorough cleaning, but design for you a soft tissue management program to help you manage any aspect of periodontal disease. She will offer you any nutritional and stress management information that will positively impact the quality of dental health, as well as your overall well-being.

What is Periodontal (Gum) Disease?

There are two main forms of periodontal disease. Gingivitis is a mild and early form of periodontal disease and has to deal with the inflammation of the gum tissue. It is easily reversible with regular flossing, proper brushing and routine professional cleaning. Periodontitis is a more serious and manageable form of periodontal disease that includes the inflammation of the gums and the surrounding bone structure. This destructive form of gum disease may include gum inflammation and bleeding; gum recession; bone loss around the roots of the teeth and tooth mobility to subsequent loss.

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

Patients may not know they have periodontal disease until it is too late because most of the time gum disease is not painful. The warning signs of periodontal disease are:

• bleeding gums upon brushing or flossing
• gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• persistent bad breath or taste
• loose teeth
• teeth shifting of spacing between the teeth

To prevent the progression of your gum disease we will design a soft tissue management program that might entail more frequent ‘deep cleaning’ visits; local and systemic antibiotics; nutritional and stress management advice and bite protection with a ‘night guard’.

Frequently Asked Gum Disease Questions

What factors cause periodontal disease?

The factors that contribute to periodontal disease include: tobacco products and smoking, certain medications, crooked teeth; old or defective fillings, stress, systemic diseases, such as diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, improper home care, excessive bite trauma, and irregular professional dental cleanings.

What are the options for treating periodontal disease?

Patients with early signs of gum disease benefit greatly from a series of visits that comprise of intensive teeth cleaning referred to as scaling, root planning and curettage. During these visits plaque and calculus (harden plaque) are removed from the roots of the teeth and deep pockets around the teeth. Patients with a more advance stage of periodontal disease may be treated with laser dentistry or surgery.

If gum disease has resulted in the loss of teeth, there are a number of replacement options available to you to replace the teeth.

Call now and wait no longer before it is too late. Make any appointment with Dr. Moreau for a periodontal screening at 518-584-6768 or request an appointment online.