Gum Disease & Treatment in Natick MA

---

What Is A Periodontist in Natick MA

This is a dentist that has gone beyond the basic education of dental science to specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of periodontal disease. This requires three additional years of study beyond the normal degree for dental sciences or medicine. It also qualifies a periodontist to work with implants as well as perform more cosmetic procedures such as gum lifts.

---

Why Choose Papageorgiou Dental Associates for Gum Disease Treatment?

• State-of-the-art dental technology
• Convenient appointment times
• Team that treats you like family

---

Gum Disease Symptoms

It’s important to schedule periodontal therapy at our Natick MA dental office if you’re experiencing one or more gum disease symptoms, such as:

• Bleeding during or after brushing
• Bad breath that does not respond to treatments
• Tenderness or swelling
• Extreme redness or discoloration
• Bite that feels wrong or off
• Dentures that slip or no longer fit well
• Teeth that feel loose or seem to be shifting
• Pus exuding from pockets around teeth

---

What is Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first, most common, and least serious form of gum disease. Because it doesn’t usually involve pain, it is often common for people to not even realize they have it. Gingivitis is characterized by red, swollen, tender gums, which are prone to easy bleeding. Some professional dental attention, as well as diligent brushing and flossing, is usually enough to fight a gingivitis infection.

---

What Is Periodontitis

This is a more serious form of gum disease that some patients in Natick develop, and can often be caused by gingivitis that is ignored. When periodontitis sets in, this weakens the gums. If left untreated, it can lead to loose teeth that move around in the gums and, eventually a loss of teeth as they are no longer able to remain anchored in the mouth.

---

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by a number of factors. Your risk for having periodontal issues is much higher if you:

• Have crooked teeth
• Use tobacco
• Suffer health issues such as diabetes
• Take steroids
• Endure cancer therapy
• Have cavities or bad fillings

Even if you take care to brush and floss daily, you may get gum disease because you’re genetically predisposed, or if you’re pregnant. Periodontal therapy removes the bacteria from your gums, and eliminates calculus from your enamel. Called root scaling and planing, this process can be performed with traditional dental tools, or with lasers. You can rely on the dental hygienists at Papageorgiou Dental Associates to give you gentle, quality periodontal therapy.

---

What Is Halitosis

Halitosis is, simply, “bad breath,” and this can be another symptom of gum disease. Because bacteria are breeding in your mouth, this can be a persistent, long-term case of halitosis that even cosmetic mouthwashes can only hide for short periods.

When it comes to gum disease, it’s essential that you take good care of your mouth, and make sure a professional regularly examines you. That way, early gum disease can be treated before it becomes serious, and serious gum disease can be addressed before you lose teeth.

---

Gum Disease Treatment

Though often neglected or forgotten, the gums - and even saliva - play a vital role in the healthy state of your mouth. Teeth aren’t floating in the air; they are anchored in the jaw through the gums, which firmly hold them in place. Without the gums protecting both the teeth and the jaw, infections and other ailments have a much higher chance of taking hold.

That’s why if you should contract gum disease, you should get this treated as quickly as possible.

---

What Is Gum Disease

Gum disease has numerous causes, but it usually occurs when an infection is given the opportunity to take hold of the gums. The mildest form of gum disease is known as gingivitis. This results in inflammation of the gums, making them easier to become damaged or to bleed.

Many different factors can lead to gum disease. These include regular breathing, which constantly brings in bacteria and is hard on the gums. Smoking is another culprit, as it inhibits the gum’s ability to heal and misaligned teeth can distort the shape of the gums and allow bacteria easier opportunities to get inside. Even hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can affect the health of gums and make them more susceptible to gingivitis.

---

Why Is Gum Disease Bad

In addition to the bleeding and general soreness, gum disease can lead to a more severe version known as periodontitis. This can have a snowball effect, growing more pronounced, infecting your gums and eventually weakening them, which can lead to a loss of teeth. Your gums are an anchor that helps to hold your teeth in place. Once they become infected, they can no longer perform this role and may, in turn, infect the teeth themselves.

Added to this, there is the chance that periodontitis if left untreated, can go beyond the mouth and send its bacteria throughout the rest of your bloodstream. There have even been studies that indicate a link to heart disease may be more pronounced by people who ignored the periodontitis in their mouth.

---

How To Treat Gum Disease

You should visit a specialist such as a periodontist in Natick or a dental hygienist to determine the scope of your gum disease and see what procedures will be most effective. Root planning, for example, is a very thorough removal of tartar both above and below the gum line. This helps get rid of any remaining plaque that may still be on the teeth. For more severe cases, flap surgery may be required. This calls for lifting the gums away from the teeth to get at all the plaque and tartar that has formed underneath.

---

Scaling & Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Deep cleaning is the removal of plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth, including the roots that are normally covered by the gums. The first step is scaling, which is where the harmful substances around and under the gum line are gently scraped away. Then, once the roots are clean, we can smooth them out with root planing. This helps prevent future infections because it’s harder for bacteria to attach to the teeth without any rough surfaces to cling to.

---

Gum disease in Natick MA may start as just a little bit of bleeding on your gums, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. If you bleed a lot when you brush or floss, you should consult a dentist to get your gums more carefully examined.  Contact our team at Papageorgiou Dental Associates is here to help.