If you were diagnosed with gum disease, you’re not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 42% of adults 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. Yet, while gum disease is prevalent, so is ignorance about the disease’s treatment options.
One term that causes confusion is “gum therapy.” At Eagle Dental, you might also hear about one of our gum disease treatments in Edmond, OK: a dental deep cleaning. What’s the difference? Is there one? We dive into the answers below.
What Is Gum Therapy for Gum Disease?
Gum therapy isn’t one specific gum disease treatment in Edmond, OK. It’s an umbrella term for a set of treatments designed to halt the progression of gum disease and restore gum health. It involves various techniques and procedures that clean your gums and eliminate infection.
What Are the Types of Gum Therapy?
Gum therapy is tailored to each person’s needs, so which approach we use for you will depend on your situation.
Early Gingivitis: At-Home Gum Disease Treatment
If you’re just showing signs of this early form of gum disease, Eagle Dental can help you tweak your oral hygiene routine to address the problem. That could include showing you better flossing and brushing techniques, recommending products, and making sure you come in for cleanings and checkups.
More Advanced Gum Disease: Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
This is the technical name for a dental deep cleaning. We might recommend this gum disease treatment at our Edmond, OK, office if we think home remedies won’t do the trick. SRP both treats current symptoms and helps prevent gum disease from returning.
Periodontitis: Bone Grafting
This more advanced form of gum disease can start to eat away at your smile’s support system, leading to lost teeth and bone density. To help reverse these effects, we can perform bone grafting as part of your gum disease treatment in Edmond, OK.
What Gum Disease Treatment in Edmond, OK, Do You Need?
To figure out which form of gum therapy is best for you, our dentist will consider factors like:
- Level of Gum Inflammation: The more inflamed your gum tissue, the more intense the treatment you may need.
- Depth of Periodontal Pockets: As the Mayo Clinic explains, the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums can tell us about the stage of the disease.
- Bone Loss: We can use diagnostic imaging to determine whether you’ve lost bone density due to severe periodontal disease.
- Pre-existing Health Conditions: Gum health is linked with systemic issues, so we consider whether you have diabetes or other conditions.
- Medications: Some medications can affect your gums and immune system as well as interact with potential treatments.
- Personal Preferences: At Eagle Dental, we listen to you, so if you have any concerns, anxieties, or preferred treatments, let us know.
Explore Edmond, OK, Gum Disease Treatment Options
Clearly, gum therapy can mean many things, so check with our dentists about gum disease treatment in Edmond, OK. We will always explain our rationale behind recommending treatment, whether it’s a dental deep cleaning or something else. Contact Eagle Dental today for a consultation.