What Is Gum Disease
Beverly, MA
 Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, is the inflammation of your gums due to bacterial infection. If the disease is not treated in time, it will cause a more severe condition, periodontitis. Gum disease is the leading cause of missing teeth. The disease causes cavities and decays on your teeth and our dentists recommend using dental crowns to restore the aesthetics of your teeth. If you have any gum irritation, redness, bleeding, or decayed teeth, ensure you visit us at Thomas P. Rafferty, DDS for a tailored treatment option.
What Are the Leading Causes of Gum Disease?
Poor dental habits or underlying medical conditions can cause gingivitis. The buildup of food particles and bacteria on your gums will encourage bacteria growth, leading to infection. Plaque is a film that occurs due to bacteria growth. The plaque accumulates on your teeth and, with time, hardens to form tartar. When the tartar spreads toward the gum line, a gum infection can occur.
If you don't visit our dentist as soon as possible, other problems, such as injury to your soft tissues, can occur. If we notice that you have cracks or chips on your teeth, we recommend placing dental crowns to prevent bacteria from spreading. Ceramic crowns are the most preferred due to their durability. Other top benefits of ceramic crowns are that they appear natural, are comfortable, and have great aesthetics.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Gum disease doesn't have obvious symptoms. In most instances, you might not be aware that you have underlying gum disease. Gingivitis can occur without showing any symptoms. Some common symptoms you should look out for include red gums, bleeding gums, loose teeth, sensitive teeth, and gums pulling away from the teeth.
Diagnosis of Gum Disease
Our dentists first start with history taking and physical examination. We must rule out other conditions that can cause gum disease. Our dentist uses a small ruler during the examination to probe and check for any signs of inflammation. The ruler measures the pockets of inflammation adjacent to your teeth. We also perform x-rays to check if there is any bone loss.
Treatment of Gum Disease
To prevent gum disease, you must ensure you brush and floss your teeth regularly, and also have regular dental checkups. Stopping smoking and managing underlying conditions is the best way to prevent the deterioration of the disease. When you note any cracks or chips on your teeth, you can select from the various types of dental crowns to cover those defects. We can also offer same-day crowns since they are comfortable and convenient.
Gum disease can be prevented if treated early enough. If you have any gum infection, you must make regular follow-up appointments. It is important to incorporate good dental hygiene habits to protect your teeth. Our dentists at Thomas P. Rafferty, DDS offer the best dental treatment options. You can contact us at (978) 720-9009 to arrange an appointment with our qualified dental team. We have innovative technology and expertise to offer the best solutions for our patients. |
