Periodontal disease is also known as gum disease. It usually starts with a bacterial infection. Left untreated the infection will degrade your gums and lead to gingivitis. You may not even know you have periodontal disease until it’s too late. What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?
Tender gums that bleed: If your gums are bleeding on a regular basis you should make an appointment to see your dentist. You may have an infection in your gums that needs to be treated with antibiotics.
Swollen and inflamed gums: Your gums should be a pink and healthy. Gums that are puffy, red and swollen are not normal.
Bad breath that never goes away: If you brush regularly, floss and rinse there should be no reason for you to have bad breath. If you are suffering from continuous bad breath you need to call Maple Avenue Family Dentistry and make an appointment today.
Painful chewing: If you find it difficult to eat and feel a lot of pain you need to be proactive and seek help from a dental professional.
Receding gum line: A receding gum line is one of the tell tale signs of periodontal disease. Your teeth may appear larger than normal and your gum line looks thinner. If you have any of the above symptoms you should call Dr. Robert A. Bouffard of Maple Avenue Family Dentistry in Barrington, RI and make an appointment today!
Dr. Robert A. Bouffard will perform an examination and have you complete a dental and medical history form. Why does Dr. Robert A. Bouffard need to know your medical history? To find out if you have a pre-existing condition that is contributing to your dental problems.
What kinds of conditions can contribute to periodontal disease? Heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy, blood disorders and hypertension can all make you prone to gum disease. If you have any of these conditions, our Doctors will need to take them into account when treating you.
During your examination a small probe may be inserted into your gums. This probe allows the dentist to check the depth of your gum and see how far it has receded. X-rays may also be taken so that Dr Christopher E. Napolitano of Maple Avenue Family Dentistry in Barrington, RI can see what is happening below the gum line.
Some of the treatment options include: scaling your teeth and removing plaque buildup. Cleaning the infected roots of your teeth and removing debris from the gum line. If you have severe gum disease you may need to have some of your teeth removed. This will stop the gum receding further and getting re-infected.
Should you need to have some of your teeth removed, Dr Andrea Barone, Jr. can have dental implants made for you. The implants are made from titanium and last a lifetime. They won’t suffer from infection and are easy to keep clean. If you want to know more about the implants and periodontal disease, talk to the staff at Maple Avenue Family Dentistry today! Call us at (401) 237-4324.
