Your gums are a crucial part of your smile. They keep your teeth in place and frame your smile, offering a major impact on your appearance. Which is why keeping your smile healthy and ensuring these tissues remain free of periodontal disease is so important. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about the treatments we offer to improve your periodontal health and keep your smile whole and healthy!
The Risk to Your Gums
When you develop gingivitis and periodontal disease, this could lead to discomfort, as your gums look redder than normal and may feel sensitive. They could also bleed easily when you brush and floss, and may even recede, a complication that makes teeth appear longer than usual. Over time, this could cause attachment loss and severe the connective tissues between your teeth and gums, which creates adult tooth loss. To avoid discomfort and losing portions of your smile, we recommend treatment to manage the disease and keep it in control. The process starts with a periodontal cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing.
Deep Cleanings
With this procedure, we will numb the smile beforehand so you remain comfortable as we use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool to gently and thoroughly remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, exposed roots, and from under the gums. The process could take one visit or as many as four, it all depends on the severity of your buildup. The procedure then allows us to manage the disease in-office with regular cleaning every three to four months. By controlling the buildup, we keep inflammation in check, which prevents the disease from progressing to stages linked to adult tooth loss.
Protecting Gum Health From Home
We can also discuss ways to manage the disease from home and protect your smile. For example, you can make time each day to brush and floss thoroughly, which helps control buildup before you see us for another visit. You can also control buildup by cutting back on the sugar and starch in your diet. Avoiding tobacco use can also be beneficial for your gum health. If you have any questions about how to manage or even prevent the onset of periodontal disease, or if you have symptoms that need attention, then please reach out to our team today to learn more and get started. A visit now is also a chance to use your remaining 2025 dental benefits before they expire at the end of the year!
Dental Impressions Treats Little Smiles With Periodontal Dentistry
Our team is eager to help improve the health and beauty of your gums. To schedule an appointment and receive periodontic treatment, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
