Periodontal Disease Treatment

The link between periodontal disease and heart disease has long been studied. While no scientific link has been established, the connections between gum and heart health are irrefutable. According to recent studies (Harvard Medical School website), “Gum disease begins when the sticky, bacteria-laden film dentists refer to as plaque builds up around teeth.” When this happens, another type of plaque made up of fat, cholesterol, and calcium may build inside the arteries in your body. Atherosclerosis is the name of the condition of having fatty plaque in your arteries…this can lead to heart disease and heart attacks.

At our Olympia, WA dental office, we focus on dentistry for the whole family, offering comprehensive services to patients of all ages. We also emphasize the importance of preventative care, ensuring that your family’s dental health is regularly monitored to prevent the buildup of plaque and the potential risks it poses to heart health. The research further indicates that people with periodontal disease have “two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event as people who do not have periodontal disease.” The link between cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease is inarguable.

The signs and symptoms of gum disease, even in its earlier stages, are often very obvious and may include:

If you see any of these signs, please call the team at Impressions Dentistry to look into gum disease treatment in Olympia. It’s never too late to start taking better care of your teeth, gums, and mouth, and you’ll be amazed at what we can find with our revolutionary dental technology. Laser treatment for periodontal disease may be your best option, but we will discuss everything with you when you have a treatment plan in place.

There are four progressive stages of gum disease:

• Gingivitis: This occurs when there’s a buildup up bacteria. Even in the earlier stages, inflammation around the gums is visible to the naked eye as gum tissue will look red and swollen. Gums that are easily irritated or that bleed during tooth brushing usually indicate gingivitis. Removal of the buildup (plaque) is necessary to prevent the gum disease from advancing to the next stage.
• Early periodontitis: As the gums become more inflamed, they pull away from the teeth, forming spaces known as “periodontal pockets.” Food, bacteria, and plaque begin to collect in the pockets, which leads to infection as the bacteria damage the bone.
• Moderate periodontitis: The symptoms of periodontitis become more severe as inflammation spreads, and some discomfort may occur at this stage. In this stage, more supporting bone is lost, teeth loosen, and the gums recede even more.
• Advanced periodontitis: Tooth loss and painful abscesses will occur when gum disease advances to this stage as the infection has spread beneath the gums.

Your gum disease treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and how advanced the disease is, your general health, your oral health, and the recommendations of Dr. Bath. At the early signs of gingivitis, we may recommend simple changes to your oral hygiene routine:

For more severe cases, we might recommend a deep cleaning called “Scaling and Root Planing.” This intense cleaning procedure removes bacteria from between your teeth and gums using special instruments and revolutionary technology.

Our gum disease treatment will also help the gums stick in place better, making it harder for bacteria to penetrate your delicate gum tissue. Our state-of-the-art dental laser allows for a much more gentle cleaning experience, and the laser also has bacteria in and around the gums. Our technology can stop gum disease, but you must take the first step to combat this dangerous disease by contacting us for an initial evaluation.

In very rare cases, gum disease may be too advanced for traditional periodontal treatment. If this were to be your case, we may discuss our recommended treatment plan in collaboration with a gum specialist (periodontist).

If you want to learn more about periodontal disease treatment at Impressions Dentistry, serving Olympia and surrounding communities, please call us today (360) 493-1866, or you may fill out our online contact form. One of our team members will return your call to assist with scheduling or answer any questions you may have. We even offer an in-house annual plan with discounted services, including teeth cleanings and exams twice a year.