Gum Disease Treatment Boston
Protecting Against Tooth Loss
You might be surprised to learn that up to 80% of American adults unknowingly have some form of gum disease. This serious condition, caused by an inflammatory response to bacterial plaque, can wreak havoc with your oral and overall health. In fact, it’s the most common cause of tooth loss in the United States!
There’s good news is that our highly trained dentists offer targeted gum disease therapy to halt this stealthy disease’s progression and promote good oral health. Read on to learn more and give us a call today to schedule your next appointment.
Why Choose Kraft & Schrott Dental Associates for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Friendly & Compassionate Dental Team
- Serving Boston Smiles Since 1974
- State-of-the-Art Dental Practice
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection that damages the soft tissue and bone that provide support for your teeth. While it can develop due to multiple reasons, the most common is a lack of adequate oral hygiene. This results in an accumulation of bacteria-filled plaque that produces acid, which can lead to the breakdown of the oral tissues.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Gum disease has two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis (early) is characterized by redness and swelling in the gums, and they may bleed easily as well while brushing and flossing.
With periodontitis (late), the infection has reached the deeper part of the dental pockets and is affecting the underlying bone. This can result in loose and shifting teeth and ultimately tooth loss.
How We Treat Gum Disease
At your exam, your dentist will evaluate your gums, looking for redness, swelling, and other signs of infection. When diagnosed early, it can be relieved with a thorough dental cleaning and proper brushing and flossing at home.
However, if your condition has worsened, we may recommend treatment via one of the following services depending on your specific case.
Scaling & Root Planing
These two services, when paired together, allow us to clean deep beneath your gumline. During your deep cleaning procedure, we’ll remove the harmful plaque and calculus responsible for your inflammation.
Antibiotic Treatment
Gum disease bacteria like to hide in deep, hard-to-reach spaces within the mouth. Using an antibacterial rinse or topical treatment, we can eliminate any traces left after scaling and root planing. This also makes it possible for you to benefit from professional-strength treatment while at home.
In addition to removing the infection, this approach can also help your gums heal and reduce the size of the pockets where bacteria like to gather.
Chao Pinhole Technique
The Chao Pinhole Technique is a non-invasive way to correct gum recession stemming from gum disease. Instead of relying on a graft or a more involved procedure, a small hole (no larger than a pin) is placed in the gum line near the recessed area.
The gums are then gently stretched and massaged back into their original position. This approach is faster in the chair and requires less downtime afterward compared to traditional methods.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Since periodontal disease is associated with deep pockets around teeth, this surgery aims at eliminating or reducing them, which serve as niches for pathogenic bacteria.
After administering a local anesthetic, we will gently reflect the gum tissue from the teeth. Doing so allows us to remove pathogenic bacteria which attach to the roots. The surrounding bone tissue is then reshaped to eliminate pockets, and the gum tissue is sutured back in place.
