As a general dentist and periodontist, Dr. Hoop is not only able to look after your teeth, but the unsung heroes of your smile as well—your gums! They play a vital role in supporting and protecting your pearly whites. Without the proper care, they can develop an infection, which often leads to tooth loss! Thankfully, if you’re experiencing the early signs of gum disease, or even if you’ve been dealing with it for years, he can provide the expert care you need to get your oral health back on track. To schedule an appointment at Total Dental Solutions, contact us today for periodontal therpay in Fort Myers, FL.
A lot of recent research is revealing that periodontal (gum) disease cannot only negatively impact your smile, but your overall health as well! Patients with periodontal disease tend to suffer from diabetes, stroke, and heart attacks at rates multiple times higher than the general population. This is believed to be the case due to oral bacteria being able to easily enter the bloodstream and cause harm throughout the body. Periodontal disease can also be an early indicator of systemic health problems, and by identifying it, Dr. Hoop can enable a patient to begin treatment before an issue starts to affect their quality of life.
The most common risk factor for periodontal disease is simply a lack of consistent, effective oral hygiene. Others include:
Gum disease can also stem from conditions that lower the immune system and make someone more susceptible to infection, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
Scaling and root planing, sometimes collectively known as a deep cleaning, are designed to remove plaque and tartar built up on the roots of the teeth below the gum line, which are often the source of a periodontal infection. Once these substances have been removed with scaling, the roots of the teeth are reshaped and smoothed, or planed. This encourages the gums to heal and reattach to the teeth more quickly, plus it lowers the risk of future infections by making it more difficult for plaque to accumulate.
As periodontal disease progresses, the spaces between the teeth and gums can turn into pockets of bacteria that are virtually impossible to clean with scaling and root planing alone. Fortunately, we can place Arestin on them, which is an antibiotic that consists of thousands of tiny microspheres. These spheres slowly dissolve once they’ve been applied to the gums, allowing the powerful medicine they contain to reach the bottom of the deepest pockets and kill any remaining bacteria.
Gum recession, in which the soft tissues next to the teeth start to pull away from them, is an extremely common symptom of periodontal disease. In addition to making the roots of the teeth more vulnerable to decay, this can also cause the teeth to appear unnaturally long. Gum grafting involves Dr. Hoop taking a small sample of a patient’s own oral tissue and using it to restore their lost gum line. Thanks to his periodontal experience, he’s able to make this procedure as comfortable as possible while ensuring a short recovery.