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"If you smile when no one
else is around,
you really mean it."
- Andy Rooney
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Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
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Do your gums bleed when you brush? You may have gingivitis, a reversible, mild
form of bacteria-caused periodontal disease. Untreated, gingivitis can progress
to periodontitis with unpredictable rapidity, attacking gums, periodontal
ligaments, and supporting bone structure.
Certain factors predictably increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:
tobacco use, systemic diseases such as diabetes, some medications including
steroids and oral contraceptives, pregnancy, improperly fitting bridges or
partials, crooked crowded teeth, and defective fillings.
It is possible to suffer from periodontitis and not be aware of its presence
until tissues and bones are severely damaged. Pain is not always the first
symptom. Look for these signs: bleeding, tenderness, redness, or swelling in the
gums, gums pulling away from teeth, loose or shifting teeth, change in the fit
of partial dentures, change in the way teeth come together when biting, and/or
constant bad breath or bad taste.
Periodontitis can be addressed non-surgically through regular professional
(periodontal-therapy) cleanings and advances like
oxygen-ozone therapy,
Periostat, and the site-specific antibiotic Arestin.
If you do have periodontitis, never grow lax. Everyday factors like stress,
fatigue, poor nutrition, and illness can influence the health of your gums.
Regular exams and professional cleanings are key in prevention, early detection,
and maintenance, and they are typically supported 80-100% by dental insurance
contracts!
Protect your health! Periodontal disease is not just about gums and teeth.
Research connects periodontitis with a significantly increased risk of heart
disease, artery blockage, stroke, stomach ulcers, diabetes, pre-term delivery,
low birth-weight babies, and bacterial pneumonia.
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