Periodontal gum disease can cause permanent damage to the bone and gums surrounding the roots or the teeth. It starts with plaque spreading and growing in the gum line. This plaque harbors harmful bacteria which creates toxins and then irritates and inflames the gums.
At this point, the bacteria penetrate the bloodstream – endangering organs, tissue, vessels and potentially harms the fetus. The bone and tissue that supports the teeth start to break down and lead to a multitude of complications.
Symptoms
Dentist West Kelowna
28+ Years Experience
Smart Certified Dentist
1500+ Healthy Patients
Dr. Shauna Palmer is offering Perio Protect® for periodontal gum disease treatment which uses a tray that is similar to a mouthguard, but it has a special sealing system to deliver medication below the gums. Medication is added into the tray and you wear it for a few minutes a day at home in between office visits.
The main advantage of Perio Protect® is that it can treat the bacteria in a comfortable way, minimizing surgery and antibiotics. The Perio Tray® is necessary because bacteria reproduce so quickly under the gums that is hard to control them between office visits.
The beneficial "side effect" of using Perio Protect® whiter teeth, fresher breath, better oral health, and overall health to prevent disease. Dr. Palmer also offers laser periodontal therapy. Laser energy is delivered into the gum pockets to kill the bacteria, minimizing or preventing surgery, and antibiotic treatment. It is a painless procedure, but must be done in the office and is sometimes combined with Perio Protect® treatment.
Dr. Shauna Palmer will determine your treatment plan after evaluating your specific condition. To learn more, contact us.
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Your mouth's ability to heal from periodontal gum disease depends on the advancement of the disease and the extent of damage done. The good news is that there are treatments available to help your gums recover from even advanced stages of periodontal gum disease.
The more intense and severe the periodontitis, typically the longer the healing process and the more rigorous dental treatment you will need. At Health & Beauty Dentistry, Dr. Palmer strives to take the least invasive and most gentle approach possible.
Nonsurgical Treatment
In the early stages of reversing periodontal gum disease, it is common to have scaling and root-planing (SRP) preformed. This is a non-surgical step that involves your dentist scraping and removing build-ups of plaque and tartar from your teeth and beneath the gum line with specialized tools.
This can help your gums recover and reattach to your teeth's newly clean and smooth surfaces. Based on the results of this process, further treatment will be decided.
Pocket reduction procedure
In more severe cases of periodontitis, your gum tissue might not fit itself properly around the your teeth even after scaling and planing. The deep pocket areas of your gums likely struggle to stay clean due to obstacles like loose teeth and gum recession.
Periodontal pocket reduction or flap surgery involves folding back gum tissue so that your dentist can clean out any infectious bacteria and smoothen areas of damaged bone. The desired result is that your gums will then reattach to healthy bone.
Gum Grafts
Gum recession from periodontal gum disease can lead to root exposure. This can thankfully be covered by gum grafts taken from gum tissue on your palate or elsewhere. This method helps minimize sensitivity in your gums and roots while protecting them from decay, further gum recession and bone damage.
Laser therapy
Dr. Shauna Palmer uses specialized laser therapy to help focus-in and kill bacteria in your gums with minimal invasion so that your gums and teeth can begin the recovery process. Laser therapy continues to become a revolutionary treatment approach in the oral health industry.
Perio protect® trays
At Health & Dentistry, Dr. Shauna uses Perio Protect® trays that resemble mouth guards. These trays rest over your diseased gums to help deeply medicate the pockets and help heal your smile non-invasively.
The examples above offer an idea of known periodontal gum disease treatments that can help your gums recover.
While periodontitis can be extremely upsetting, scary and painful to experience, you can rest assured that there are dentists, like Dr. Shauna Palmer, who are here to help support you through the recovery process, whether you are in an early or advanced stage of gum disease.