If you’re one of the more than 47% of Americans living with gum disease, gum treatments can prevent further recession and tooth loss, preserving your oral health. At Nashville Smile Creations, Janet Clodfelter, DDS, and the team provide non-surgical gum treatments, including scaling and root planing and antibiotic therapy for people of all ages. To schedule an appointment at the Nashville, Tennessee, practice, book online or call the office today.
Gum disease is a common but highly preventable oral health problem. It occurs when a bacterial infection damages the tissues that support your teeth, resulting in persistent bad breath, gum recession, and ultimately, tooth loss.
There are many types of gum disease, but Nashville Smile Creations focuses on two in particular:
Gingivitis is the mildest type of gum disease. It occurs when plaque, a mixture of food particles, saliva, and bacteria build up on your teeth, causing your gums to become irritated and swollen. Gingivitis doesn’t always present obvious symptoms, but you might notice your gums bleed when flossing or brushing.
When gingivitis is left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis. Periodontitis is a more serious infection that attacks your jaw and alveolar bones. As the infection gets worse, it often results in tooth loss. In addition, periodontitis increases your risk of serious physical health problems like heart and lung disease.
Gum treatments are a group of non-surgical procedures used to address and reverse the damaging effects of gum disease. Undergoing gum treatments shortly after a diagnosis, significantly decreases your risk of gum recession, bone loss, and other more serious problems.
Nashville Smile Creations offers several types of non-surgical gum treatments, including:
Deep cleaning is a quick, non-surgical procedure used to remove plaque and tartar from the exterior of your teeth and below your gum line. Most deep cleanings take a single appointment, but if you have a serious case of gum disease, two or more treatments may be necessary.
During scaling and root planing, the Nashville Smile Creations team carefully removes plaque and tartar from your teeth. Your provider then smooths your tooth roots, allowing your gums to reattach to your teeth.
If deep cleaning isn’t enough to eradicate your infection, the Nashville Smile Creations team might recommend antibiotic treatments.
Depending on your symptoms, your provider might prescribe a round of oral antibiotics, or they might implant small beads of antibiotic medicine beneath your gums. Over time, the beads release medication, limiting inflammation, bleeding, and other uncomfortable side effects.
To determine the type of non-surgical gum treatments that you’ll most benefit from, your provider at Nashville Smile Creations conducts an oral exam, takes a series of oral X-rays, and asks about your symptoms and lifestyle. After gathering this information, the team develops a custom care plan to align with your needs.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of gum treatments, schedule a consultation at Nashville Smile Creations. Book an appointment online, or call the office to speak with a caring team member today.
