Gum disease or periodontal disease is a bad thing. We see lots of patients that have varying degrees of that and we want to stop it from progressing. In the office here, that means regular cleanings. Usually every six months we like to see our patients. Some patients with more advanced gum problems, periodontal disease, we might see every three or four months. When you come into the office the first few times, if we see signs of periodontal disease or progressing periodontal disease, we’re going to do something we call a deep clean, a scaling and root planing. That’s something we’ll do in the office and the hygienists take care of that, they do that, but it arrests that periodontal disease. At least that’s the goal.
Having your teeth cleaned, having your mouth clear of periodontal disease is important to our overall general health as well. That plaque, that tartar underneath the gum line holds lots of bacteria and it gets into the bloodstream and bad things get into your body. If we get them out of there, it’s going to just lead to overall better health. There’s a lot of studies that show that getting that tartar off the teeth can actually help prevent certain problems, mainly with the heart. If you’re looking to come into an office that you’re going to get good care, that we’re going to see you regularly, that we’re going to monitor your gums, your overall dental health, we’ll gladly see you.
Treat Your Gums to Efficient & Thorough Dental Care
We look for signs of gum disease during every dental exam. If we find any signs, we will treat them with a wide range of solutions. If we detect gum disease, we can provide the appropriate method of care for your unique needs, including:
- Scaling and Root Planing – This deep cleaning treatment removes infection-causing bacteria. It reduces the chance for bacteria to accumulate below your gumline.
- Topical Antibiotics – Arestin®, a time-released antibiotic, will continue to fight bacteria after you leave our office.
- Laser Gum Therapy – If necessary, we can use a high-tech laser to quickly and comfortably remove infected gum tissue for faster, easier healing.
Attack Gum Infection Early for Better Oral Health
Gum disease happens when bacteria build up in your teeth and gums. It’s a bigger problem for many adults than tooth decay. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of American adults are suffering from one of the two stages of gum disease:
- Gingivitis – In this early stage, the main symptoms are tender gums that may bleed. There hasn’t yet been any lasting tissue or bone damage. A professional dental cleaning and good home care are usually enough to eliminate it at this stage.
- Periodontitis – If it advances, your gums pull away from your teeth, forming “pockets” where bacteria collect and worsen the gum infection. As your body tries to fight the infection, the connective tissue around your teeth begins to break down. When this happens, you’re in danger of losing teeth.
Visit us for routine dental care so that doesn’t happen! If you struggle with poor gum health but are concerned about treatment costs, be sure to ask us about our Perio Membership Plan that includes three annual periodontal maintenance cleanings.
Call Van Buskirk & Krischke DDS, LLC at 219-641-3422 for smile-restoring gum disease treatment in Crown Point. You can also schedule online.