• Common Dental Problems
  • Why Do Teeth Darken?
  • Advanced Hygiene and Periotherapy
    • Velscope Oral Cancer Screening
• Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Choosing a cosmetic dentist
  • What is the LVI Difference?
  • Characteristics of Award Winning Smiles
• Cosmetic Procedures/
  Treatments
  • Smile Makeover
    • Questions About Smile Makeover
  • Porcelain Veneers
    • Question About Porcelain Veneers
  • Full Mouth Restoration
    • Questions About Full Mouth Restoration
  • Tooth Whitening
    • Teeth Whitening Questions
  • Dental Implants
    • Questions About Dental Implants
    • Implants for Supporting Bridges
    • Advantages of Dental Implants
  • Tooth Crowns
  • Dental Bonding
  • Tooth-colored fillings
  • Porcelain fillings
  • Gum Recontouring
  • Invisalign®
• General Dentistry
  • Dental Bridges
  • Dentures / Partials
  • Periodontics
  • A Look Back at Dentistry's History
• Neuromuscular Dentistry
  • Questions About Neuromuscular Dentistry
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Why See a Neuromuscular Dentist?
• TMJ / TMD
  • Causes of TMD/TMJ Associated Headaches
• Metal-Free Dental Practice
• Sedation Dentistry
  • Types of Dental Anesthesia

Periodontal Disease & Treatment

Morristown, New Jersey, and the surrounding area

Periodontal or gum disease is a chronic infection of your gums that causes damage to both your tissue and your bone that supports your teeth. If this condition is left untreated, it will eventually result in tooth loss.

The main cause of gum disease is a colorless layer of plaque that accumulated on the surface of your teeth. If the plaque is not removed, it will harden and turn into tartar. The bacteria in the plaque will lead to an infection and subsequent destruction of the gum tissue that holds your teeth in place. The result is your gum tissue separating from your teeth, creating a “pocket” that will ultimately cause your teeth to fall out.

Statistics reveal that three out of four adults over the age of 35 develop periodontal disease to some degree.

Symptoms

Symptoms of periodontal disease include:

• Bleeding during brushing and flossing
• Red, swollen gums
• A distasteful odor emanating from your mouth
• Formation of gaps between your teeth
• Pain in your oral cavity
• Exposure of the neck of the tooth

Non-surgical treatment first

At Aesthetic Dentistry, we use non-surgical periodontal therapy to remove the plaque and tartar by treating conditions that encourage gum disease and controlling the growth of destructive bacteria. Often times, non-surgical treatment is all a patient needs, particularly when gum disease is discovered early enough. However, if the disease has already progressed considerably, surgery may be necessary.

Depending on your situation, you may also need additional procedures, like replacing worn fillings or dental crowns that can collect plaque, before we can begin periodontal therapy.

Scaling and root planing:

One type of cleaning that we do is scaling, which removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and just below your gumline. Root planing smoothes the surfaces of your tooth’s root, allowing the supporting gum tissue to reattach to your tooth. This is generally done with a local anesthesia so you can relax and feel no pain while we are restoring the health of your gums.

Antibiotics

Because periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, our goal is to eliminate those bacteria in order to reduce your infection. For this reason, you may be prescribed an antibiotic in addition to scaling and root planing that is either taken orally or applied to your gum pocket in a powder form. You may also be prescribed an antibacterial to control the harmful effects of gum disease, and help reduce future buildup of bacterial plaque.

Occlusal adjustment

A misaligned bite or occlusion can also result in bone destruction. It may be necessary adjust your bite so that your jaw is relaxed and your teeth are able to close properly. This can be done with a custom bite guard or, if you are an athlete, a Pure Power Mouthguard that fits over your teeth to protect their surfaces and encourage tense jaw muscles to relax.

If you live in the Morristown, New Jersey area and you are suffering from any of the symptoms of gum disease, please call Aesthetic Dentistry of Bernardsville. It is important to have this condition treated as soon as possible, to prevent further damage. Cosmetic dentists Dr. Patti Swaintek-Lamb and Dr. Cheryl Tauriello are experienced, LVI trained dentists that can help restore your oral health. Please contact us today to schedule your no-cost consultation.