Is Any Form of Periodontal Disease Reversible?

Periodontal disease is a gum infection caused by poor oral hygiene habits that allow plaque to build on the teeth and harden. When left untreated, it can progress to more serious advanced stages, possibly leading to tooth loss and deterioration of the jawbone. There are many warning signs with gum disease. At Premier Periodontics, our periodontal specialists can evaluate a patient’s gums to determine if they need gingivitis treatment. Contact one of our locations in Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Olympia, or Redmond, WA to schedule an appointment to learn what we can do to help you to restore your oral health or when you think you have periodontal disease, including gingivitis.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease, and the only one where periodontal disease can be reversed. This is because the infection hasn’t begun to attack the bone yet. Bleeding gums is usually the most common sign. An efficient at-home oral hygiene routine and regular dental exams and dental cleanings help keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible at Premier Periodontics.

Signs of gingivitis

Gum disease is a silent disease, which means that symptoms don’t always appear until gum disease is more advanced. Some early warning signs of gingivitis include:

• Gum recession

• Mouth sores

• Bleeding gums, especially while brushing or flossing

• Tender, swollen, or red gums

• Loose or separating teeth

• Persistent bad breath

When you suspect that you have gingivitis, our periodontal specialists can evaluate your oral health and offer periodontal disease treatment.

How to treat gingivitis

Our periodontal team at Premier Periodontics examines the gums to determine which treatment will work best for each patient. This will depend on the severity and stage of the disease that someone is at. Treating gum disease early helps us minimize damage and decrease your need for gum surgery in Bellevue, WA.

Some common periodontal disease treatments include:

• Deep dental cleaning: During this cleaning, we remove all plaque or tartar from above and below the gumline. We may recommend more frequent dental cleanings to ensure that your gum disease doesn’t advance further.

• Scaling and Root Planing: Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical deep cleaning treatment conducted while the patient is under local anesthesia. First, tartar and plaque are scraped away. Planing is used on rough spots of the tooth root to smooth them, which helps remove bacteria and offer a clean surface for gums to re-attach to the teeth.

Learn more on preventing periodontal disease in Bellevue, WA

When left untreated, periodontal disease continues to worsen. At Premier Periodontics, we work closely with our patients to make sure that their oral health remains intact. This is achieved by regular dental exams, routine dental cleanings, and an efficient oral hygiene routine from home. For more information on periodontal disease treatment and to schedule an appointment with our periodontal specialists at one of our convenient locations in Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Olympia, and Redmond, WA, call us today.