Periodontal Care in Sacramento, CA

Our oral cavity is home to millions of bacteria. Some of the bacteria are good for our oral health while others are capable of causing infection of the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity. Gums, the layer of soft tissues that cover the jawbone and seal the root of the teeth, play an important role in our oral health by protecting the teeth roots from infection. When this line of defense is breached by bacteria, there is an increased risk of tooth decay and tooth fall. Therefore it is important to take care of the soft gum tissues in order to maintain good oral health and overall health. Bleeding gums, swelling and odor are few of the symptoms of gum infection. Make an appointment and visit our dental practice in Sacramento for a routine dental checkup to examine the status of your gums. Our dental team at Sacramento, California offers comprehensive oral care to ensure that you are protected from gum disease and other oral health problems. Call us today!

Periodontal Disease - What Really Happens?

Gums are soft tissues that cover the supporting bone and form a tight collar at the neck of the teeth. They act as a seal and prevent food particles and bacteria from gaining access to teeth roots. The bacteria in the mouth combine with mucosal fluids to form a sticky film over the teeth surface called the plaque. This thin film of bacteria can be removed from the teeth surface through brushing and flossing. When plaque remains over teeth surface for long, it hardens to become tarter which cannot be cleaned through routine oral hygiene practices. The bacteria in tarter are capable of inflaming and infecting gum tissues. The first stage of inflammation is called gingivitis. In this stage, the bacteria have managed to inflame gum tissues leading to reddening and swelling of gums. As a result, gums can bleed easily when brushing and flossing. According to the periodontal health organization, more than 2/3rds of the population in the United States are affected by gum infection. The gum problem is in the initial stages in most of the people. Gingivitis can be treated and prevented through professional dental cleaning, routine oral hygiene and periodic dental visits.

In the second stage of periodontal disease, the bacteria cause infection of gums and detach soft tissues from teeth surface. This leads to a formation of gum pockets where food particles get collected. The bacteria feed on food particles further and spread the infection to more gum tissues. This stage of the disease is called periodontitis. As the infection spreads deeper, it affects the supporting bone structure and roots of teeth. The patient loses valuable hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity during the process. If left untreated, the condition can lead to tooth loss.

How is Gum Disease Identified?

Our dentists consider a number of factors when examining a patient with a periodontal disease. We ask questions related to patients habits and medical health conditions. Smoking and diabetes can increase the risk of periodontal disease. We check the depth of pockets, bleeding of gums, attachment level of soft tissues with teeth surface, tarter buildup, tooth decay and movement of the tooth if there is any. The checklist will help us identify if a patient has periodontal disease. Periodontal probe and other dental instruments are used during the course of a dental examination.

Periodontal Care at Our Sacramento Office Global Smiles

Professional dental cleaning and periodontal treatment procedures can help control gum infection. The treatment for periodontal disease may involve the process of scaling and root planing. Firstly our team uses local anesthesia to numb the gums and the supporting bone. dental tools are used to scrape the layer of tarter from teeth surface. root planing is where our dentists use specialized tools to smoothen tooth root surface and ensure that there is no infection. an anti-bacterial agent is used to kill any remaining bacteria. our team then takes steps to see that the gums reattach to the teeth surface. patients may be advised to visit our dental office periodically to ensure that the infection is under check.