Periodontal (Gum) Treatment
At Smiling Hills Dental, we partner with our patients to create customized dental cleanings that help you stay healthy and feel your best! When gum disease occurs, we can help!
How Do I Know If I Have Gum Disease?
Often the first sign of gum disease is bleeding when you brush or floss your teeth.
If your gums bleed, it is a sign that they suffer from infection. Any infection can put your health at risk, and periodontal (gum) disease has been linked to other diseases that pose a serious threat to your health.
Periodontal Health and Overall Health
It seems like the news lately is full of ways that researchers have linked your periodontal health to your overall health. Many researchers believe this is due to the inflammatory nature of gum disease.
Some of the systemic conditions linked to periodontal disease include:
Heart disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Respiratory illnesses
Alzheimer’s disease
Low birth weight babies
By protecting your oral health, you are promoting better overall wellness.
At Smiling Hills Dental, we work with patients on an individual basis to design periodontal treatment plans that help them achieve and maintain optimum oral health.
Diagnosing Gum Disease
When you hear us calling out numbers during your exam, such as 1, 2, or 3, we are actually measuring pocketing between your gums and teeth. Your gums should hug your teeth tightly, but when infections develop, pocketing occurs. Measurements that are three and under are normal and healthy numbers. Anything over three indicates that an infection is probably present.
We also look for bleeding points and signs of gum recession. When we take X-rays, we can evaluate your bone levels to make sure your bone is not affected by periodontal disease.
Treatment for Periodontal Disease
In its earliest stages, we may be able to reverse gum disease and restore your health with focused dental cleanings and home care instructions designed to promote healing.
As gum disease progresses, we will incorporate advanced treatment options such as:
Medication trays
Local antibiotics
Periodontal maintenance cleanings
Bacteria and tartar removal beneath your gums
We never treat patients with a one-size-fits-all attitude. Periodontal treatment is a highly individualized service. Dr. Michael Alano will work with our hygiene team to develop a cleaning schedule that will give you improved health, fresher breath, and a renewed sense of well-being when it comes to your smile.
Contact Us to Schedule Your Next Dental Appointment
Whether you are due for your next routine dental cleaning or you have some catching up to do, contact our Chino Hills, CA dental office to schedule your next appointment and take an important step toward protecting your smile and your health!