Periodontal Disease Specialist
Full Circle Dental Care
Implant & General Dentist & Invisalign & General Dentistry located in Del City, OK
A healthy mouth needs healthy gums, which is why Samuel Sigmon, DDS, provides high-quality periodontal treatments at Full Circle Dental Care. If you’re suffering from periodontal disease, schedule an appointment with the Del City, Oklahoma, dental practice today. Booking your visit is easy. Just call the office or use the convenient online tool.
Periodontal Disease Q&A
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is another name for gum disease, which is a condition that develops when your gum tissue becomes infected. This infection happens when you let plaque sit on your teeth for too long.
You can easily remove plaque with at-home brushing and flossing, but when you leave it to sit on your teeth for too long, it can harden under the surface of your gums, turning into tartar, which requires professional cleaning to remove.
Plaque and tartar contain gum-irritating acids and bacteria. In the first stage of periodontal disease, known as gingivitis, your gums react to the irritation by becoming inflamed, and can often bleed when you brush or floss.
Gingivitis can be treated with better at-home care and more frequent professional cleanings, but if you leave it untreated, it can develop into the second stage of periodontal disease: periodontitis.
Periodontitis occurs when your gums pull away from your teeth in order to avoid the plaque and tartar. This creates pockets between your teeth and gums that collect more debris and bacteria, which further irritates your gums and causes recession. Eventually, your gum tissue degrades to the point where your teeth fall out.
What are the signs that I might have periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is notorious for developing silently, and many people don’t realize they have it until it’s already progressed into its later stages. Nonetheless, there are some signs you might be able to notice, including:
- Gums that are swollen, red, or tender
- Bleeding when you brush or floss
- Loose teeth
- Receding gums, or teeth that look longer
- Pus between your teeth and gums
- Persistent bad breath
None of these conditions are normal, and if you notice any of them, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Sigmon immediately.
You should also make sure to maintain regular cleanings and checkups with the team at Full Circle Dental Care, as they’re trained to spot gum disease at its earliest stages and might be able to intervene before it develops any further.
How do you treat periodontal disease?
Full Circle Dental Care offers a number of exceptional treatments for periodontal disease, including:
- Regular dental cleanings
- Deep cleanings (scaling and root planing)
- Antibiotics
- Pocket reduction or flap surgery
- Laser periodontal treatment
To learn more about how Dr. Sigmon and the team at Full Circle Dental Care can fight your periodontal disease and optimize your oral health, call the office today or schedule a visit with the online booking tool.