Pure Smiles Periodontal Care

At Pure Smiles, we are committed to your dental hygiene and overall oral health and offer Periodontal Care for patients looking to take their dental health to the next level.

When you have active periodontal disease, routine brushing and flossing may not be enough. Regular scaling and root planing procedures, performed by a dental hygienist, will remove the build-up of plaque, tartar (calculus) and bacterial toxins (biofilms) from tooth surface below the gum line, which are the areas that general home care practices are unable to reach.

Periodontal Gum Therapy | Katy Texas Dentist

What is Gingivitis?

The most common form of gum disease is called ‘Gingivitis.’ Gingivitis causes your gums to become red and swollen and they may also bleed easily. Gingivitis is usually caused by inadequate oral hygiene practices. Gum disease is reversible with professional treatment and good oral hygiene habits such as regular brushing and flossing.

Gingivitis may be caused by:

  • Diabetes
  • Smoking
  • Aging
  • Disease
  • Stress
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Pregnancy
  • Hormonal Fluctuations
  • Infection
  • Medication Use

What is Periodontitis?

Periodontitis is the advanced form of Gingivitis. Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis is left untreated. The gingivitis then advances to the point where the plaque spreads below the gum line. This causes the invading bacteria to produce toxins and plaque which irritate the gums themselves. The body reacts by producing an inflammatory response. This causes the body to turn on itself essentially. If Periodontitis is left untreated, the end result is that the tissues supporting the bone — and therefore the teeth themselves — are broken down and destroyed by the bacteria and toxins.

Here are some signs to be on the lookout for that may signal the onset of gum disease:

  • Are your gums red, puffy, swollen or tender?
  • Do your gums bleed during brushing or flossing?
  • Do your teeth look longer because your gums are receding?
  • Have your gums separated or pulled away from your teeth, creating a pocket?
  • Do you have changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite?
  • Is there pus coming from between your teeth and gums?
  • Do you have constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth?
  • Do your teeth have a lot of plaque on them?
  • Do you have a lot of tartar on your teeth?

How We Treat Periodontal Disease

Treatment for periodontal disease may include:

  • Scaling: Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. It may be performed using instruments or an ultrasonic device.
  • Root planing: Root planing smoothes the root surfaces, discouraging the further buildup of tartar and bacterial endotoxin.
  • Antibiotics: Your  Dentist may recommend using topical or oral antibiotics to help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics can include antibiotic mouth rinses or insertion of gels containing antibiotics into the space between your teeth and gums or directly into the pockets after a deep cleaning. The use of oral antibiotics may be necessary to completely eliminate infection-causing bacteria.

To learn more about Periodontal Care, we invite you to contact our office – we look forward to hearing from you.

Comprehensive Dental Services for the Entire Family

In addition to being your Katy, Texas Family Dentistry provider, we are pleased to offer your entire family comprehensive dental services which include:

Contact Pure Smiles to learn more about our Family Dentistry services!