Gum disease always starts small. It sneaks in, causing minor annoyances or symptoms that may not even be visible or noticeable. Keeping up with regular dental cleanings and exams from your Arlington dentist ensures that any sign of gum disease will be noticed and addressed quickly, but if you skip dental visits and don’t notify your dentist about changes in your oral health, you could develop full-blown gum disease – and bad things will happen if this condition goes untreated.
Understanding Gum Disease
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the United States, and nearly half of the population suffers from some form of periodontal disease. In other words, it’s a big deal. If you have any symptoms of gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, make an appointment to see your dentist right away.
- All stages of gum disease are a serious infection that can damage your gums and your teeth, and the problem only gets worse the longer it goes untreated.
- Periodontal disease will never go away on its own – you need your dentist’s intervention to get rid of the bacteria that has invaded your gums and is threatening your teeth and the solidity of your smile.
- When there is an overgrowth of bacteria in your mouth, the infection can eat away at the soft tissue around your teeth, loosening the gums, and also damage the bone that supports your teeth.
- Over time, the teeth and gums will separate from each other, allow the infection to spread, and lead to loose sockets and lost teeth.
Signs of Gum Disease
If you have any sort of concern about your teeth and gums, you should see your dentist immediately. If you want to confirm that the symptoms you’re experiencing could be gum disease, here are the most common signs:
- Swollen gums
- Irritated tums
- Bleeding gums
- Tender gums
- Red gums
- Bad breath
- Gum recession
- Loose teeth
There are different types of treatments available for addressing gum disease, including LANAP laser dentistry, deep cleaning, antimicrobial rinses, and antibiotics. The depth of your infection will impact the type of treatment you need to stop the gum disease in its tracks and allow for healing.
Replacing Missing Teeth
Because tooth loss is the most significant side effect of gum disease, many people who suffer from this problem will find themselves needing to replace missing teeth. Missing teeth solutions include:
- Dental implants: They look, feel, and function like missing teeth, and dental implants replace both the root and crown of a tooth for a permanent replacement.
- Dental bridge: One or two missing teeth can be easily replaced with a customized dental bridge that is anchored in place with dental crowns.
- Partial dentures: Replace several teeth in one are of your mouth with a personalized denture that clicks into place for a solid and fully functional restoration.
- Snap-on dentures: Two dental implants with snap-on dentures attached replace multiple teeth and eliminate the unwanted adhesives and unreliability of traditional dentures.
Replace Missing Teeth Near Me in Arlington, TX
If you suspect you are suffering from gum disease, or if you already have missing teeth from periodontal disease or another oral health problem, schedule a consultation with Arlington, TX, dentist Dr. Alana Macalik and her team.