Gum disease is a difficult condition to detect because its earliest stages don’t have strong symptoms beyond swollen and possibly bleeding gums. This stage, known as gingivitis, can progress over time, leading to serious periodontitis and consequences such as tooth loss. Luckily there are a variety of treatment options available. Here the dentists of Hill Country Dental Associates in Kerrville, TX, explain how the disease is treated at each stage—and how it can be prevented in the first place.

Gum disease is a surprisingly common condition, affecting nearly half of Americans under age 30. If it is affecting you, your dentist will take the following steps to treat it.

Scaling & Root Planing

The first step in treating gum disease is generally scaling and root planning, or SRP. During this procedure, plaque and tartar will be removed from your teeth and their roots via scaling. Any remaining roughness will then be smoothed in order to keep bacteria from growing in the same spot. Over time, the gums will heal and reattach themselves to the clean tooth’s smooth surfaces.

Pocket Reduction

In more serious cases, gum tissue may fail to grow back and fit properly over the tooth. As a result, patients may have trouble keeping the “pockets” around the base of the teeth clean. In this case, your dentist or periodontist can perform a pocket reduction procedure, removing infected tissue and smoothing any damaged bone. This encourages the gums to reattach to the healthy bone.

Grafting

If tooth roots are extremely exposed, gum grafts may be needed. For this procedure,  gum tissue is taken from another source—such as your palate—and used to cover the roots of the teeth. Covering the roots protects them and prevents additional gum recession or bone loss.

While there are effective treatments available for gum disease, they can be time-consuming and costly. As is the case with many other conditions, prevention is the most effective treatment. Gum disease can be avoided—and even reversed in the early stages—with daily brushing and flossing. Combine good oral hygiene with regular cleanings at the dentist’s office to ensure gum health.

Regular visits to the dental clinic are essential to preventing gum disease and catching it early. For a consultation in the Kerrville, TX, area, look to Hill Country Dental Associates. They offer an array of general and cosmetic dental services including root canals, teeth whitening, and pediatric care. Visit their website or call (830) 257-3000 to make an appointment.