Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, the tissue that holds your teeth together. This is a result of poor oral hygiene, where plaque builds up and can harden when it isn’t removed. When this is left untreated in Merrimack, NH, it can result in damage to the jawbone and tooth loss in severe cases. At Something To Smile About, Dr. Kevin Boulard offers different periodontal disease treatments that can treat different stages of periodontal disease. After a thorough dental exam, he can determine whether you have gingivitis or another periodontal disease stage. From there, he creates a custom treatment plan that can help remedy your gum disease. Deep cleaning of the teeth is necessary for optimal oral health.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is caused by plaque on teeth. It is the first and only stage where gum disease can be reversed. This is because your bones haven’t been attacked in any way. Bleeding gums is one of the first signs experienced when you have gingivitis in Merrimack, NH. Proper oral hygiene, and regular dental exams and cleanings help you to both treat and reverse it. Treating periodontal disease quickly is important to your oral and overall health.

Periodontal disease symptoms

Gum disease is silent, meaning that there are often no symptoms at all. This makes it hard to know if you have it. This means that regular exams and routine dental cleanings are increasingly important as they help diagnose it before it becomes more serious and in a more advanced stage.

Some symptoms of periodontal disease include:

• Bleeding gums

• Painful, red, or tender gums

• Gum inflammation

• Loose and/or separating teeth

• Receding gums

• Persistent bad breath

• Changes with your bite

When you think you have gum disease in Merrimack, NH, Dr. Boulard can help you treat it before it becomes detrimental to your oral health.

Gum disease treatments

Some periodontal treatments used at Something To Smile About include:

• Scaling and root planing: Scaling and root planing is a minimally invasive treatment that can remove plaque and tartar near the gumline successfully. It also creates a smoother root surface, which helps our team remove bacteria and create a clean surface for your gums to reattach properly.

• Tooth restoration: When tooth loss occurs because of untreated gum disease, we can use porcelain crowns or dental implants to fix your smile.

How many deep cleanings are necessary?

Depending on how many of your teeth need deep cleaning, we may need up to four visits to ensure your gum disease is treated. Our dental hygienist will need enough time to thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. At each visit to our Merrimack, NH dental office, we will concentrate on the portion of your tooth that is underneath the gumline. We can provide you more insight on how many deep cleanings are necessary to remedy your gum disease at a consultation with Dr. Boulard.

Learn how to treat gum disease effectively in Merrimack, NH

When left untreated, gum disease will continue to deteriorate both your oral and overall health. This is why good oral hygiene is so important. At Something To Smile About in Merrimack, NH, Dr. Kevin Boulard helps his patients improve their gum health with different periodontal disease treatments. To learn more about gum disease treatment, schedule an appointment at our dental office today.