Periodontal Disease Treatment

Gum Disease Treatment – Saving Smiles for Dentistry Patients in Sun Prairie and Madison

The most common disease in the United States is not what you may think. Heart disease, stroke, or cancer come to mind, but gum disease is actually the single most prevalent disease in America. In fact, it affects more people than heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's, and cancer combined. About 80 percent of the population has some form of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, periodontitis (advanced), and gingivitis (mild).

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection of the gums and bone that support teeth. It usually starts early in life, then progresses as a person ages. It all starts when plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus) below the gum line. This irritates vulnerable soft tissues, and infection can set in. Combined with decaying food particles lodged between teeth and bacteria emitted by plaque, the infection can spread quickly. Symptoms are so mild in the early phase that many patients don't recognize them: red, tender, swollen gums and bleeding gums when brushing teeth.

As the condition progresses, gums recede from the teeth and pockets of bacteria form. The bacteria can destroy gum tissue and bone, causing tooth and bone loss.

Why Is Gum Disease So Serious?

Recent research reveals that gum disease is linked to increased risk for major overall health problems, including but not limited to stroke, heart disease, respiratory problems, osteoporosis, diabetes complications, low birth weight, and most recently, dementia. Because of these findings, research continues. We may learn much more in the next few years.

It makes perfect sense that gum disease is linked to overall health problems. Everything that enters or is present in the mouth has access to the whole body. The mouth is like a portal to the body. That's why regular checkups and hygiene visits are so vital to not only oral health, but also overall health.

Is Gum Disease Curable?

Unfortunately, gum disease is not curable. However, we can detect early warning signs of gum disease at your regular dental checkups. At this stage, prevention might be as simple as changing your brushing technique, improving your flossing routine, or changing the products you use for oral care at home.

Once gum disease sets in, we can often treat it with non-surgical therapy, including:

  • Scaling - to remove hardened plaque from below the gum line
  • Root planing - to reduce rough areas on teeth roots
  • Antibiotic ttherapy - to battle infection
  • Laser treatment - to remove bacteria and promote gum reattachment

Expect to attend more frequent hygiene visits so that a dentist or hygienist can monitor your condition and make sure that recovery is on track.

What Is Laser Treatment for Gum Disease?

Combined with comprehensive periodontal therapy, a diode laser for soft tissue procedures can remove and reduce some periodontal infection. This type of treatment also promotes reattachment of gum tissue to teeth. Laser dentistry is precise and conservative in comparison to traditional therapies. Some patients do not even need anesthesia during laser therapy.

Surgery - While not a favored method to combat severe periodontal disease, advanced cases may require the care of a periodontist, in which case we will refer you to a trusted colleague

Dental Implants & Cosmetic Dentistry in Madison / Sun Prairie WI.

Madison and Sun Prairie patients come to Wisconsin Dental Solutions for a wide array of general cosmetic dentistry procedures, including dentures, dental implants and more. Our facility is considered a top Sun Prairie dental implants provider. Our resident dental experts use their skills to repair teeth to create a new, radiant smile. Our state of the art facility is fully equipped to provide sedation dentistry services for patients who might be hesitant to undergo dental treatment while conscious.

Call us at 608-834-6321 or email us
Wisconsin Dental Solutions provides "Dental Solutions for Extraordinary Needs."

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Wisconsin Dental Solutions Hours

Holiday Break 12/21/22 - 01/02/23

Monday:

8:00 am-3:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-3:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-3:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-3:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed