Periodontics Cresskill Dr. Joo Hyun Lee Cresskill Dental General, Cosmetic, Restorative, Preventative, Family Dentist in Cresskill, NJ 07626

Periodontics in Cresskill, New Jersey

 

Caring for the health of your gums is just as important as caring for the health of your teeth. For example, one often overlooked disease is periodontitis, inflammation of the gums. Periodontal disease is a severe disease that can affect the overall health of your mouth. To learn more about periodontics, keep reading. 

 

What is Periodontal Disease? 

Periodontal disease, which includes periodontitis, has two main parts, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease and provides inflammation of the gums. You may notice bleeding and swelling of the gums in this first stage. It is essential to go to your dentist when you see these symptoms. Recognizing gingivitis is critical. Gingivitis can be reversed and prevented from leading to periodontitis. Once your gum disease reaches the stage of periodontitis, you can no longer change it. Your dentist can only prevent it from spreading. 

 

What are the Symptoms of Periodontal Disease? 

The first symptoms of periodontal disease are inflamed and bleeding gums. You may also notice that your gums are more red than usual. Other symptoms can include pain and bad breath. As periodontal disease progresses, the gums will begin to recede from your teeth. Receding gums causes pockets between your teeth and gums, leading to more bacteria filling up in this space. As bacteria fill up in the pockets between your teeth and gums, the debris causes the periodontal disease to worsen. Pus may begin to form between the teeth, you may lose teeth, or you may develop spaces between your teeth. The changes that your teeth undergo can cause your teeth to fit together incorrectly. 

 

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is typically caused by debris and bacteria that form on your gums—residue from foods and drinks buildup on your teeth which turn into plaque and tartar. You cannot remove it with a regular toothbrush. If the tartar is not removed with professional dental cleaning, the tartar can become stuck to the gums leading to inflammation. When inflammation of the gums, gingivitis, is not treated, it progresses into periodontitis, which cannot be reversed and may lead to bone and tooth loss. 

 

How Can I Prevent Periodontal Disease?  

The best way to prevent periodontal disease is good oral hygiene. Oral hygiene begins at home with an excellent oral hygiene routine. At Cresskill Dental, we recommend brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash twice a day. Good oral hygiene cannot remove all of the tartar on your teeth and gums, but it can remove the debris, bacteria, and plaque and prevent them from becoming tartar. To remove the tartar, we recommend visiting Cresskill Dental twice a year, every six months, for a dental cleaning and exam. During this dental cleaning, our dentist will remove the tartar and help refresh your smile. Dr. Lee will also conduct a dental exam to help her determine if any restorative dentistry procedures need to be completed. For example, if you have decay, she may recommend a dental filling. Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent periodontal disease and ensure you have a healthy smile. 

 

What does Periodontics Treatment Include?

At Cresskill Dental, we use state-of-the-art technology to treat periodontal disease. Often dentists recommend surgery to remove inflamed and damaged gums from periodontal disease. At Cresskill Dental, we utilize the Picasso Laser, which uses a laser instead of a scalpel to remove inflamed gums. Call our office to learn more about the Picasso Laser and our periodontics treatment options. 

 

Periodontal disease is a severe gum disease that needs to be treated immediately. The best way to prevent periodontal disease is through good oral hygiene. If you notice inflamed, red, or bleeding gums visit our office because this could signify periodontal disease. For more information about periodontal disease or to schedule an appointment, call our office today.