Gum Disease

Gum disease can cause severe dental problems if left untreated, including bleeding, inflammation, and toothaches. At Desert Dental in North Hollywood, California, Brian Shahangian, DDS, and Bita Shahangian, DDS, offer several treatments to heal gum disease effectively and prevent further complications. To schedule a personalized consultation today, call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease — often referred to as periodontal disease — is an infection of the gum tissue that can affect many aspects of your dental health.

This condition is common among adults, and many people don’t realize they have it. Left untreated, it can cause tooth loss or permanent damage to your gums.

What causes gum disease?

Gum disease can develop for several reasons. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, gum disease can develop due to many reasons, including:

Medical Conditions

Medical conditions, like diabetes, reduce the body’s ability to fight off infection. As with many oral diseases, bacteria and plaque buildup is often the cause. Plaque buildup, which contains many bacteria, is the leading cause of gum disease.

Certain medications can also prevent the proper flow of saliva, increasing your risk for gum disease.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can trigger gum disease, especially in females. Surges in progesterone and estrogen cause more blood to flow to gums, causing them to become more sensitive and reactive to anything that irritates them.

Smoking

Smoking is of the most significant risk factors for gum disease.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Symptoms of gum disease include:

• Tender and bleeding gums
• Redness in the gums
• Gum recession
• Pain while chewing
• Tooth Sensitivity
• Loose teeth
• Bad breath

If you have any of these symptoms, consider having your provider at Desert Dental perform an oral examination to help determine the best course of action for treatment.

How is gum disease treated?

Desert Dental can help restore your oral health if you have gum disease. Depending on the cause and nature of your condition, there are numerous treatment options available, such as:

ARESTIN

For smokers with gum disease, ARESTIN® might be the solution. In a clinical study, smokers treated with antibiotics, scaling, and root planing (SRP) showed a 29% reduction in pocket depth versus scaling and root planing alone.

Soft tissue laser

Soft tissue laser is the most comfortable and most minor invasive gum disease treatment of them all. The laser targets the infected pockets of gum tissue, promoting faster healing by sterilizing the tissue as it goes along. It’s a highly effective way to treat gum disease while reducing bleeding and pain and shortening recovery time.

Additional treatment options for gum disease include deep cleaning, gum scaling, root planing, or antibiotics.

To request a consultation about gum disease, call Desert Dental or request an appointment online today.