Periodontal Therapy for Carrollton Families

Dr. Capua offers therapy for Periodontal Disease (gum disease) which can be a very severe oral condition. Not only can periodontal disease cause painful, permanent tooth loss, but recent dental research links it to heart disease, stroke and other severe health problems.

What is Peridontal Disease?

Estimates are that more than 80 percent of adults in the United States have some degree of periodontal, or gum disease. There are two stages to this chronic condition:

• Gingivitis, which is marked by red and swollen gums that may bleed when you brush

• Periodontitis, the more advanced stage with symptoms that include bad breath, enlarged gum pockets around teeth that may fill with pus, and loose teeth

If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to missing teeth. In fact, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among American adults. The disease often sets in as a result of insufficient oral hygiene. When you brush and floss your teeth, you not only remove bits of food, but you also clear away plaque—that clear and sticky biofilm that develops in everyone’s mouth throughout the day. Hiding in that plaque is bacteria. And while bacteria naturally live in our mouths and are integral to digestion, if left to multiply they can begin to damage teeth and gums. Thus, the twice a day brushing and daily flossing that Dr. Capua, the dentist Carrollton trusts, recommends is essential.

Gum Disease Treatment

If detected early at one of your regularly scheduled dental checkups with Dr. Capua and her dedicated team of dental hygienists and dental assistants, then gum disease can sometimes be reversed with improved oral hygiene care at home. Gum disease cannot, however, be cured. Thus, keeping it at bay requires your commitment to maintaining a timely and rigorous schedule of brushing and flossing your teeth at home; especially flossing, which removes plaque from between your teeth.

Some patients, however, require in-office treatment from the dentist Carrollton residents turn to for complete dental care. In these cases, we’ll perform scaling and root planing. With scaling, one of gentle hygienists will remove built up plaque and tartar, which is hardened plaque, from above and below the gum line of your teeth. Then, during planing, the roots of your teeth are made smooth in order to create a surface that plaque is less likely to adhere to.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you have bleeding gums or think you may be in need of periodontal therapy give Carrollton dentist Dr. Capua at our Carrollton dental office a call before any further damage is done. We will be happy to assess the health of your gums and make the appropriate recommendation for treatment. Dr. Capua and her staff also provide a comprehensive menu of general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry services, so you and your family can enjoy all the benefits of a healthy and happy smile.