Gum Care with Palm Beach Dentist Dr. Dolce, DMD

Proper dental care at home and regular visits to the Palm Beach dentist Dr. Dolce, DMD for cleaning and examination are your best ways of avoiding gum disease.

Periodontal Disease (gum disease)

Dental plaque is the source of the toxins that cause the gum around your teeth to become inflamed. Regular daily dental health care will minimize the toxic effect but regular cleanings and examinations with Dr. Dolce are necessary to clean the plaque from below the gum line and between the teeth.

Gum Problems - Risk factors and Warning signs

Fillings, crowns, bridges and other restorations that no longer fit properly are frequent sources of gum problems, as are crooked teeth. Certain medications, therapy drugs, and contraceptives can cause adverse reactions in gum tissue. Tobacco smoking and chewing as well as conditions such as diabetes can create gum problems also.

Healthy gum tissue is pink, firm and snug to the teeth. Routine daily dental care should not cause you pain or cause your gum tissue to bleed.

If you are experiencing persistent bad breath or a bad taste, teeth that are becoming loose, any changes in bite or fit of removable appliances then it is time to call Palm Beach dentist Dr. Dolce, DMD at either of his conveniently located offices.

Two Types of Gum Disease

Gingivitis is the early and reversible form of common gum problems. Without proper dental care on a regular basis the gum tissue can become tender, swollen and inflamed. If daily brushing causes your gum to bleed then you are observing the first warning signs of gum disease.

Periodontitis is a more advanced case of gingivitis and can lead to severe gum problems and even a loss of teeth and bone structure. A receding gum line with pockets of infection can be indicators of advancing gum disease.

Gum Therapy

Non-surgical gum treatments include scaling and root planeing to remove the plaque and smooth the root surfaces. Cleaning out the toxins and their source is often followed by a course in antibiotics.

Periodontal surgery can be required if the gum disease is advanced to an extreme extent. Pocket reduction surgery, crown lengthening and soft tissue grafts are some of the procedures that can be used to treat severe gum disease.

Effectiveness of Gum Disease Therapy

After the non-surgical techniques of root planeing and scaling there is usually no further treatment required other than ongoing cleanings and examinations to maintain dental health.

Should these procedures not produce the desired effect on gum tissue then surgical treatment may be necessary.

Cost Effective Gum Treatment

Determining the cost of effective treatment of gum disease will require a thorough examination after which Dr. Dolce can better estimate the procedures required.