PERIODONTICS

Non surgical periodontic treatment

Heidi Sprowls DDS offers periodontal therapy for the prevention and treatment of gum disease. It is estimated that 3 of every 4 adults is affected by gum disease, which when left untreated can lead to tooth loss and contribute to health risks such as heart disease and diabetes.

In many cases, patients are unaware of the presence of gum disease until either it is spotted during a routine visit with Heidi Sprowls DDS or has advanced and begun to cause damage to the teeth and gums.  

Depending on your specific condition, there are a variety of treatment options for gum disease. After a thorough exam, Heidi Sprowls DDS will recommend the option best suited for restoring your oral health.

PREVENTING GUM DISEASE

Heidi Sprowls DDS emphasizes the benefits of routine dental care when it comes to reducing the risk of developing gum disease. During these visits, she and her staff take the time to offer personalized oral hygiene tips to help you maintain healthy gums between visits.

WHY DO MY GUMS BLEED?

It is not normal for gums to bleed when brushing or flossing your teeth. Yet, a number of patients come to us with concerns about bleeding gums or sore gums. There are a number of reasons why gums bleed. In some cases, it may simply be that the patient is brushing their teeth too hard, using a toothbrush with too firm of bristles, or being overly aggressive when flossing. The gums are an extremely sensitive tissue and you should be careful not to abrade or cut the gum tissue and cause bleeding.

Women are commonly affected by gum disease and bleeding gums during pregnancy due to hormonal changes taking place in the body. Pregnant women should continue to brush and floss, but be extra cautious around sensitive gum tissue to prevent bleeding. It is important to maintain routine visits to the dentist during pregnancy to monitor gum health.

ABOUT GUM DISEASE

Bacteria that is found in plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease; however, several other factors can tribute or put you at increased risk. These factors include: genetics/family history, smoking/tobacco use, clenching/grinding, hormones, diabetes, medications, stress, poor oral hygiene, person to person transmission, and lack of routine six month dental check-ups or proper periodontal maintenance follow-up from past periodontal treatment.

Heidi Sprowls DDS provides periodontal therapy to treat the various stages of gum disease and will recommend appropriate treatment after a thorough exam and determination of the stage of gum disease present.

COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

  • Red, swollen or sore gums

  • Bleeding gums

  • Receding gums

  • Loose teeth

  • Mouth sores or pus between gums and teeth

  • Bad breath (halitosis)

  • Changes in the fit of dentures

If you notice any of the above signs of gum disease, schedule an appointment with Heidi Sprowls DDS

Scaling and root planing

For patients with gum disease, our dentist may recommend deep cleanings called scaling and root planing. This deep cleaning procedure will help to restore the health of your gums. Scaling and root planing is one of the most common and effective treatments recommended for gum disease before it becomes severe. This is a deep cleaning treatment that includes two main steps:

  • Scaling: In scaling, we remove plaque and tartar (dental calculus) from the tooth surface.

  • Root Planing: This step involves cleaning the roots of the teeth, smoothing the root to remove bacterial toxins.

The goals of scaling and root planing are to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar, and to halt the progress of the disease. While most scaling and root planing treatments can be completed comfortably without anesthetic, our dentist is happy to offer anesthetic and other comfort options to make certain that you feel at ease during your treatment. The scaling and root planing treatment may be split up into several appointments, in which we treat one section of the mouth at each appointment.

Scaling and root planing may be combined with other types of periodontal therapy, such as antibiotic treatment. For most patients, scaling and root planing is enough to prevent periodontal disease from progressing further.