Periodontal Disease in The Woodlands, TX

Periodontal (gum) disease is a gum infection that affects millions of Americans each year, caused when harmful bacteria in the mouth lead to chronic bad breath, gum inflammation, bleeding gums, or even loose teeth. Gum disease also results in the loss of teeth and bone in the jaw, leading to more serious issues for both your oral health and overall wellness. Made Ya Smile Dental in The Woodlands, TX is committed to helping patients fight gum disease, minimize its impact, and restore your smile. 

Periodontal disease has three separate stages called gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. With gingivitis, the gums show symptoms of inflammation or bleeding. When treated quickly, the effects can be reversed. When the bacteria break down the gums and bone tissue, periodontitis occurs. With advanced periodontitis, the bone tissue is so damaged that the teeth become loose or may even fall out. 

It's essential that individuals take the first step to treat periodontal disease as soon as possible to prevent infection, gum recession, and bone loss from impacting your oral health. Made Ya Smile Dental's general dentists have years of experience treating all stages of the disease to protect your smile from as much damage as possible. If you are experiencing symptoms, such as bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth, bad breath, or recession of the gums, contact our team right away. 

During your yearly dental examination and twice-yearly cleanings, the practitioners at Made Ya Smile Dental will conduct a periodontal screening to evaluate your teeth, jaw, and gums for signs of infection and periodontal disease. Sometimes the symptoms can be difficult to detect, which is why attending your regular examinations is an important part of maintaining a healthy mouth. The earlier we catch periodontal disease, the sooner we can begin treatment and preserve your gums and bone tissue. Common symptoms include: 

• Bleeding or swollen gums, or gums that are tender, puffy, or red
• Receding gumline
• Tooth sensitivity
• Chronic bad breath (halitosis) or a bad taste
• Pus that appears between the teeth and gums 
• Teeth that feel loose

We will give you a professional assessment to create a custom dental plan for restoring the health back to your teeth and gums. Made Ya Smile Dental starts this evaluation with low-radiation digital x-rays, allowing our staff to determine the amount of bone supporting your teeth. Since periodontal disease causes bone loss, this technology will be able to give a diagnosis. Our dental staff will also measure your gum pockets, or periodontal pockets, to measure the space in between your gums and teeth. If it measures more than 3mm, it's likely you're suffering from periodontal disease. Harmful bacteria tend to hide and cause the most amount of damage in these spaces. 

Depending on the stage of periodontal disease, Made Ya Smile Dental can recommend nonsurgical procedures, such as root planing therapy, root planing and scaling, or antibiotics. Surgical procedures will help if the condition is more advanced. For instance, if you have a receding gumline, a gum grafting treatment can help stabilize the area. Patients should know that our experienced dentists will be available to help and inform you every step of the way. 

Periodontal disease cannot be cured, only managed to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy and free from infection and bacteria. The key is to keep up excellent habits, such as brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal and continue to schedule regular examinations and cleanings at Made Ya Smile Dental. We typically suggest that patients with periodontal disease visit more often, every 3 – 4 months, for deep cleanings and an assessment of your oral health. 

After a plan for treatment has been established, our doctors will educate you about taking care of your mouth moving forward, especially techniques for brushing and flossing. We may even recommend some tools you can use at home to make cleanings easier and more thorough. The recovery process after treatment depends on your stage of periodontal disease or if we've taken a surgical or nonsurgical approach. 

Made Ya Smile Dental wants to minimize the effects of periodontal disease as soon as possible before it causes bone or tooth loss. Treatments for periodontal disease may be covered in part by a dental insurance plan so our team will contact your provider to review your benefits and file claims on your behalf. We accept most PPO plans and offer several ways to pay for treatment out-of-pocket, including low-interest financing through CareCredit®. 

Good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing helps get rid of bacteria, tartar, and plaque, but this may not be enough to prevent the dangerous effects of periodontal disease. At Made Ya Smile Dental in The Woodlands, TX, we want you to enjoy a healthy smile, which is why we work to preserve the gum and bone tissue and offer procedures to stop the disease from progressing. If you notice symptoms, such as bleeding gums, gum recession, or bone loss, contact our clinic right away to schedule a consultation.