Gum Disease Treatment in Vancouver
Gum disease, also known as “periodontitis” or “periodontal disease” is a common oral health ailment associated with poor oral hygiene and hormonal fluctuations.
Gum disease, as well as its precursor (gingivitis) are treatable by the expert dentists and hygienists at Dentist on Kingsway. However, it can still cause damage to your mouth and should be taken seriously.
Let’s get a better understanding of what gum disease is and how you can prevent it.
What Is Periodontal/Gum Disease?
Gum disease often appears first as gingivitis. Gingivitis is characterized as the inflammation of the gums.
Vancouver patients suffering from gingivitis may frequently experience pain, swelling, redness, or bleeding of the gums when brushing their teeth.
This is largely due to a buildup of plaque, but no long-term or irreversible damage is typically done at this point.
Gingivitis can worsen and develop into full blown periodontitis – otherwise known as “gum disease” – if left untreated.
With periodontitis, patients often report experiencing a separation of the gums from the teeth. This leads to the formation of pockets which are prone to infection. Infection and the spread of bacteria in patients with gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
The bacteria produced breaks down the tissue connecting tooth to gum, leading to a gradual loosening and eventual loss of teeth.
Periodontitis can be a chronic illness and should be carefully monitored by the well-trained staff at Dentist on Kingsway.
Gum Disease Treatment Procedure
Different treatments for gum disease may be appropriate based on how advanced its symptoms are.
In some cases, a thorough professional teeth cleaning by the experienced dental hygienists at Dentist on Kingsway is all that’s needed.
Other cases may call for scaling or root planing.
Scaling is a process which scrapes plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Root planing involves smoothing out any rough patches on the teeth which may trap bacteria, leading to a buildup.
In more severe cases, surgical treatment may be required.
Surgical options may include tissue grafts to reinforce the gums or to compensate for lost gum tissue. Bone matter may also be restored via a graft.
Surgery may also be performed to close the gaps between tooth and gum and to restore as much of the damage done as possible.
These procedures may require the use of varying levels of anesthetic and likely involve some discomfort. However, such serious cases of gum disease represent only a fraction of those afflicted and rarely are such extremes called for.
This is, in part, because preventing gum disease is fairly simple. Most serious cases of gum disease can be avoided through diligent and disciplined oral hygiene at home.
If you brush and floss regularly, you will likely be safe from the condition ever advancing to a stage where surgery is ever considered.
Consult With a Dentist Today
If you believe you may have or are at risk of developing gum disease, call the professionals at Dentist on Kingsway today.
The dentists and hygienists at Dentist on Kingsway take pride in helping Vancouver residents prevent and reverse the effects of inflammation and gum disease.
You can reach the staff at Dentist on Kingsway over the phone at (604) 558-2442 or request an appointment online.
The costs associated with treating gum disease are difficult to predict as treatments vary in complexity and resources based on the severity of its symptoms. A variety of other factors including your location and your insurance coverage and provider can also influence the ultimate cost of treatment. Some estimates report the cost of treatment to range from $500 all the way up to $10,000 depending on the nature of the treatment. Keep in mind, however, the patient may only be responsible for a fraction of these costs based on your insurance coverage and provider.
If all that is required to treat the symptoms of gum disease is a simple professional tooth cleaning from the hygienists at Dentist on Kingsway, then there will likely be no pain involved. However, as the symptoms advance in their severity, so too does the severity of pain and discomfort involved in treating them. Grafts of the gum or bone will likely cause some pain and discomfort regardless of whether or not an anesthetic is applied. Surgical options are, of course, more likely to involve a moderate level of pain and discomfort both during the procedure and throughout the recovery period.
Some cases of gum disease or inflammation may be treated within just a single appointment. Other cases of gum disease, however, may be chronic. This often means making a lifelong commitment to treatment and maintenance.
