Periodontal Treatment in Houston, TX

At Made Ya Smile Dental, our team is proud to provide comprehensive, high-quality care for each member of your family. Periodontal (gum) disease is a common but serious concern for a great number of patients. This progressive oral problem is caused by harmful bacteria that reside in the plaque on your teeth and produce a toxin that leads to the breakdown of gum and bone tissue. When a certain amount of tissue is lost, the teeth may become loose and need to be removed from your mouth. Though daily brushing and flossing can help minimize its effects, some patients still develop gum disease and require specialized care to prevent gum disease from progressing and restore health to their smile.

The bacteria that cause gum disease combines with food debris and plaque to form a sticky coating on the teeth and gums called biofilm. Plaque may also harden into tartar, which further harbors bacteria and interferes with gum health. To fully disrupt the biofilm layer and remove tartar from the teeth, our periodontist and team may use special instruments that can reach below the gumline and clean the root surfaces. A periodontal consultation with our specialist can identify any areas of gum disease in your mouth. Our team can recommend whether nonsurgical or surgical techniques are the best types of treatment to rid your mouth of active gum infection.

Symptoms, like bleeding gums, red or swollen gums, bad breath, and gum recession, are often telltale signs that gum disease is present. If you notice any such signs or symptoms, contact our Houston, TX multi-specialty practice today and schedule a visit with our periodontist. The sooner we can diagnose and treat gum disease, the greater the chance of minimizing permanent damage to your jaw and oral health.

Treating periodontal conditions is crucial to restoring your gum and overall oral health. Made Ya Smile offers several procedures to treat gum disease, many of which boast several advantages for our patients. A few of the primary benefits of periodontal treatments include:

• Treats bad breath
• Improves the appearance of your smile
• Discover and addresses any potential oral health issues
• Relieves pain or discomfort caused by infected gums

Many patients have gum disease, yet may not be aware of its presence. Our skilled team at Made Ya Smile Dental screens every patient for gum disease at their annual dental exam visits. Even beyond the smile, gum disease has been linked to several concerning systemic health problems, like heart disease and diabetes. Identifying the condition and seeking treatment right away can preserve your oral health and reduce your chances of gum disease impacting other areas of your body. Classic signs and symptoms of gum disease include gums that are swollen or that bleed, gum tenderness, chronic bad breath or bad taste, and a gumline that begins to recede. In more advanced cases, tooth mobility, pus, and bone loss in the jaw may become evident. These symptoms are never normal and should be evaluated by our team as early as possible.

Gum disease is generally characterized by stages that include gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. The type of treatment our periodontist recommends to stabilize your gum health will depend on the severity of your condition. Gingivitis may be resolved with better home care and more frequent cleanings while periodontitis may require nonsurgical scaling and root planing and localized antibiotic therapy. When advanced periodontitis is present, a surgical approach may be the best option.

To learn about your condition and treatment plan for the best possible outcome, our team will take digital x-rays that show the amount of bone supporting your teeth. We will also use a special ruler to measure your periodontal pockets (spaces between your teeth and gums) as this is where harmful bacteria cause the most damage. Using your x-rays and pocket readings, our periodontist will provide a diagnosis of the extent of your condition and customize your gum disease treatments to meet your specific needs.

The recovery phase of your care will depend on the type of treatment you receive. Our staff will review any recommended instructions to care for your mouth following gum disease treatment. Maintaining a healthy oral environment at home is an important part of your treatment. To help you be most effective in your efforts, we will make specific recommendations and review proper brushing and flossing techniques to help you enjoy improved gum health. If you smoke or use tobacco, we also recommend that you quit as soon as possible as this can impair your healing and increase your risk of oral cancer, along with other health concerns.

Once your gum disease treatment is complete, our periodontist may recommend that you follow a periodontal maintenance program to facilitate ongoing gum and bone health. Periodontal maintenance visits are scheduled every 3 – 4 months and include in-depth cleaning of the teeth above and below the gums, routine exams, and closely monitoring of your periodontal pockets. These cleanings provide the type of specific periodontal care needed to better manage your oral health with gum disease. Periodontal maintenance cleanings take the place of bi-annual prophylaxis procedures.

Made Ya Smile Dental accepts most PPO plans, which may offer some coverage for gum disease treatments. Our team will contact your provider to review your coverage benefits and let you know if there will be any out-of-pocket expenses. Getting the gum disease treatment you need is very important to your smile and general health. To make your care as affordable as possible, we are happy to accept several flexible payment options and can give you information on financing with CareCredit®.

Is there anything I should know before my gum disease treatment?
Before your periodontal treatment appointment at one of our Houston, TX-area offices, our team will review your medical history, so we recommend bringing a list of any medications you are currently taking. If we haven't already contacted your insurance provider, you may want to reach out to your insurance company to determine any out-of-pocket costs you may incur. Please do not hesitate to pose any questions you may have about periodontal treatment to our team so we can put you at ease.

How long does it take to notice the results from my periodontal treatment?
If the recommendations of our dentist are followed, most patients will notice results within 2 –3 weeks.

What are some of the most common signs of gum disease?
There are several signs that may manifest ad gum disease develops. A few of these signs include: Some of the most common signs of gum disease include:

• Red, swollen, or painful gums
• Blood while brushing or flossing
• Receding gums
• Bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath

Gum disease may be common, but its effects can be minimized with early detection and the right type of treatment. At Made Ya Smile Dental, our periodontist has advanced training and expertise in treating every stage of gum disease. Without treatment, the condition could lead to jawbone deterioration, tooth loss, and even dangerous effects for your general health. Let our team screen you for periodontal disease as soon as possible. Contact our Houston, TX family dental practice and make your appointment with our periodontist right away.