Ankeny, IA, Gum Disease

Caring For Your Gums

When a dentist tells you you have a gum infection, it can be quite disappointing. This tissue provides the sturdy connection between your teeth and jaw that holds your smile in place. Without treatment, the symptoms can progress and become quite extreme. If you notice consistent bleeding whenever you floss and brush, chronic bad breath, or sore tissues, let us know right away. We can inspect your smile and determine if you require periodontal maintenance. Did you know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults today? By placing your infection into remission, we can prevent the additional loss of tissue that threatens the stability of your smile. By cleaning deposits of bacteria both above and below the gumline, we can help your tissues heal and reattach to smooth tooth roots. As you recover from therapy, your symptoms resolve, allowing you to enjoy a healthy smile once again.

At your Ankeny, IA, dental office, we help our patients control gum disease with regular visits to our practice. A preventive attitude toward oral care can prevent infection in the first place, but we also offer robust restorative treatments once the disease takes hold. We encourage you to remember it is never too late to begin prioritizing your oral health. We will meet you where you are to heal your smile with regular care.

You Can Prevent Gum Disease With Regular Dental Checkups

Each time you visit the dentist for a cleaning, we remove deposits of plaque and tartar that can irritate and infect your gumline. While daily at-home brushing and flossing form the basis for your oral hygiene regimen, your checkups also provide an examination to determine if any threats have taken hold since your last appointment. This could mean detecting a gum infection when it is still in its reversible stage. At this point, we could put you on periodontal maintenance to control the disease.

Performing Your Periodontal Cleaning

When we diagnose a gum infection, we will suggest a scaling and root planing procedure to remove bacterial deposits both above and below the gum line. This treatment peels back your gums to reveal the tooth’s roots. We clean pockets between each tooth to remove the source of your irritation. After smoothing the root’s surface, you will begin healing. As the gums reattach to your tooth’s roots, your symptoms subside, returning your healthy smile.

Talk With Your Ankeny, IA, Dental Team About Treatment For Gum Disease

Gum disease can be managed with regular trips to the dentist and daily oral hygiene. If you want to learn more about the periodontal maintenance services we offer, please call your Ankeny, IA, dentist’s office at 515-207-6182 to schedule a visit today.