When Would My Dentist Recommend Periodontics?

Looking for information on periodontic care? Continue reading to learn about situations when a dentist might recommend periodontics. Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is a serious oral health issue that can result in severe oral infections and tooth loss. Periodontal disease may be contained and handled with the appropriate professional treatment.

Inflamed or bleeding gums

Gum disease can contribute to bleeding or aching gums. The gums should not bleed when one cleans and flosses the teeth. Failure to brush and floss daily will encourage bacteria-produced dental plaque to accumulate and irritate the gums, causing them to become red, swollen, or sensitive, and prone to bleeding.

Plaque attacks the healthy structures around the teeth, ultimately destroying the fibers that hold the gum tissue to the teeth. Gums will eventually become inflamed and irritated, and they may bleed while brushing or flossing. This is the first stage of gum disease, which is known as gingivitis. The disease needs to be treated at this point to prevent it from worsening into periodontitis, which is advanced gum disease.

Gum recession

Gum disease usually starts in one region of the mouth and progresses from there. Gum recession in one region of the mouth must be handled as soon as possible to prevent gum disease from spreading throughout the mouth. Gum recession may also occur when a patient brushes too hard or too often in one place.

Recession can also be the result of bruxism (teeth grinding). Periodontic care should start immediately to prevent the recession and the resulting gum disease from worsening.

Persistent bad breath

Almost everyone has had bad breath at some point, and it is typically simple to fix with breath mints, mouthwash, or brushing. On the other hand, experiencing bad breath recurrently may be a sign of poor oral health caused by too much bacteria, tooth decay, or even gum disease. The unpleasant gases emitted by bacteria that cover the teeth, gums, and tongue are the most common cause of persistent bad breath.

Bone deterioration

Gum disease can lead to loose teeth and bone loss at its worst phase. This is a critical problem that must be tackled promptly to avoid tooth and bone loss. Scaling and planing, a deep cleaning technique, may be recommended by the dentist. They may also suggest tooth extraction for diseased teeth and strict infection control measures to prevent the disease from spreading further.

Tooth sensitivity

If pain occurs in the teeth after drinking hot or cold beverages, crunching on ice, or exposing them to cold air, one might be dealing with exposed tooth roots and thin tooth enamel. Gum recession or pocketing may also cause teeth to become unusually sensitive in some cases. The gums protect the tooth roots, which are not protected by enamel. Since the dentin has tiny tunnels that relay information directly to the nerves within your teeth, it can be very unpleasant and painful when those roots are exposed.

Schedule a consultation at our Washington office

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you may benefit from periodontics. Do you have questions for the SPA Dental Group DC team? Contact our Washington dental office today to set up a consultation.

Request an appointment here: https://www.spadentalgroupdc.com or call SPA Dental Group DC at (202) 407-9665 for an appointment in our Washington office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Periodontics in Washington, DC.