Periodontal disease affects almost 75% of the adult population at some point in their lives. Known as a “silent disease”, gum disease can go unnoticed and untreated in the absence of routine dental care. It remains a leading cause of tooth loss today.
Dr. Mazhari emphasizes the importance of maintaining healthy gums and a periodontal screening is performed at every preventive care visit on our Alexandria dentist office. We offer personalized advice for at home oral hygiene to address existing gum disease or lifestyle habits that can increase your risk of developing gum disease:
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Poor nutrition
- Age and genetics
- Diabetes
- Dry mouth, often caused by certain medications or conditions
Periodontal Therapy in Alexandria
Before recommending treatment to address your periodontal disease and restore gum health, Dr. Mazhari will evaluate all aspects of your oral health. As disease progresses, it deepens the pockets between the teeth and the gums, pulling the gum tissue away from the teeth and exposing sensitive root structure. This can lead to pain, sensitivity and loose teeth.
For gingivitis, an intense cleaning process, called scaling and root planing, to remove plaque and tartar along the gum line can be effective. Scaling and root planing is often sufficient to remove early infection and enable healing to occur. More advanced disease may need more invasive treatment to restore healthy gums. If you are risk for developing gum disease or have persistent infection, Dr. Mazhari will recommend the use of specific oral hygiene products such as anti-bacterial rinses to be used at home as part of your daily routine.
There are two key stages of gum disease, each of which can have a progression of symptoms. Typically, patients do not realize they have gum disease until the later stages, when damage to the gums affects the teeth or gums become significantly irritated.