We Offer Gum Disease Treatment for Healthy, Confident Gums
Did you know gum disease is America’s leading cause of tooth loss in adults? Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is a common oral condition that affects almost half of adults aged 30 and above. Worse yet, it affects about 70% of adults aged 65 and above! Left untreated, gum disease damages the gingival tissues and the adjacent teeth-supporting structures, leading to tooth loss. Don’t let this happen to you!
The Dental Associates of Hoboken team offers comprehensive gum disease maintenance from prevention and diagnosis to treatment. If you live in Hoboken, New Jersey, or the surrounding areas and want to maintain optimal gum health, schedule an appointment today with Drs. Bari Posner, Anum Ali and Giancarlo Brezillion..
What causes gum disease?
Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease. This sticky, colorless film of bacteria builds up slowly in your mouth when you fail to remove it with diligent flossing and brushing. Over time, plaque hardens into calculus (tartar), which can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist.
Both plaque and tartar contain harmful bacteria that progressively “eat away” your periodontal ligaments and the adjoining structures. Failing to address gum disease can cause gum recession, chronic bad breath, and tooth loss. Worse yet, uncontrolled gum infection can leak into the bloodstream, damaging your heart and other vital organs.
Bonus tip: Some people are genetically predisposed to gum disease, and certain medications and health conditions can also trigger this infection. You can do everything right and still end up with periodontal disease, which doesn’t seem fair. Regardless of the cause of your gum disease, it should never be left unaddressed.
How do we diagnose gum disease?
Your dentist will confirm or rule out gum disease by running a series of evaluations. We’ll examine your gums for signs of tenderness, bleeding, redness, and recession. Next, we’ll use a periodontal ruler to measure the depth between your gums and teeth (sulcus).
A healthy sulcus is 2-3mm deep and can easily be cleaned with a toothbrush and dental floss. When your sulcus is more than 3mm, it’s a sign that gum disease is present. Deeper readings indicate how severe the infection is. In addition, Drs. Posner, Ali, Brezillion and our team will use dental x-rays to examine the shape and density of the bone around the teeth. With this information, we’ll devise a treatment plan to restore your healthy gums.
How is gum disease treated?
Gum disease treatment depends on its severity. Milder forms of gum disease (gingivitis) are often treatable with a couple of oral hygiene cleanings and strict adherence to at-home brushing and flossing.
If the infection has advanced, and gum recession and bone loss are evident, we recommend the treatment option below.
- Scaling and root planing (SRP): Deep teeth cleaning is like standard cleaning but uses different instruments and irrigants to clean even more thoroughly. Periodontal cleaning removes mineralized tartar, harmful bacteria, and other deposits from the deep periodontal pockets. Root planing polishes your tooth roots to promote healing and repel future bacterial attacks. We often complement SRP with topical or oral antibiotics to avoid reinfections.
Does a dentist near me offer periodontal maintenance services?
Don’t let gum disease damage your smile—call (201) 795-2111 to schedule an appointment with our team at Dental Associates of Hoboken for gum disease treatment.
