Gum disease or periodontal disease is a chronic oral health condition. This condition is characterized by inflammation in your gum line that can get progressively worse. Gum disease is easily treated by our skilled professionals but can cause more severe oral health consequences if left untreated for a prolonged time.
How Is Gum Disease Diagnosed?
Gum disease will present several easily observed symptoms, such as discoloration in your gum line or increased bleeding. However, it must be diagnosed by one of our dental health professionals. In order to diagnose gum disease, our team will need to conduct a thorough oral exam.
During the exam, our team will take measurements of the naturally occurring pockets between your teeth and gums. A normal depth for these pockets is between 1mm and 3mm. If the pockets are in excess of 3mm, then gum disease is present. If the pocket depth is 5mm or greater, then the gum disease is advanced and will require more invasive treatments.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
Early-stage gum disease can be treated with a quick, non-invasive procedure called root planing and scaling. During this process, the tartar is removed from your teeth below the gum line and the roots are then smoothed out. This process allows the roots to heal and reattach to your gums.
If gum disease has progressed, it has to be treated with surgical intervention, such as pocket reduction surgery. This procedure is highly effective and is designed to reduce the pocket size so non-surgical treatments can be used in the future. Grafts may also be necessary if soft tissue or bone damage has occurred.
While gum disease is very treatable, preventing gum disease or detecting it early are much more cost-effective. Contact our office to learn more about gum disease and find out what steps you can take to protect your smile.
About Our Paradise Valley Dental Practice • David R. Moyer, DDS Looking for the right dentist for you? Learn more about our top-rated Paradise Valley dentist, David R. Moyer, DDS, today! David R. Moyer, DDS, 10920 N. Tatum Blvd, Suite #103 Phoenix, AZ 85208 + 480.935.6295 + moyerdds.com + 5/29/2023 + Page Terms:Dentist Paradise Valley +
Gum disease or periodontal disease is a chronic oral health condition. This condition is characterized by inflammation in your gum line that can get progressively worse. Gum disease is easily treated by our skilled professionals but can cause more severe oral health consequences if left untreated for a prolonged time.