What Are The Symptoms of Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is an infection in the gums. It is caused by poor oral hygiene, which allows plaque to build up on the teeth. When it is left untreated, it can result in severe damage to the jaw and lead to tooth loss. There are many symptoms associated with periodontal disease. At Premier Periodontics, our periodontist can closely evaluate your gums to determine whether or not you require gum disease treatment. Contact one of our convenient locations in Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Olympia, or Redmond, WA to schedule an appointment to learn more about what we can do to restore your oral health if you suspect you have periodontal disease.

Symptoms of gum disease

Gum disease can be a silent disease, meaning that symptoms don’t always appear until it’s more advanced. Some common symptoms of gum disease include:

• Pain in the mouth

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing

• Red, swollen, or tender gums

• Separating teeth

• Receding gums

• Mouth sores

• Loose teeth

• Bad breath

• Changes in the bite

If you suspect that you may have periodontal disease, contact our periodontist today to schedule an important appointment to evaluate your oral health.

Stages of periodontal disease

There are four stages of periodontal disease. They include:

1. Gingivitis: This is the only stage where periodontal disease is reversible. This is because it hasn’t begun to attack the bone. Bleeding gums is a common symptom of periodontal disease at this stage. Generally, it is painless, which makes it so common. Good oral hygiene and regular dental exams and routine dental cleanings help to treat it best at Premier Periodontics.

2. Slight Periodontal Disease: This is the second stage of periodontal disease. It isn’t reversible, but is manageable with the help of our periodontist. At this stage, the infection has spread into the bone and begun damage. Scaling and root planing can be used to deep clean the gums to remove deposits of bacteria.

3. Moderate Periodontal Disease: This third stage of periodontal disease is more advanced as the infection has gone deeper into the gums. Our periodontist can use periodontal disease treatments in order to thoroughly clean the gums and to rid it of this infection.

4. Advanced Periodontal Disease: At this final stage of periodontal disease, the infection warrants periodontal surgery. If left untreated, it can lead to spaces or gaps in the teeth, receding gums, and severe tooth loss.

Ultimately, treating periodontal disease quickly is vital to your oral health.

Periodontal disease treatments

When our periodontist at Premier Periodontics examines your gums, they can determine which treatment option is best for you. This will depend on the severity and stage of the disease you’re at. Treating gum disease early helps to minimize damage and decrease any future need for invasive surgery.

Some of the most common periodontal disease treatments that we can offer our patients include:

• Deep dental cleaning: During this cleaning, all plaque or tartar is removed from both above and below the gumline. For those with periodontal disease, even just gingivitis, we will recommend more frequent dental cleanings to ensure it doesn’t advance any further.

• Scaling and Root Planing: Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical deep cleaning procedure done under local anesthesia. Tartar and plaque are scraped away. Planing is used on rough spots on the tooth root to make them smooth. This helps to remove bacteria and to provide a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth.

• Flap Surgery or Pocket Reduction Surgery: For advanced stages of periodontal disease, a surgery by our periodontist may be required. During this procedure, the gums are lifted back so that all tartar can be removed efficiently. The gums are then placed so that the tissue fits snug, which reduces the space between both the gum and the tooth itself.

• Bone Grafts: Oftentimes when so much bone loss has occurred, bone grafts are necessary. This procedure will use parts of your own bone or synthetic bone to replace any that has been destroyed by gum disease.

Learn more about periodontal disease treatment options

Gum disease will continue to worsen if it is left untreated. At Premier Periodontics, we work closely with our patients to ensure that their oral health is at its best. This is achieved with regular dental exams, routine dental cleanings, and thorough oral hygiene habits at home. For more information and to schedule an appointment with our periodontist at one of our convenient locations in Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Olympia, and Redmond, WA for periodontal disease treatment, call us today.