Get A Deep Clean With Dr. Fitz
If you have noticed your gums have begun to bleed, swell, or turn redder, you may have started to worry about what is happening. The most common cause of these symptoms is periodontal disease, better known as gum disease.
Periodontal disease can be reversed in its earliest stages. which is why visiting our expert dentist for periodontal treatment sooner rather than later is crucial. Dr. Brian Fitz offers education and treatment for periodontal health issues. At A New Image Dental, we proudly treat patients in Streamwood, Roselle, Elgin, and Bartlett, IL.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a bacterial infection that attacks your gums. When it’s caught early, treatment for periodontal disease is possible without it leading to further infection. Dr. Fitz is a skilled dentist with three decades of experience treating periodontitis and will help you get your oral health back on track.
Common symptoms of Periodontal disease include the following:
- Red or swollen gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- An improper bite
- Tooth loss
If left untreated, these symptoms will get worse and can lead to significant health concerns
What Factors Can Put Me At Risk?
No one is immune from gum disease, even those who stay on top of their oral hygiene care. However, there are certain risk factors to be aware of that can increase your odds of developing periodontal disease. Some of these include:
- Smoking
- Family history of gum disease
- Diabetes
- Certain medications
- Certain health conditions
- Not seeing your dentist often enough
- Improper cleaning
5 Types of Gum Disease
Gingivitis– In its earliest stage, periodontal disease is called gingivitis. At this stage, the condition can be easily treated. There is also a good chance that the damage can be reversed at this stage.
Chronic Periodontitis — Inflammation within supporting tissues causes deep pockets and gum recession, making your teeth appear longer. This is the most common type of gum disease, with the gums progressively losing attachment.
Aggressive Periodontitis — This version is essentially the same as chronic periodontitis, but it progresses more rapidly. You’re likely to require surgical intervention with this type of gum disease.
Necrotizing Periodontitis — A rare version of the disease, this type is more likely to develop among people who suffer from HIV, immunosuppression, malnutrition, chronic stress, or those who smoke. With necrotizing periodontitis, tissue death occurs in the periodontal ligament, gingival tissues, and alveolar bone.
Periodontitis Caused by Systemic Disease — Periodontitis can also be a symptom of another condition that’s affecting your body. In these cases, even if you make sure to clear all the plaque off your teeth, periodontal disease can still intensify.
Treating Periodontal Disease
There are a couple of different ways to treat gum disease. Depending on the extent of your gum damage, Dr. Fitz will help decide which treatment will be the most effective.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleanings are often preventative in nature and usually performed when gum disease is in its early stages. Because gum disease is easy to reverse in the beginning, a deep cleaning is often enough to restore your dental health. This can often be done in as little as one or two appointments at our Streamwood, IL office.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure performed when your condition has started to damage your healthy gum tissue. This treatment removes all the plaque, excess bacteria, and tartar from your gums by smoothing out the rough spots on your root surfaces and teeth. This also helps prevent bacterial build-up from accumulating in these areas in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following a deep cleaning, any swelling or discomfort should subside within a short amount of time, usually a couple of days to a few weeks. The time will vary from patient to patient, depending on their unique physiology and level of infection. To promote healing and keep your mouth free of excess bacterial build-up, you’ll want to follow any instructions given to you by Dr. Fitz. This includes rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater and using over-the-counter pain medications to ease any discomfort or swelling you may experience after a deep cleaning.
There is a link between gum disease and heart disease. Gum disease is caused by harmful bacteria gathering below your gum line. This same bacteria can spread to other parts of your body through your bloodstream once gum disease advances past gingivitis. When this occurs, the bacteria can cause serious health concerns, including heart disease.
The bacteria can cause the narrowing of your arteries, and directly infect your heart valves. Getting treatment for gum disease can help increase your life expectancy and reduce your risk of health complications.
Most early-stage cases of gum disease can be cured with professional treatment. The first stage, gingivitis, can even be reversed through better oral hygiene practices. Once your treatment is done, you need to follow oral health instructions from Dr. Fitz so you can fully recover and help ensure your gum disease doesn’t return.
Getting A Deep Clean
Dr. Fitz will discuss your options with you at your dental appointment. If you have red, swollen gums or suspect you might have periodontal disease, give our Streamwood office a call at (630) 837-0887 or fill out our convenient online contact form to schedule your appointment with Dr. Fitz.
