$\"Shreveport$ Practicing good oral hygiene habits and maintaining biannual dental exams and cleanings are important steps in preventing tooth decay. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee that plaque buildup will not occur. If there is history of gum disease in your family, you should be especially diligent in caring for your teeth and looking out for signs of this condition. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a result of plaque buildup along the teeth and gums. It is important to treat gum disease before it causes further oral health problems. At Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care, our Shreveport cosmetic dentists offer treatment for the various stages of gum disease.

Causes and Symptoms of Gum Disease

While factors such as illness, smoking, and genetics can contribute to gum disease, the primary cause is plaque buildup. Gingivitis is the term used to describe gums that are inflamed and tender. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to gum disease, or periodontal disease. Patients who are suffering from gum disease will begin to notice symptoms as the disease progresses. Some early signs of gum disease will be sensitive gums that may even bleed during normal tooth care. You may also begin noticing that you have trouble keeping your breath smelling clean. If the disease has advanced further, your teeth may feel lose. These are all signs that you should seek dental treatment. If gum disease is treated early on, you should be able to avoid the need for restorative dental treatments once gum disease has advanced to its later stages.

Gum Disease Treatment

There are different options available to treat gum disease. Our dentists will suggest a treatment option based on the severity of gum disease. For mild cases of gum disease, a regular dental cleaning may improve conditions. More severe cases of gum disease may be treated in the following ways:

Scaling and root planing: This non-surgical procedure is a deep cleaning technique that removes plaque from above and below the gum line. Rough parts on the tooth root are smoothed to give a clean, smooth surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth.
Flap surgery: This is a surgical option to treat severe cases of gum disease. During flap surgery, the gums are lifted away from the tooth and plaque is removed from the area.
Guided tissue regeneration treatment: The only way to restore the health of your gums is to promote the growth of new, healthy gum tissue. Guided tissue regeneration treatment takes flap surgery one step further by aiding in the process of new tissue growth.

If the teeth in your mouth have been damaged, or even lost, as a result of gum disease, our dentists can repair those as well. For our patients in Shreveport, dental implants, dental crowns, or other restorative dentistry procedures can be used to repair damaged, fractured, or missing teeth.

Schedule an Appointment

It is important to treat gum disease before the problem worsens and further compromises your oral health. Schedule an appointment today and let our dentists at Shreveport Bossier Family Dental Care prepare a treatment plan for you.