You’ve been thinking of improving your smile lately, so you went to your cosmetic dentist for a consultation. However, while they were examining your mouth, they found signs of gum disease. Will this stop you from having cosmetic work done? Fortunately, the answer to that question is usually “no”, but you will need to undergo gum disease therapy before you can think about improving the appearance of your smile; here’s why.
What Does It Mean if You Have Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the gums. It starts as relatively mild gingivitis but can eventually turn into severe periodontitis. When left untreated, gum disease can damage the tissues that hold your teeth in place; as a result, some teeth could come loose or even fall out entirely. Even worse, the bacteria that cause gum disease can enter your bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, which can contribute to a wide number of health problems.
Why Does Gum Disease Need to Be Treated Before Cosmetic Work?
Some forms of cosmetic treatment, such as dental veneers that cover your teeth, can make it more difficult to detect decay or disease in your mouth. Furthermore, any cosmetic work you have done won’t matter if gum disease causes you to lose your teeth. As such, your periodontist will recommend that you have gum disease completely taken care of before you focus on changing the appearance of your grin.
How is Gum Disease Treated?
Your gum disease treatment plan will be based on your unique needs. It may include any of the following treatments:
- Scaling and Root Planing: Scaling and root planing are two steps of a deep cleaning procedure. First, special instruments are used to remove any plaque or tartar that has built up around or beneath the gums. Afterward, the roots of the teeth are smoothed out to remove the rough surfaces where bacteria tend to accumulate.
- Antibiotic Therapy: After scaling or root planing, your periodontist may prescribe antibiotic therapy. This might involve using antibiotics or prescription rinses to manage the bacteria levels in the mouth.
- Osseous Surgery: This procedure involves pulling back the gums to remove infected or diseased tissue from the area. Your periodontist will also reshape the bone so that the gums can fit around them normally, thus eliminating any pockets that may have formed around your teeth.
Once your gum disease has been properly addressed, you can move forward with whatever plans you might have regarding your appearance. Have you noticed signs of a gum infection? Get in touch with your periodontist today to see what solutions they can offer for your gum disease therapy.
About the Practice
At Pioneer Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, we have a team of board-certified periodontists who all have years of training and genuine enthusiasm for serving patients. From scaling and root planing to osseous surgery, they can offer numerous treatments for gum disease to protect your smile and prepare for cosmetic treatment. If you’d like to schedule an appointment at our Lincoln practice, visit our website or call (402) 483-7631.