Horseheads Dental

Horseheads

Mon-Thu (8am - 6pm)

Fri-Sun (Closed)

2898 Westinghouse Road

Suite 524 | Horseheads, NY 14845

607-739-3528

office@horseheadsdental.com

Gum Disease Treatment

Gum Disease

In our effort to help patients achieve optimum oral health one of the first steps taken is to evaluate the overall health of the surrounding gums and supporting jawbone. Without healthy gums and jawbone to support and help hold the teeth in the mouth, dental treatments such as crowns and tooth colored fillings would be pointless. It can be likened to putting a new roof and a new set of windows on a house whose foundation is built on a swamp, it would not make sense. So, the same can be said when treating teeth. Gum or periodontal disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults. To achieve a goal lifetime of optimal oral health, it is important to have healthy gums and sufficient jawbone.

Causes of Gum Disease

Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque, that sticky film of bacteria that quickly forms around the teeth, especially after eating. If this plaque is not removed, such as with brushing or flossing, toxins created by the bacteria will build up and inflame the gum tissue and cause it to bleed. Bleeding is NOT normal in healthy gums. If this plaque is allowed to continually accumulate over time, it will build up below the gumline, harden like concrete (commonly known as tartar), create bad breath, cause additional bleeding and result in the irreversible loss of jaw bone, which can result into eventual tooth loss.

Gum Disease not only effects your oral health, but researchers also suspect that the bacteria present in gum disease can travel throughout the body, triggering inflammation of the heart’s vessel and infection of the heart valves. It has also been linked to other severe chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and even cancer.

Treating Gum Disease with Perio Protect

Perio Protect and Perio Trays are part of our gum disease treatment protocol. Traditionally, treating gum disease typically consists of scraping your teeth (called scaling and root planing) to remove the harmful plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. For some people, the scraping is tolerable; for others, numbing the area before treatment is necessary.

 

With Perio Protect, treatment is done at home twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes each time by wearing custom-made mouthguard trays to deliver bacteria-fighting medication deep below and around the gumline to prevent gum disease. In the process, the existing tartar melts away or softens significantly, decreasing the need for scaling and root planing. When used in combination with regular brushing and flossing, plus routine dental checkups, you will find managing your gum disease to be much easier than before and will regain your oral health rather quickly. As a side benefit, the medication used in Perio Protect will also whiten your teeth.

 

If you would like to learn whether you are a good candidate for Perio Protect, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.

With us, you’ll notice a difference. Your smile is the first thing that people see, so why not show a dazzling, healthy one.

Preventive Dentistry Services

Dr. Warren E. Eng and his trained staff provide dental care for patients of all ages. You can bring your entire family here for dental checkups, comprehensive examinations, teeth whitening, and more.

Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene is all about taking care of your teeth and gums.

Mouthguards

Mouthguards are designed to protect the teeth and jaw from damage.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults.