Though people fret about cavities, gum disease (periodontal disease) is potentially a greater threat to your dental health. That’s because it is:
Dr. Douglas A. Callow on Non Surgical Gum Disease Treatment
Read Transcript Patients who are experiencing problems with gum disease will benefit from what we often refer to as a “deep cleaning,” or what's more scientifically called “scaling and root planing”. Our dental hygienists are very experienced in providing scaling and root planing for patients and will oftentimes provide patients with (inaudible) to help them relax as they go through these procedures, also liberal use of a local anesthetic to make patients comfortable and to make the treatments painless as possible.
- Common. Half of adults in the U.S. have some form of gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Not obvious in its earliest stages. There’s often no pain at first, though your gums may feel tender and bleed easily. You may not have any warning signs. So you may not consult us as soon as you should.
- Progressive. In its early stages, called gingivitis, we can often treat gum disease with nothing more than a dental cleaning. But it can progress rapidly to a more serious stage called periodontitis.
- Destructive. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
As part of our gum disease treatment, we do have screening during every dental exam in our Plymouth, MI dentist office. If we find it, we treat it with a deep cleaning treatment. If you need more extensive treatment, we can refer you to a specialist.
You don’t have to worry about gum disease! Our dentist is a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society. Call Douglas A. Callow, DDS at 734-404-7336 to schedule an exam.
What Causes Gum Disease and How We Treat It
Gum disease is caused by bacteria-filled plaque. As plaque collects around your gumline, your gums become tender and inflamed. This early stage is called gingivitis. If plaque isn’t removed, your gums can pull away from your teeth, creating “pockets” where more bacteria collects and causes infection. As your body tries to fend off the infection, the connective tissue that keeps your teeth in place can break down. This later stage of gum disease is called periodontitis.
If a regular dental cleaning doesn’t eliminate the problem, we use a deep cleaning nonsurgical method called scaling and root planing. We’ll remove plaque and bacteria from the pockets in your gum tissue and smooth your tooth roots to help prevent further infection. We use an ultrasonic scaler, which makes the process quicker and more comfortable for you.
If you’ve got tender gums, give Douglas A. Callow, DDS a call at 734-404-7336. Or use our online form to make an appointment at our Plymouth, MI dentist office. In addition to Plymouth and Plymouth Township, we serve the nearby communities of Northville and Northville Township, MI; Livonia, MI; and Canton, MI.