Measures against gum disease fall into two broad categories. The first is preventative measures to keep periodontal disease from happening in the first place. The second category is control measures that manage periodontal disease. Both preventive and control measures require regular dental checkups. Keep reading to learn more about the role of routine dental visits in maintaining good oral health in the short and long term.
Plaque buildup provides harmful mouth bacteria with a staging ground to attack the teeth and gums. Ignoring the buildup causes plaque to calcify and form tartar, which is much harder to get rid of. Tartar enables bacteria to infect and ultimately, damage the gums. This is how gum disease occurs.
Preventative measures can keep all this from happening, starting with good oral hygiene. Still, even excellent oral hygiene needs a little reinforcement to ensure the health of the teeth and gums. This is where routine dental checks come in. Dentists use these checkups to do one or more of the following:
These measures can help prevent gum disease from developing or prevent it from progressing. There are many benefits of taking this proactive approach to gum health.
The dentist uses routine dental exams to evaluate their patients’ oral habits. With a simple visual exam, the dentist can understand a patient’s oral hygiene routine. They will ask the patient about diet, smoking, teeth grinding, and other risk factors for gum disease. Dentists use this information to encourage and oversee lifestyle changes that could prevent or control gum disease.
A patient’s oral health determines the type of professional cleaning that a dentist performs. Dentists will clean above the gum line for patients who are free of gum disease. This is a preventative measure that keeps periodontal disease from happening in the first place.
Dentists will perform a deeper clean for patients who suffer from gum disease. They will do scaling to dislodge tartar and plaque buildup above and below the gumline. They will also perform root planing to smooth the tooth roots and deny bacteria the nooks that they tend to colonize. This type of deep cleaning falls under the category of periodontal maintenance.
Dentists use medical imaging like X-rays to keep tabs on the jawbone, gums, and teeth. The images chart the effect of treatment or the progress of gum disease. This information enables the dentist or periodontist to make timely decisions concerning the patient’s treatment plan.
Our services cover the prevention of gum disease and the treatment of different stages of periodontitis. If you are near Marietta and need to improve your oral health, get in touch with us today.
Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Gum Disease in Marietta, OH.
Gum disease is a serious condition that can result in a need for periodontal treatment. Periodontal treatment is often necessary to destroy the infection and prevent it from worsening. Often, without treatment, a case of gum disease can become advanced, resulting in tooth loss, receding gums, and even jaw deterioration, all of which can be…
All parts of the body are interconnected and when one part is in trouble, the rest of the body is affected. You might already be aware of how diabetes affects dental health, but you might find yourself wondering if there is a link between gum disease and diabetes. Read on to learn more.A high-carb, high-sugar…
Wondering whether cavities can cause oral cancer? Read on to learn more about how important oral cancer screening is. A dentist will typically check for signs of issues like cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer during a dental checkup and oral cancer screening. Some research suggests that poor oral hygiene habits can lead to serious…
While many people already know that it is important to visit the dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and dental exam, not everyone knows that many dentists check for more than just cavities and gum disease. In addition to examining the teeth and gums, it has become standard for dentists to inspect the…
Most people want to have dental implants right after dental extraction. Replacing the lost tooth is a priority. This can prevent more complications as the mouth heals. Understanding the process of getting implants after dental extraction can help prepare you for your appointment. Here are the details about getting dental implants after a dentist removes…
Dental implants are small, titanium screws placed into the jawbone where a tooth was removed. The implant fuses with the jawbone over time and supports a crown, bridge, or denture. This article will review six warning signs that it is time to inquire about dental implants.Many people (adults) postpone receiving treatment after losing a tooth…