Looking for gum disease treatment in Queens?
The first step in preventing gum disease is to understand it. This condition is essentially an infection of the gum tissue. It causes the gums to separate from the teeth and, if not treated, it can progress to a bone infection. The deterioration of gum and bone tissues cause teeth to become loose and eventually fall out if the infection is not stopped. It is not possible to eliminate all oral bacteria; however, excellent hygiene practices and dental care can prevent the bacteria from congregating in the gums and causing health complications. Plaque is the sticky residue that accumulates on your teeth between brushing. It also accumulates in the shallow groove around teeth, where they meet the gums. If not removed, plaque will harden and turn into tartar, which is difficult to remove. The only effective method of preventing tartar buildup is diligent oral hygiene.
The signs of gum disease include:
Red, inflamed gums
Gums that bleed easily when you brush
Chronic bad breath
A receding gum line
Loose or sensitive teeth
What are the types of gum disease?
Gum disease is generally categorized as gingivitis or periodontitis. The most important distinction between the two is the severity of the infection. The earliest form of gum disease is gingivitis. It is characterized by inflamed gums that bleed easily. At this stage, it can usually be reversed with good hygiene and conservative treatment. Because gum disease is progressive, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, a much more serious condition. At this stage, there are deep pockets around the teeth and the bone begins deteriorating. Periodontitis requires a more aggressive treatment plan. If not treated, periodontitis can increase the risk of other health problems, such as diabetes, respiratory difficulties, and heart disease.
What treatments are available for gum disease?
We provide a number of treatment options to patients who suffer from both mild and advanced forms of gum disease. In addition to formal treatment at our Queens office, Dr. Lestz may recommend certain lifestyle and dietary changes to promote good oral health, including not smoking and avoiding sugary foods. Dr. Lestz's comprehensive approach to treating gum disease has allowed him to reverse the effects of infection, and put thousands of patients back on track toward positive oral health.
Laser Pocket Decontamination
Dr Lestz believes in utilizing the most conservative and comfortable treatments available. Therefore, he recommends non-surgical treatments, such as scaling and planing, for mild to moderate gum disease. The comfortable procedure removes plaque and tartar from the teeth, including below the gum line. It smoothens the tooth surface, making it more difficult for bacteria to attach. Patients are advised to maintain results with diligent oral hygiene and the use of a prescription mouth rinse.
Gum Grafting
A gum graft, also known as a gingival graft, relocates healthy tissue from the roof of the mouth to an area that has been affected by gum disease. This extra tissue is placed around the tooth to protect it and ward off any further infection. This procedure can significantly reduce patient sensitivities, and improve the appearance of the teeth following gum recession.
Bone Grafting
Because advanced gum disease can often lead to bone and tooth deterioration, it is sometimes necessary to rebuild the bone prior to moving forward with restorative treatments. Bone grafting involves the migration of healthy bone to areas of decay to strengthen the jaw. Doing so lays the foundation for further treatment options, such as dental implants, crowns, or implant-support dentures. During this surgery, bone can be harvested from other sections of the mouth or from the hip.
When left untreated, gum disease can lead to a number of cosmetic and oral health problems. Dr. Lestz provides advanced gum treatments to promote the health of the gums and treat any instance of infection. If you are concerned about the health of your gums, and you would like to learn more about the gum disease treatments that we offer, please contact our Queens office today to schedule a consultation. A member of our friendly staff will be happy to answer any of your questions.
How we treat gum disease and how we can improve your quality of life?
- X-rays We use low emission digital x-rays that are very precise. Our dentist will use your x-rays to assist in helping them evaluate or spot areas of decay, they will look for tumors, any cysts, or signs of bone loss.
- Oral cancer screening: When we perform this the dentist will check your face, your neck neck, around your lips and your tongue throat. He will also look at soft tissues and your gums for any signs of oral cancer.
- Evaluation of gum disease: Our dentists will l carefully check the gums and bone around all of your teeth for signs of periodontal disease. They will probe six different spots around every tooth on every patient at every visit.
- Examination of extent of tooth decay: We will make sure that we check all patients tooth surfaces for areas decay using special dental instruments.
- Existing restorations: We will evaluate your current dental fillings, any crowns or dental implants so that we make sure that they are functioning properly and that there is no decay.
The treatment of periodontal disease is imperative if you want to keep your teeth. It also has lasting repercussions on other aspects of your health. - Richard Lestz, DDS
