Periodontal Diseases
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis, also called gum disease, is an infection that damages the soft tissue that surrounds and supports your teeth. It may start as just an infection of the gums, but if left untreated, it can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. Damage to the bone can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. Periodontitis is also tied to health issues throughout the body, including heart disease, diabetes, and digestive problems.
Symptoms of periodontal disease include:
- Puffy or swollen gum tissue
- Bright red, dusky red, or purple-tinged gum tissue
- Gums that are tender or bleed easily
- Bad breath
- New spaces around your teeth
- A change in the way your teeth fit together or loose teeth
- Pus between teeth
- Painful chewing
Request a Consultation
The best way to identify periodontal disease is to request a consultation. At Periodontal Associates of Jackson, serving Jackson, MS; Clinton, MS; and Ridgeland, MS, we can examine your mouth and recommend a treatment plan based on your needs and the extent of your periodontal disease.
- Our personalized care and extensive periodontal options allow us to tailor your treatment, whether you have an early case of gingivitis or more advanced periodontitis.
- We offer advanced, minimally invasive techniques, including LANAP laser surgery and the advanced Chao Pinhole Technique, that are more comfortable for patients, reduce bleeding, and allow for faster healing.
- Our prices are less than the industry average, allowing more people to receive the advanced oral health care they need for periodontal disease.
- We treat patients the way we would want to be treated.
Request a consultation by phone or online:
(601) 956-1230
Periodontal Treatment Repairs Shrunken Gum Tissue
A Five-Star Review
"My experience at Periodontal Associates was phenomenal. The minute I walked into clinic, I was made to feel welcomed and cared for. The staff is so friendly, as well as efficient. Dr. Stewart is very personable, and he did an amazing job with my gum grafts." Janice Walker
What Causes Gum Disease?
In most cases, periodontitis starts when plaque forms on your teeth. Good oral health habits, such as brushing and flossing, usually removes plaque. But if it's not removed daily, it can harden under your gum line in the form of tartar, which requires a professional to remove.
It is this plaque and tartar that leads to gum disease, starting out in a mild form called gingivitis. At this early stage there is little or no discomfort. The gums become red and swollen and may bleed easily. You may also notice some bad breath. However, with professional intervention, gingivitis is reversible.
But if gingivitis goes untreated, it advances to periodontitis, with bacteria spreading toxins under the gum line to attack the structures that hold teeth in place. As the inflammation sets in, open pockets form around the teeth that increase the chance of more infection. If allowed to progress, the pockets deepen and more tissue and bone are destroyed. In many cases, the advancing disease may not be noticeable to the untrained eye.
What Can I Do? Treatment Options for Early Cases of Gum Disease
Periodontal Associates, serving Jackson, Clinton, and Ridgeland, specializes in periodontal care and offers treatment tailored to the stage of your gum disease.
Gum disease won't go away on its own. Early treatment is the best option because it avoids more serious periodontal disease and more invasive treatments in the future.
If you have a mild case of periodontal disease, such as gingivitis, treatment may be less invasive, such as:
Antibiotics
To eliminate the infection, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed. This can include an antibiotic mouth rinse or antibiotic gels placed in the pockets around your teeth after a deep cleaning.
Root Planing and Scaling.
This deep cleaning procedure is used for cases of mild tissue recession. Root planing and scaling can restore the health of tissue around the teeth while also encouraging the reattachment of gum tissue to your tooth to prevent the infection from easily returning. During the procedure, the hygienist will remove tartar from your teeth and root surfaces and then smooth the root surfaces to discourage bacteria from attaching to the root.
Treatment for Advanced Gum Disease
If you are suffering from more advanced periodontitis, Periodontal Associates of Jackson offers more specialized treatments to remove bacteria and restore healthy tissue. We will first examine your mouth to recommend a treatment plan based on the extent of your gum disease and the underlying cause.
Treatment options include:
LANAP Laser Surgery
LANAP is a minimally invasive treatment used for patients with moderate to severe gum disease. It not only removes bacteria, but also encourages receding tissue to reattach to tooth roots and promote new bone growth. We use the Millennium Dental Technologies PerioLase MVP-7 pulsed LASER to treat pockets of periodontal disease. No cutting or stitching is required and it significantly reduces bleeding. The post-operative recovery is fast and most patients can go to work the next day.
Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique
This treatment is ideal for patients who are trying to control tissue recession but want a less invasive approach than soft tissue grafting. Blade-free and suture-free, the method does not require removing tissue from elsewhere in the mouth. Instead, a tiny hole is created in the affected area. Using the hole for access, a special dental instrument is placed in the hole so the periodontist can move gum tissue into the proper position.
Flap Surgery
Flap Surgery is also known as pocket reduction surgery. It is another treatment method to stop the progression of gum disease and is used in cases of moderate to severe periodontitis. The method involves incising the gums so the tissue can be pulled away from the teeth and the roots and jawbone can be treated directly. Because this is a more invasive technique, our team offers multiple forms of anesthesia and sedation to ensure your comfort during the procedure.
Gum Grafting
Gum grafting restores receding gums by taking healthy tissue from other places in the mouth and using it to restore the receding gum line. Depending on tissue in your mouth and the amount of recession, there are several places where Dr. Parkes or Dr. Stewart can take tissue for the graft.
Bone Grafting
In some cases, advanced periodontal disease destroys bone, which could lead to tooth loss. A bone graft can repair the bone and encourage bone growth to boost the chances of saving your teeth. During this procedure, the periodontist will remove any infected tissue and then place the bone graft material to help build new bone.
"A Perfectionist"
I have been a patient of Dr. Roger Parkes since 2001 and have always been very satisfied with his work. He is extremely capable and a perfectionist. The office help are very friendly and efficient. I highly recommend this group. Thank you for my smile. cjfh1
