As part of our commitment to your oral health, East Carolina Implants and Periodontics proudly offers a comprehensive suite of treatments for periodontal disease in Greenville, NC. Often known as gum disease, periodontal disease can be a silent yet serious threat to your oral health and overall well-being. Our team of specialists is committed to keeping you informed about the status of your gum health, empowering you to recognize gum disease and take effective steps against it. 

Below, we invite you to discover how periodontal disease progresses and learn about its symptoms and how to identify them early on. This will ensure that you are well equipped to make the most informed decision about your oral health.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a serious oral health issue affecting millions of people. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) cause the gums to become infected and inflamed. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss and has been linked to systemic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Stages & Symptoms

Periodontal disease generally progresses through three stages:

• Gingivitis: The earliest stage of gum disease, characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing. At this stage, the disease is still reversible with good oral hygiene and professional dental care.
• Periodontitis: If gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontitis. Here, the inner layer of the gum and bone pulls away from the teeth, forming pockets that collect debris and can become infected. As the disease progresses, these pockets deepen, leading to more bone and tissue loss.
• Advanced periodontitis: In this final stage, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed. This can cause your teeth to shift or loosen, affecting your bite and, if aggressive treatment can’t save them, leading to tooth loss.

The Importance Of Gum Health

Gum health is foundational to overall oral health and systemic wellness. Healthy gums not only hold our teeth in place but also act as a barrier against bacteria. Studies have shown a correlation between periodontal disease and chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Therefore, maintaining gum health is indispensable to your overall health journey.

Gum Disease Treatment

At East Carolina Implants and Periodontics, we adopt a multifaceted approach toward periodontal disease treatment. Our treatments are as follows:

Professional Teeth Cleaning

Regular professional teeth cleaning removes plaque and tartar buildup, curbing the bacterial growth that leads to gum disease. We recommend bi-annual visits for best results.

Scaling & Root Planning

When gum disease advances, we move to deeper cleaning methods like scaling and root planing. This procedure involves scraping away tartar from above and below the gum line (scaling) and smoothing out rough spots on the tooth root (root planing) to remove bacteria and provide a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth.

Periodontal Disease Surgery

For advanced cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. We offer osseous surgery, which involves recontouring the bone around the tooth to remove deep-seated bacteria, and periodontal regeneration, a procedure aimed at regrowing the bone and tissues lost to periodontal disease.

Peri-Implant Disease Treatment

Peri-implant disease refers to inflammatory conditions affecting the soft and hard gum tissues around dental implants. It is divided into peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis. The former is a condition where there is inflammation in the soft tissues surrounding the implant without signs of bone loss, while the latter is a more severe condition characterized by inflammation of the gum and progressive loss of supporting bone.

Treating peri-implant disease starts with a meticulous cleaning of the implant surface. In cases of peri-implant mucositis, nonsurgical treatment methods, such as oral hygiene instructions, professional cleanings, and local antiseptics or antibiotics, may suffice to control the condition. If the disease has progressed to peri-implantitis, more advanced procedures may be necessary, such as surgical debridement, regenerative procedures, or even implant removal in severe cases.

Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontal maintenance is an ongoing treatment intended to halt the progression of periodontal disease in patients who have previously been diagnosed and treated for this condition. It involves a series of regular visits scheduled following the completion of periodontal treatment.

Each maintenance visit may include a review of the patient’s medical and dental history, a thorough oral examination, scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar, polishing of fillings and crowns, and periodontal probing to assess gum pocket depths. X-rays or other diagnostic images may be taken occasionally to evaluate the bone supporting your teeth.

At our practice, we work closely with our patients, educating them about their oral health and instilling good oral hygiene habits. Our team will guide you on the frequency of your periodontal maintenance visits, typically ranging from every three to four months. These regular check-ups are crucial as periodontal disease can recur without diligent care.