Our dentists do everything in their power to help you maintain a healthy smile. The best way to prevent gum disease is to brush your teeth twice a day, floss once daily, and see one of our dentists every 6 months for a teeth cleaning and oral examination. Otherwise, plaque and tartar will accumulate on the surface of your gums and cause irritation, bleeding, and swelling.
Here’s how gum disease treatments can help.
How We Diagnose Gum Disease
People with tend to have deep gum pockets around their teeth. Our dentists and hygienists are trained to check for receding gums by measuring the depth of these pockets. We’ll also examine the inside of your mouth for bleeding or swollen gums, loose teeth, and bone loss. If we diagnose you with periodontal disease, we’ll be able to identify the stage and recommend appropriate gum disease treatment.
How We Treat Periodontal Disease
While periodontal disease is irreversible, there are still things you can do to prevent its progression. For example, our dentists in Holland offer scaling and root planing. During this gum disease treatment, we remove plaque and tartar from the gum pockets around your teeth. We then smooth out your tooth roots so your receding gums have the best chance of reattaching to teeth.
Stages of Periodontal Disease
Stage 1: Gingivitis → plaque buildup, swollen gums, bleeding gums
Stage 2: Periodontitis → tartar buildup, receding gums, deepening gum pockets, early stages of bone loss
Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis → destruction of gums, bone, and ligament tissues; loosening and loss of teeth; more severe bone loss
Learn More About Gum Disease Treatments
Our dentists in Holland, MI, are dedicated to helping patients maintain healthy teeth and gums. To request an appointment, call the Lakeshore Dentistry & Implant Center at (616) 399-3946.
