Five Early Warning Signs It May Be Time to Consult a Periodontist

Periodontal disease is a gum infection that is usually caused by poor brushing and gum care. When plaque builds up on the teeth, gum disease can develop. When left untreated, it can lead to red and swollen gums, bleeding gums, and, in more severe cases, tooth loss and deterioration of the jawbone itself. There are many early symptoms of gum disease that a periodontist can detect during a dental exam at Premier Periodontics.

Our periodontal team specializes in treating patients of all ages with gum disease. Our seven locations across Washington, in Bellevue, Kirkland, Everett, Mercer Island, Redmond, and Olympia, all work diligently to help our patients repair their oral health when they have periodontal disease.

What does a periodontist do?

A periodontist evaluates a patient’s teeth and gums to determine if they need periodontal disease treatment. At Premier Periodontics, we provide periodontal disease treatment options, depending on what stage of gum disease you have. Our team also can discuss important oral hygiene tips that help you to make sure that your teeth and gums remain healthy after your gum treatment.

Warning signs of gum disease

Periodontal disease oftentimes is a silent disease, meaning that most symptoms don’t always appear until you’re in a more advanced stage of gum disease. Five early warning signs that it’s time to consult a periodontist about gum disease include:

1. Receding gums

2. Loose or separating teeth

3. Bleeding, especially when you’re brushing or flossing

4. Red, swollen, or tender gums

5. Changes with your bite

When you think you may have periodontal disease, our periodontal specialists can evaluate your oral health during a dental exam and provide you periodontal disease treatment.

Periodontal disease treatments

Our periodontists in Bellevue, WA examine your gums efficiently to help determine the best treatment plan for your oral health. Ultimately, treating gum disease early helps minimize damage and decrease your need for gum surgery. Some common periodontal disease treatments we offer include:

• Bone grafts: When bone loss has occurred, bone grafts may be necessary. A periodontist uses portions of your bone, or synthetic bone, to replace any that has been destroyed because of gum disease.

• Deep dental cleaning: During a deep dental cleaning, we remove all plaque or tartar from above and below your gumline. When you have periodontal disease, we will recommend you have more frequent dental cleanings to ensure your gum disease doesn’t progress to more advanced stages.

• Flap surgery/pocket reduction surgery: For more advanced stages of gum disease, surgery may be needed. During surgery, your gums are lifted back, and all tartar is removed thoroughly. Next, your gums are placed snugly back in place, which helps reduce the space between your gums and teeth.

• Scaling and root planing: Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical deep cleaning procedure we perform using local anesthesia. All tartar and plaque are scraped away during this procedure. Planing is used on rough spots on the tooth root to help make them smooth. This effectively removes bacteria and provides a clean surface for your gums to reattach to your teeth properly.

Learn more about periodontal disease treatment near me

When you neglect to have your periodontal disease treated, it will continue to worsen. At Premier Periodontics, our periodontal specialists work closely with our patients to ensure that their oral health remains at its best. For more information on periodontal disease treatment and to schedule an appointment with a periodontist at one of our seven convenient locations in Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Olympia, or Redmond, WA, call our team today.