You may think of hygiene visits as just a regular cleaning and exam, but we seem them as an opportunity to stop periodontal problems in their tracks. Most patients remark they have never had such a thorough and comfortable treatment. We think you'll agree.

The importance of healthy gums. Healthy gums are just as important as your teeth. Without healthy gums to hold you teeth in place, your smile would be nonexistent. Healthy gums are the first step to complete oral health, and are most often the place where we start any dental treatment with our new patients. Today, more people lose teeth from periodontal disease than cavities. We want any restorative treatment that is placed in your mouth to last, and healthy gums are critical for that to happen. The bacteria that causes periodontal disease is also increasingly linked to serious health problems such as heart diseases, circulatory problems and premature and low birth weight babies. As you can see, our concerns are for your overall health, not just your teeth.

Prevalence of periodontal disease. Over 85% of the population has some level of periodontal or gum disease. How can so many people suffer from this problem? Easy, often, it is misdiagnosed, or simply ignored. At our office, we use advanced training and technology to diagnose and treat periodontal disease before it becomes a major threat to your health.

Symptoms or periodontal disease. Often there are no symptoms at all. Gums can recede, leaving teeth vulnerable to decay, abscesses and tooth loss—all without any bleeding or tenderness. However, many people have at least minor symptoms, which can include the following: Bleeding when brushing or flossing, Puffiness or tenderness of the gums, Halitosis or bad breath, Loose feeling teeth.

Advanced methods do you use to treat periodontal disease. A variety of new technologies, such as ultrasonic scalers, make the treatment of this disease more thorough and comfortable than ever before. Antibiotics can be applied directly to the gums to help kill the bacteria that cause the disease. In short, this disease is treatable, even at an advanced stage, to help you retain your teeth and improve your overall health.

If this information answers some of your sensitive questions, call us today for a complete and thorough consultation.