Gum Disease Treatment in Somerset, NJ

The Main Reason Teeth Are Lost

There is a general assumption that tooth loss is due to decay. But it’s not. It’s because of gum disease. And it can be totally unnoticeable right up until you have lost teeth. Symptoms include bleeding gums when brushing and loose or shifting teeth. If you’ve been told you need gum surgery, you will be happy to know that it’s now possible to control gum disease with a variety of non-surgical treatment options.

Gum Disease May Contribute to Heart Disease or Even Stroke

Recent medical research has led many doctors to reach an unexpected conclusion: gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are connected. Since heart disease is usually fatal, it is clear that gum disease is a very serious matter. The American Dental Association estimates that 80% of Americans have gum disease. Many dentists consider this epidemic proportions. They also know that gum disease wouldn’t be labeled epidemic since “no one ever dies from it.” The worst-case scenario is tooth loss. Unpleasant – but certainly not life threatening. But those views have all changed.

The American Academy of Periodontology states, “Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.” Periodontal disease is characterized by a bacterial gum infection. These bacteria can then travel through the bloodstream – straight to the heart.

Now Some Good News

With advanced periodontal disease, surgical treatment may be the best option. Gum surgery is never fun, but it is successful in controlling the condition. It’s also usually covered by common insurance plans. With mild gum disease, there are very powerful non-surgical procedures that, coupled with improved dental hygiene, can generally arrest the spread of the disease. This, too, is usually covered under most dental insurance plans.

Why Tooth Loss Is So Bad

Is it really a big deal to lose a tooth? You can’t die from it, right? No, you can’t, but losing even one tooth can cause other teeth to shift and move around. This impacts chewing and your ability to absorb nutrients. Other undesirable things can happen. Your face can change shape, giving it a “sunken” look. This can make you look a lot older than you really are. Speech can also be affected. Because it’s more difficult chewing with missing teeth, you may find yourself favoring softer foods that are full of carbohydrates, which may lead to weight gain. The best way to replace a missing tooth (or multiple missing teeth) is with dental implants. They look so natural that even a dentist can’t tell the difference from real teeth.

Arrest Gum Disease Painlessly

Our gum disease treatment dentist is excited to offer our patients a potent weapon to fight gum disease called ARESTIN™. It is delivered in powder form and contains tiny microspheres that are invisible to the eye. These microspheres deliver a time-released antibiotic directly to the infection site (in the spaces around the gums and teeth). ARESTIN kills the bacteria causing gum disease. All of this is completely painless!

We can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health. Give us a call today at (732) 249-0055 for preventive dentistry in Somerset, NJ.

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