Periodontal Disease Treatment in Palmdale, CA
Stop This Potentially Dangerous Disease From Spreading With Help From Our Periodontist Before It’s Too Late!
At AV Sierra Dental Center, we believe it’s our job to protect your whole health by providing superior, long-term preventive and restorative dental care. When your oral health declines, so does your overall health, as demonstrated by gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Gum disease is not just a serious dental concern; it has been linked to heart disease and diabetes, as well as low birth weight in children born to women suffering from it.
Our periodontal dental office in Palmdale, CA, offers all levels of gum disease treatment and can treat even the most severe cases thanks to our in-house specialist – Dr. Sastiel. As a periodontist (gum disease specialist), Dr. Sastiel has been specifically trained in advanced techniques that can discover the root of the problem and quickly treat the disease with pinpoint accuracy. He, along with our gentle and caring team of hygienists, is here to save your gums and teeth and prevent further damage to your oral and overall health. Schedule your treatment with our periodontal dentist today by calling our office in Palmdale at 611-202-3542 or contact us online today!
What Is Periodontal/Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease is characterized by:
- Red, swollen, bleeding, or receding gums
- Bad breath
- Painful chewing
- Loose teeth
- Pus and signs of infection around your teeth
It starts when plaque is found in the mouth and hardens into a substance called tartar, which can only be removed with a professional cleaning. If plaque and tartar are not removed, the bacteria eventually cause a mild form of periodontal disease called gingivitis, in which the gums bleed and become red and swollen. Gingivitis is still reversible, and it can be treated with a professional dental cleaning and regular brushing and flossing. However, when left untreated, the gum disease worsens, leading to an advanced form called periodontitis that can cause severe damage to the soft tissue that supports the teeth, resulting in infection and eventual tooth loss.
Who’s the Most at Risk for Periodontal Disease
Patients who avoid their bi-annual dental checkups and teeth cleanings are the ones most likely to need our periodontal services. However, there are some additional risk factors that can increase the likelihood of you developing gum disease, including:
- Old age
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Genetics
- High levels of stress
- Certain medications
- Teeth grinding
- Other systemic diseases
- Poor nutrition
- Obesity
The Consequences of Not Treating Your Periodontal Disease:
Periodontal disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss. If left untreated, it will lead to eventual tooth loss and gaps in your smiles. This, along with the bad breath associated with the disease, can lead to difficulties in both your social life and professional career. Beyond that, it has also been linked to problems with heart disease, diabetes, and low birth weights in children born from women with the disease. The risks are just too great for you not to schedule your appointment and start your periodontal disease treatments today!
Our Periodontal Dentist: Dr. Shanne Sastiel
While other dental practices around Palmdale may rely on a general dentist for their periodontal dental services, at AV Sierra Dental Center, we are lucky enough to have our own periodontist (a dentist who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal disease) as part of our team. Periodontists are specially trained to keep the bone and gums that support your teeth healthy. Dr. Shanne Sastiel is not only extremely caring and specially trained on how to treat your gum disease but is also an exceptional oral surgeon. Along with our team of gentle and attentive hygienists, Dr. Sastiel will build you a personalized periodontal treatment plan that will have you smiling again in no time!
Gum Disease Treatments
At AV Sierra Dental Center, our Palmdale gum disease treatment specialists offer a variety of periodontal therapy treatments that address gum disease at its various stages. Our periodontal services begin with a consultation and exam, so Dr. Sastiel can determine the stage of the disease and develop your customized treatment plan.
Gum disease treatments are often done in stages. The first stage is removing the source of the disease: the bacteria. This is done by our periodontist and hygienists performing a deep cleaning. We may also recommend the placement of localized antibiotic and/or laser therapy to help ensure all bacteria has been removed and killed when necessary. The next stage involves ensuring the mouth is easily cleansable to prevent the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth. If the disease is caught in the early stages, a deep cleaning can address this. If identified in later stages, oftentimes surgery with our periodontist is necessary to eliminate deep gum pockets that harbor harmful, dangerous bacteria.
Your periodontal treatments may include the following:
- Professional dental cleaning: Dr. Sastiel will remove the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. If you have gingivitis or signs of periodontitis, you will be required to have this level of cleaning twice a year or more.
- Scaling and root planning: Plaque and tartar are scraped away from both above and below the gum line while under local anesthetic (scaling). Rough spots on the tooth root are then smoothed out (planning). Locally applied medications, such as antimicrobials and antibiotics, may be used.
Periodontal Maintenance
Once successfully treated, lifetime maintenance is required to prevent further damage to your bone, gums, and teeth. After your gum disease treatment is completed, you will be given instructions on specific oral hygiene techniques to use regularly at home. You will also need more regular dental cleanings, often every three months, to help ensure your gum disease doesn’t return.
Ready to Prevent Your Teeth from Falling Out?
Gingivitis and gum disease are preventable and treatable. If you are concerned that you might have periodontal disease, call 661.202.3542 to set up a consultation at our Palmdale periodontal dental office today.
FAQ
We can complete the vast majority of our periodontal treatments in two months. Deep cleanings often take two visits. Our team will clean half the mouth during each of your visits. This is then followed by a follow-up cleaning after six weeks to re-evaluate how you have responded to treatment. Oftentimes, this is enough to treat the disease if it has been identified at early stages.
If a more advanced treatment option is required, including surgery, we can also often complete your initial treatment in two visits. Again, we will treat half the mouth during each of your scheduled appointments. Most people are looking at a total treatment time at this stage, including their deep cleaning, six-week follow-up, surgery, and follow-up, of about 3-4 months.
Gum surgery becomes necessary when the gum tissue around the teeth is too unhealthy to be repaired with nonsurgical treatments.
Routine professional dental cleanings and regular at-home oral hygiene practices that include brushing and rinsing at least twice a day and flossing regularly will help prevent both gingivitis and periodontal disease.
During a gum graft, tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth and attached to the affected gum line, allowing more tissue to grow and cover the exposed root surface.
A gum or periodontal abscess occurs when a pocket of pus collects within the gum. It happens when tissue disintegrates as a result of a bacterial infection in the gums or tooth roots and supporting bone.
