Periodontics in Owings Mills, MD

Illness or compromised immunity: If a patient's immune system is compromised, it increases the risk of contracting various infections. For example, it was found that those who suffer from diabetes are more likely to develop periodontal disease.

Smoking: Smoking has a detrimental effect on oral health, and it slows down the rate at which gum tissue can naturally repair and heal.

Medications: The side effects of certain medications may contribute to the buildup of plaque, tartar, and tooth decay. Some of these medications include antihistamines, antidepressants, and antibiotics.

Hormonal shifts and imbalance: Whenever our body goes through a range of hormonal changes, it also affects our gum health. Gum disease can develop during major hormonal transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, switching to birth control, or even during a menstruation cycle.

Genetics: Family history is likely to play a role in putting you at risk for developing gingivitis or periodontitis.

Gum disease is strongly linked with a variety of health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer, and therefore should be taken seriously.

Why is it important to start treating gum disease early on?

Gum disease, if left untreated, can destroy the structures that support the teeth which can lead to tooth loss. For most people, losing teeth has a negative effect on their self-esteem, making them feel self-conscious about their appearance. Gum disease can lead to other chronic infections. One of the most serious is endocarditis, an infection of the inner layer of the heart, causing inflammation, damage to the heart valves, and even death. It’s important to look out for early signs of periodontal disease in order to get diagnosed quickly and receive an appropriate treatment to prevent the disease from progressing further.

What are some common signs of gum disease?

If you experience any ongoing discomfort, bleeding, pain, or swelling in your gums, it is worthwhile to consider making an appointment with your periodontist or dentist to figure out the next steps for your dental health care. 

Some of the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease are the following: 

• Gums that appear red or swollen 
• Bleeding gums, especially after teeth brushing or flossing
• Receding gums
• Increased sensitivity
• Pain while chewing
• Bad breath
• Foul taste in the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Teeth shifting their positions
  

Types of periodontal disease

There are two main stages of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. 

Gingivitis: Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. When plaque is not removed from the teeth daily and in regular professional cleanings, the gums become irritated and inflamed. This can cause the gums to start bleeding, especially after brushing, flossing, or using a toothpick. Teeth may become more sensitive. Your gums may start to recede and breath may be bad at times.

If diagnosed early, gingivitis can be reversed as long as the practices of good oral hygiene are in place. These include twice-daily brushing, daily flossing and seeing a dentist for routine dental cleanings and examinations.

Periodontitis: Gingivitis that is not treated can become periodontitis. While gingivitis is limited to inflammation of the soft gum tissue, periodontitis begins to affect the structures that connect the roots of the teeth to the bone. 

Periodontal disease normally progresses in three stages:

Early periodontal disease: In the first stage of periodontal disease, gums start to recede or pull away from teeth. In a healthy mouth, gums grow tightly to the teeth. In periodontal disease, pockets begin to form between the tooth and the gum tissue below the gum line. Bacteria take up residence in these pockets and can begin to destroy the supporting bone and other structures. 

Moderate periodontal disease: As the condition worsens, regular bleeding and pain may become very common occurrences. Teeth may become loose as they start to lack sufficient bone support. At this point, the infection in the gums can begin to travel to other parts of the body via the bloodstream. This bacteria can have a serious effect on the person’s overall health. 

Advanced or severe periodontal disease: Patients start experiencing a severe ongoing pain, bad breath, and foul taste in the mouth on a regular basis. They may start losing their teeth. It will be difficult to eat because of the pain. 

Periodontal abscesses may result in the release of foul-tasting and foul-smelling pus into the mouth. A gum abscess may also cause a throbbing pain in the affected area. 

If you notice any of these symptoms and feel concerned about the state of your oral health, contact our practice based in the Maryland Center for Complete Dentistry in Owings Mills, MD, to schedule an appointment with Dr. Silverman. Depending on the stage of gum disease, Dr. Silverman will be able to create an appropriate treatment plan tailored uniquely to you.

Recommended treatment for gum disease

It’s possible to stop gum disease before it develops any further, and progresses into the more serious stages of this condition.

The first response would be to start practicing good oral hygiene regularly. It’s vital to brush your teeth twice daily, floss every day, and rinse your mouth thoroughly after meals. It’s also important to schedule regular checkups with your dentist at least twice a year to remove any deposits of plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach. Dr. Silverman can offer more suggestions on how you can reverse gingivitis before any harm can be done to your smile. When it comes to early intervention, consistency is key.

However, sometimes there may be a need for a thorough dental treatment rather than just sticking to your regular oral hygiene routine. Dr. Silverman offers the following treatment options:

Antibacterial rinses: A simple and affordable home remedy, antibacterial rinses may be prescribed as the first step in the treatment of gum disease. Rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash can help prevent the growth of the bacteria and improve your oral health.

Scaling and root planning: Also known as a deep cleaning procedure, scaling and root planing reaches below the gum line to correct gum disease. Scaling refers to removing plaque that has accumulated below the gum line. Root planing is a process of smoothing the roots of teeth to eliminate any areas where bacteria might be able to accumulate. After this procedure, the dentist will monitor the healing of the gums to ensure they once again grow tightly to the teeth. 

Laser dentistry: Laser dentistry involves the use of a laser delivery system that is only as thick as a few human hairs. The energy from this laser can resurface the gum tissue around the tooth and eliminate plaque that has hardened into calculus. As the gum tissue heals, it can then grow closer to the teeth.

Antibiotics: Special medications may be prescribed to treat periodontal disease. Some antibiotics can be inserted directly into affected gum tissue.

Surgical treatment alternatives

Dental implants

When a person loses teeth due to gum disease, they normally have lost bone in the jaw that supports those teeth. What that means is that the bone that was supporting their teeth is breaking down and thinning. If they wish to replace missing teeth with dental implants, they will often need to receive bone grafts first. 

A bone graft involves opening the gum over an area of missing bone mass and packing the area with synthetic or natural bone chips. The presence of this material stimulates bone growth. When the body has grown new bone in this area, then dental implants can be placed. 

As you can see, periodontitis can do a lot of damage to a person’s smile. If it gets to the point of tooth loss, it can take years to repair the damage done. The best thing you can do is spot the signs of gum disease early and get fast treatment.

The serious effects of gum disease

Periodontitis can result in a lot of difficulties in daily functioning. For example, gum disease can make it painful to bite or chew food. Shifting teeth can mean that a person’s bite is no longer comfortable and more particles of food can get stuck between the teeth.

Receding gums and missing teeth can impact one’s self-esteem and make the person feel self-conscious about their looks. They may start to cover their mouth when they laugh and refuse to smile when they are with friends. 

Dental implants can restore a patient’s teeth if decay or gum disease has robbed them of a beautiful smile. If you’d like to book an appointment to discuss dental implants to replace teeth lost to gum disease or decay, contact our office in Owings Mills, MD to speak to someone from our friendly team or request an appointment.

Cosmetic periodontal surgery 

Cosmetic periodontal surgery is a treatment to enhance the overall appearance of your smile. Some of the common types of cosmetic periodontal surgery are crown lengthening, cosmetic ridge augmentation, and gum tissue grafting.

Cosmetic crown lengthening: This procedure removes excess gum tissue around the upper teeth. This surgical treatment exposes more of the tooth structure, making the upper teeth look longer. As a result, the smile looks more symmetrical and natural. Crown lengthening may also be used during the repair of a tooth that has broken off near the gum line. To place a crown on that tooth there must be more of the tooth accessible as an anchor for the crown. 

Ridge augmentation procedure: When a tooth has been lost, the bone in the area may be too thin to support a dental implant. Bone graft material placed in a thin ridge of bone can help thicken it. The body surrounds the tiny bone chips with natural growth of new bone. This may also be done for aesthetic reasons: to improve the evenness of the gums and the appearance of the smile. 

Soft tissue grafting: Also known as a gum graft, gingival graft, or gum reconstruction, the aim of this procedure is to correct receding gums. It involves a removal of tissue from the roof of the mouth or other healthy gum tissue, and placing it into the area where gums have receded.

Dr. Silverman can help you determine the type of gum graft you need. There are three main types of soft tissue grafting procedures:

• Gingival graft
• Connective tissue graft
• Lateral graft

He can also help you determine the type of gum graft that would suit you best, depending on your needs and the severity of gum recession. If you would like to book an appointment to discuss your options for cosmetic periodontal surgery procedure and whether it’s right for you, contact our office to speak to one of our team members, and we will readily assist you with your query.

Do you have more questions? Are you looking for a periodontist or want to learn more about periodontal therapy and what it involves? To find a periodontal dentist in Owings Mills, MD, just call our office to schedule a consultation to discuss your situation. 

Dr. Silverman is a periodontal dentist with years of experience and expertise in periodontics and will make a tailored treatment plan for you to address your oral health needs. He is a trusted dental practitioner with an empathetic and professional approach that lies at the heart of his work. You can be assured that your teeth will be taken care of and will look and feel healthy for better oral health and a more pleasing smile.