Your Pickering Invisalign® Provider
Periodontics & Gum Therapy
The Truth About Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the most common dental conditions seen by dental professionals. While it is more common in adults, it can affect people of all ages. Unfortunately, this condition may not show any symptoms until it is already in its advanced stages.
Your teeth are held in place by the jawbone and gums. With a lack of dental hygiene, plaque, which is a film made up of bacteria, can build up on your teeth and eventually harden into tartar. This can increase the risk of infections that can lead to the eventual breakdown of your oral structures.
Routine oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, is the first step in preventing gum disease. Your general dentist can also help ward off serious conditions affecting your gum health with dental cleanings and oral examinations. These not only help to clear away plaque and tartar, but also allow your dentist the opportunity to spot the early signs of conditions affecting your oral health.
Sometimes, even with our best efforts, gum disease can still occur. In these cases, our periodontist can help with treatments such as surgical and non-surgical gum therapy to help treat gum disease and dental implants to restore the function of your smile.
Meet Our Periodontist
Dr. Philip Walton
Dr. Walton has been fascinated with dentistry since he was young, shadowing his dad, a dental professional, as he cared for patients' smiles. This resulted in a desire to follow in his father's footsteps. Today, he is a periodontist at Dentistry on Liverpool in Pickering.
Gum Disease Therapy
The treatment options used for your periodontal disease will vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Our periodontist will take all aspects of your condition into consideration, as well as your circumstances and preferences, when deciding on the best course of action.
Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, our dental team will recommend that you have regular dental examinations and preventive therapy, usually four times a year.
-
Preventive Gum Therapy
If your dentist spots the signs of early periodontal disease, they will recommend preventive treatment.
Regular hygiene cleanings and exams at your dentist's office are important for maintaining the health of your gums.
By practicing good oral hygiene at home and eating a balanced diet, you can reduce your risk of gum disease as well as other serious oral health conditions.
-
Non-Surgical Gum Therapy
If you have been diagnosed with moderate gum disease, then your dental hygienist may perform an intensive dental cleaning, with a process known as scaling and root planing.
Using this procedure, the dental hygienist will scrape away the plaque and tartar around and below the gum line, and smooth out any rough areas left behind.
-
Surgical Gum Therapy
If you are experiencing advanced gum disease, then you may need surgical treatment to help repair the damage as well as prevent further issues.
There are a few different types of surgical gum therapy, including gum grafting, crown lengthening, frenectomy, and mucogingival flap surgery.
Cosmetic Gum Therapy
If you are concerned with the appearance of your gums, whether sitting too high or too low, our periodontist can speak with you about the option of cosmetic gum therapy. This can include services such as gum grafting or contouring, which can help even out an uneven gum line and reduce the perceived length of the teeth to help you smile with confidence.
Dental Implants Procedure
If left untreated, the build-up of bacteria that occurs with gum disease can cause infections in the gums and jawbone. This can cause the oral structures to break down, resulting in the loss of your teeth.
Periodontic treatment can include the dental implants surgery that helps replace missing teeth and restore your smile. Once a dental implant is permanently attached and the gums have healed, the implant will be capped with a dental crown.