Periodontics: Get Your Health Back on Track with Periodontal Treatment

Caring for your gums is as essential as caring for your teeth. Why? Mild, moderate, and severe gum disease can affect your smile, functionality, and aesthetics. Edmondson Family Dental Care in Windsor Mill, Maryland, understands the importance of healthy gums—after all, they are the foundation of your teeth. Dr. Jon Edmondson offers periodontics to prevent, diagnose, and treat periodontal disease to keep your gums healthy.

How does gum disease develop?

Periodontal disease is a gum inflammation caused by bacteria and tartar buildup. While harmful bacteria in your mouth can typically be removed through regular brushing and flossing, neglecting oral hygiene allows these bacteria to multiply and infect your gums. When an infection occurs, the body’s defense system responds, leading to red, swollen, and tender gums. If left untreated, gum disease damages the periodontal ligaments and causes the gums to recede, forming deep pockets that trap even more bacteria and tartar. Over time, the infection breaks down the underlying bone, causing tooth loss.

What are the treatment options available for gum disease?

Whether you have mild or moderate gum disease, schedule an appointment with Dr. Edmondson. Our approach to treating gum disease is conservative yet effective. For mild cases of gingivitis, regular professional cleanings combined with good oral hygiene at home can often reverse the condition. However, if you have moderate to severe gum disease, we may recommend more advanced treatments tailored to your needs. These include:

Deep teeth cleaning: This non-surgical gum disease treatment involves two procedures. Root scaling removes tartar and other unhealthy deposits from the tooth surface and just beneath the gum line. Then, the dentist smoothes the roots to promote healing and encourage the reattachment of gums to the teeth.
Gum grafting: Untreated gum disease can be relentless, gradually destroying gingival tissues. Once damaged, gums cannot regenerate or grow back on their own. In severe cases, gum grafting is necessary to restore lost tissue. This procedure involves transplanting healthy soft tissue, often from another part of your mouth, to areas affected by gum recession, helping to rebuild and protect your gums.
Crown lengthening: Although crown lengthening is cosmetic, the dentist may recommend it as part of your periodontal treatment. Crown lengthening removes overgrown gum tissues, reducing the risk of periodontal disease.
Dental implants: When gum disease destroys the underlying bone, and it can no longer hold teeth, the dentist will extract and replace them with predictable dental implants.

How can I prevent gum disease?

Gum disease can be destructive, and treatment options are always expensive. So, why not prevent periodontal disease in the first place? Observe the following tips to prevent gum disease.

Brush your teeth at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
Floss your teeth diligently to prevent plaque buildup from areas your toothbrush cannot reach
Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash
Visit your dentist bi-annually for dental screenings and cleanings
Limit the intake of sugary foods
Quit tobacco products
Keep your mouth hydrated
Manage immunosuppressing conditions like diabetes and depression

Miss your healthy gums?

Edmondson Family Dental Care offers periodontal therapy to help put your oral health on track. Whether you have mild or severe gum disease, call (410) 220-5309 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Edmondson and the team. Don’t wait until it’s too late to treat periodontal disease.