Gum Disease: A Treatable Condition

Periodontitis is the formal name of advanced gum disease. It’s one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and affects nearly half of Americans over the age of thirty. At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, gum disease can be treated and does not have to result in the loss of teeth.

Gum disease is progressive. Before it reaches the advanced stage, it is called gingivitis, which is inflammation in the gums. An early sign of gingivitis is bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth.

Gingivitis develops when plaque is not adequately removed from your teeth. You remove it by brushing and flossing. The good news is that gingivitis is easily reversible. If you’re diagnosed with gingivitis, you need to improve your brushing and flossing and get a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist.

Advanced gum disease develops when gingivitis is not treated. Toxins build up in the plaque on your teeth and invade gum tissue. Not only that, it gets into the bone and ligaments that support the teeth. The teeth can actually become loose.

Severe cases may require surgery. But first is a non-surgical treatment called scaling and root planning, or SRP. We remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth and root surfaces. From there, any roughness on the roots is smoothed to prevent bacteria from accumulating there.

All of this can be avoided with proper dental care. Like we always say, we want our patients to brush and floss at least twice a day to maintain their dental health.

At Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Comstock Park, we provide gum disease treatment, as well as family and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Stewart & Hull Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

616-784-2377

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

769 York Creek Dr NW
Comstock Park, Michigan
49321