Periodontist – Gum Disease Treatment in Astoria, Queens

Periodontal disease is a disease that affects the structures around your teeth, helping to support them. These include your gum tissues, the ligaments holding teeth in the sockets, and the bone around your teeth. Periodontics is where specialist dentists, known as periodontists, treat and prevent gum disease. Periodontal disease progresses as the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and gums gets filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, irritating the surrounding tissues. When these irritants remain in the pocket space, they can cause damage to the gums and, eventually, the bone that supports the teeth. Our periodontists at dentistry in Astoria, NY can provide effective treatment for advanced periodontal disease, but the best approach is preventative treatment.

The main cause of gum disease is dental plaque, a sticky biofilm teeming with bacteria and builds up over tooth surfaces during the day. Usually, a good daily oral hygiene routine disrupts the growth of dental plaque, regularly removing it. It’s by far the best approach toward preventing this disease. Often, the degree of severity of gum disease is due to the amount of dental plaque present. Other factors include diet and general nutrition, and a person’s bite or occlusion can make a difference. People with significantly crooked teeth tend to be more at risk of developing periodontal disease because their teeth are harder to keep clean. Smokers with periodontal disease will often lose bone around their teeth more quickly compared with non-smokers.

Because periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, it promotes an inflammatory response. Usually, inflammation affecting the gums is one of the first signs as the immune system tries to fight the infection and to prevent it from worsening. The most common signs of gum disease are:

• Bleeding gums
• Nasty taste that you can’t get rid of
• Bad breath
• Receding gums
• Sensitive teeth due to the exposed tooth roots
• Pus between your gums

The earlier periodontal disease is diagnosed, the better the prognosis. Regularly visiting our dentist in Astoria, NY is essential because we can detect these early symptoms during your regular checkups.

Because periodontal disease is often caused by poor oral hygiene, one of the first things you will need to change is your oral care routine. Removing dental plaque at least twice daily is an important part of periodontics treatment in Astoria. Your periodontist can work with you on improving your oral hygiene habits. Also, your teeth will need to be professionally cleaned, removing hardened plaque or calculus from your teeth and any exposed tooth root surfaces. Deep cleaning your gums with a process called scaling and root planing or help to remove much of the bacterial infection. You may need to have your teeth cleaned more frequently, and your periodontist can discuss a routine of professional cleanings and checkups. If you have more severe gum disease, you may require surgical treatment, including repairing and restoring damaged gum tissue and bone. The idea of surgical treatment is to help eliminate gum pockets, restore stability to your teeth and normal function. Also, healthy gums are easier to care for with a good daily oral care routine.