Do you ever come across a word you haven’t heard before? It might take just a few computer clicks to look it up, or maybe a walk across the room to grab your dictionary. When you are faced with a new word at the dental office, our knowledgable dental staff in Ankeny, IA can explain what it means, and how it can affect the health of your smile. If your family dental needs include perio options, here are some things that might be under discussion.
Perio Cleaning
At every routine checkup and cleaning, your dentist removes surface plaque and the hardened form, called tartar or calculus. If you attend regular checkups and are diligent about home care, these attentions will prevent many cavities. However, if you sometimes skip brushing, or stretch out the months between appointments, your dentist may recommend a deeper perio cleaning, to remove bacteria, plaque and tartar that is infecting areas under your gums. A perio cleaning is sometimes called a deep cleaning, can combat early stages of gingivitis, and help restore health to your oral structures.
Perio Health
Dentists dream of a world in tip-top perio health. That means not only are tooth surfaces clean and cavities addressed with tooth colored fillings, but the supporting periodontal structures (like gums), are also healthy. Perio health is marked by pink, non-tender gums, that cling to the tooth, and rarely bleed during brushing and flossing.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is something to avoid. While tooth decay shows up as a cavity, periodontal disease can show up as sore and bleeding gums, bad breath and in later stages, can manifest as loosened teeth or even teeth that fall out or have to be extracted. While there are restorative procedures for lost teeth, it’s better for both your smile and your wallet to avoid periodontal disease, and keep your scheduled appointments so we can advise you if we see early signs of trouble.
Make perio health part of your daily vocabulary
Good perio health calls for teamwork between your good home care, and regular visits to your family dentist. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA immediately at (515) 965-0230. We also proudly serve patients who live in Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities.
