If you’ve found yourself struggling with symptoms of gingivitis, you know the experience is painful and disheartening, and the prospect of gingivitis developing into a full-fledged gum disease is even worse. Luckily, with proper treatment and aftercare, it’s easy to rid your mouth of the bacteria causing your discomfort and free yourself of gingivitis entirely. Utilizing the latest technology for optimal patient care, Dr. Oscar Hernandez at Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL specializes in gingivitis treatment and the treatment of gum disease.
Do Gingivitis Treatments Really Work?
Gingivitis causes discomfort and pain and when left untreated progresses into Gum Disease. As the bacterial infection in the gums breaks down the connective tissue in the jaw, this leads to teeth shifting, loose teeth, and ultimately tooth loss. Despite this, gingivitis is not a permanent condition. With proper treatment, it’s possible to restore health and comfort to your mouth. Here at Parkwood Dental, we offer a variety of surgical and nonsurgical best gingivitis treatment options.
Gingivitis Treatment Options
After a comprehensive examination during your consultation with Dr. Hernandez, you will be presented with a personalized treatment plan to ensure that you receive the best possible care on your return journey to a sparkling smile. But what could that journey look like? If you’re looking for more information on gingivitis treatment, here’s a brief overview of what to expect from your experience at Parkwood Dental.
Consultation
Gingivitis is diagnosed during a periodontal examination performed by Dr. Hernandez or one of our highly-skilled dental hygienists. Periodontal means “around the teeth.” This type of exam is part of your routine dental check-up to catch any signs of gingivitis early.
During diagnosis, a small dental tool called a periodontal probe is gently used to measure the pockets between the teeth and the gums. The periodontal probe will indicate if these pockets are a healthy size or larger than normal. As gum disease progresses, these pockets tend to get deeper.
Using pocket depths, inflammation, any signs of bleeding, and tooth mobility, Dr. Hernandez can make an accurate diagnosis and recommend any of the following treatments.
Professional Cleaning
One option for a nonsurgical best gingivitis treatment is thorough dental cleaning. If the gingivitis is detected during the early stages, some routine cleanings could be enough to reverse the progression of gingivitis.
Treatment
Gingivitis progresses when the pockets by the teeth begin to harbor bacteria, plaque, and tartar, which cause irritation to the surrounding gum tissue. During the early stages of gingivitis, it’s possible to remove these irritants in order to reverse any damage done by the disease. After one or two cleanings, your gums and teeth can be as bright and healthy as ever.
Aftercare
After having your teeth cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist, it’s important to continue to practice good dental hygiene in order to keep the pockets in your gums free from irritants as your mouth continues to heal. Before you leave the office, you will be given detailed instructions for your daily dental hygiene and scheduled for any further dental cleanings you might require to treat your gingivitis.
Planing and Scaling
If the gingivitis has progressed, a special deep-cleaning technique called planing and scaling is another nonsurgical treatment that may be recommended.
Treatment
This treatment removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line while the mouth is numb and smooths rough surfaces on the roots of the teeth. It is usually performed on different quadrants of the mouth. Two appointments may be necessary—one to clean the upper and lower quadrants of one side of the mouth, and another for the opposite side.
Before beginning the treatment, the mouth is numbed using local anesthesia. After a few minutes, the quadrant will be numb, and the treatment can begin with scaling. Scaling refers to the process of removing plaque and calculus from the gums around the teeth, below the gums, and the base of the teeth. This can be done with a manual instrument or with an ultrasonic instrument.
Planing is the next step, which is the smoothing and cleaning of the teeth’s roots. By removing any rough surfaces on the roots of the teeth, there are fewer places for harmful bacteria to hide under the gums. Smoothing the roots of the teeth also helps the gums reattach more easily and aids in the healing process.
Aftercare
After the procedure, the mouth is rinsed thoroughly to remove any outstanding bacteria. Then pressure is applied to the gum tissue to prevent pockets as the gums return to their proper depth. Special gingivitis mouthwash, electric toothbrushes, or medications might be distributed or recommended after this treatment to ensure that the pockets heal quickly and without harboring any more harmful bacteria.
Surgical Treatments
If it’s determined that your gingivitis has developed to the point where you may need more extensive treatment, Dr. Hernandez will work with you to determine what’s the best approach for your unique circumstance. Employing the latest technology and techniques, a treatment strategy will be developed that considers your health and comfort above all else.
Now That You’ve Reversed Your Gingivitis
With regular dental care, good oral hygiene, and personalized gingivitis treatments, your breath will freshen, your gums will return to a healthy pink, and you’ll be ready to face the world again with your brightest smile, having reversed your gingivitis.
When you’re ready for your best smile, contact us at Parkwood Dental to schedule a consultation at one of our offices in East or West Bradenton, Florida.
