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Prevent periodontitis with early gum disease treatment. Talk to a highly experienced dentist in Wauwatosa, WI.
Gum disease is an infection that affects the tissues surrounding and supporting the gums and teeth. As the disease worsens, it can also affect the jawbone as the gums recede.
The onset of gum disease is gingivitis. If left untreated, it will slowly develop into periodontal disease. Unfortunately, many people are unknowingly living with early-stage gum disease.
At Firefly Family Dentistry, our lead Wauwatosa dentist, Dr. Matthew Sandberg, has years of experience providing gum treatment to patients in the Wauwatosa, WI, area. If you believe you have any form of gum disease, call us today to book an appointment.
What Are the Causes of Gum Disease?
Unhealthy habits like smoking and poor oral hygiene are the two leading causes of gum disease. If you’re a regular smoker who doesn’t see a dentist regularly, there’s a high possibility that you already have gingivitis.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
The symptoms of gum disease become visible during the gingivitis stage. Some of them include the following:
- Tenderness
- Swelling in the gums
- Bleeding from the gums while flossing or brushing
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Visible gum tissue irritation
If you notice any of these signs of poor oral health, it’s important to seek gum treatment before the condition develops into periodontitis. At this stage, the symptoms above will become more pronounced. As bacteria attack the supporting tissues, deeper pockets will form between the gum and the teeth.
Untreated periodontitis can lead to more severe health conditions like heart disease and stroke.
Our Gum Disease Treatment Process
At Firefly Family Dentistry, we start the treatment process by thoroughly evaluating your teeth and gums. We can stop gum disease in the early stages with some deep cleaning. If the condition has progressed into periodontitis, the treatment may feature a combination of periodontal laser therapy, root planing, and scaling.
We first measure the depth of the gaps formed by the disease before vaporizing diseased tissue with a soft tissue laser.
After removing the diseased tissue, we progress to root planing and scaling. This stage involves scraping away plaque and tartar and flattening out the tooth root’s surface to ensure there’s no space for bacteria to hide. We round off the treatment by using the laser to cauterize and seal tissue at the gum line to prevent bleeding and infection.
Some extreme cases of periodontitis may require surgery to properly replace damaged tissue and remove bacteria. You’ll find out your treatment options before we get started.
Comprehensive Gum Disease Treatment in Wauwatosa, WI
At Firefly Family Dentistry, we provide speedy relief for all cases of gum disease. Dr. Matthew Sandberg has restored the gum health of many patients across the Wauwatosa, WI, area. Call us today at 414-348-4192 to schedule a consultation and learn about your gum treatment options.