Gum Disease & Recession in Loves Park IL
Gum recession is a reduction in the amount of gum tissue that protects your tooth roots. It wears away, or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth. When gum recession happens, pockets, or gaps, form between the teeth and gum line, making it easier for bacteria to accumulate. These bacteria immediately result in gum disease. If left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structures become damaged and will lead to tooth loss.
Periodontal therapy is both surgical and non-surgical treatments that will address gum disease and gum recession.
At Riverside Dental Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle and compassionate care that you deserve from your dentist in Loves Park. We collectively focus on making you feel at ease by providing you exceptional care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Our team goal is to develop lifelong relationships with our patients by combining the latest dental technology with a professional and caring staff. The result is a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime. We also emphasize preventive care and patient education because we want you to understand why it is so important to keep your mouth healthy and how to exercise daily hygiene to accomplish it. We are located at 2028 E. Riverside Blvd., Ste 210, Loves Park, IL, 61111. Please call us today at 815-877-4300 to schedule an appointment for an evaluation of possible gum disease and gum recession.
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Periodontal Therapy Options
There are surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy options that will stymie and reverse the impact of gum disease.
When your gums pull back from your teeth, that tissue is now gone. There are assorted options for treating gum recession. Your team at Riverside Dental Center will evaluate your oral health condition to identify the cause of your gum recession. After a thorough assessment, we will recommend the best treatment for you.
We can treat early gum disease by performing a deep cleaning, also called root planing and scaling. This procedure removes the bacteria and plaque from your teeth below the gumline, removing the sole source of the infection and giving your gums a chance to heal.
If there is an obvious recession, or you have increased root sensitivity, or you are not happy with the visible appearance of your teeth and gums, Riverside Dental Center might recommend a gum grafting procedure to replace the lost soft tissue. Gum grafting is a simple surgical treatment that moves a small amount of tissue from one area, like the roof of your mouth, to the area in need.
Here are common periodontal therapy procedures options:
- Scaling and Root Planing- A deep cleaning that removes stubborn plaque and tartar that have accumulated below the gum line. Scaling is the removal of damaging bacterial plaque and calculus from the surface of your teeth below the surface, and root planing is the smoothing out your roots to prevent additional bacteria from adhering and to accelerate the healing of the gums.
- Periodontal Laser Treatment- Removes diseased gum tissue easily with lasers. You may consider this option because the laser treatment causes less discomfort, less gum shrinkage, and heals quickly.
- Periodontal Plastic Surgery- A recontouring or reshaping procedure that improves the visual appearance of your gum tissue.
- Dental Implants- The dental implant procedure begins with the extraction of a damaged tooth, followed by an x-ray to confirm there is enough jawbone density to support a dental implant. If there is inadequate jawbone mass, a dental bone graft could be necessary. If you are a candidate, a tiny titanium post will be surgically placed into your jawbone which will function as an artificial root. After this has fused or bonded to the jawbone, a replacement tooth or bridge will be added to this post.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is progressive and will gradually increase in severity. You usually develop periodontal disease in the following order:
- Gingivitis- The first stage of gum disease, gingivitis will develop from plaque that builds up near the gumline. Gingivitis will become visible with sensitive gums that are puffy, red, and can bleed easily. Gingivitis can be stopped and reversed with a simple proper deep cleaning at Riverside Dental Center and your improved oral health care. If not addressed, it will escalate into the second stage.
- Early Periodontitis- Early periodontitis is a continuation of the disease when the gingivitis is left untreated. Early periodontitis will have the same symptoms of gingivitis, just more severe. The gums will now feel painful, and the sensitivity has increased, and brushing and flossing results in excessive bleeding. Early periodontitis will now require more intensive intervention.
- Advanced Periodontitis- When the bacteria, plaque, and toxins are left unattended to the point that gum tissue is being destroyed, you have entered the third stage, advanced periodontitis. If you have reached this point, you have gum recession and small pockets have developed between your gums and teeth, which accelerates bacterial growth. These pockets continue to expand which causes the gums to recede. If this stage is left untreated, this level of recession will result in permanent bone loss.
Meet Dr. Dimke
Dr. David Dimke is a compassionate and skilled dentist who has been serving patients for over 20 years. As the team dentist for the Rockford IceHogs, he understands the importance of precision and excellence in his work.
Meet Dr. Hermanson
Dr. Joshua Hermanson is a talented dentist who is passionate about helping his patients achieve their best smiles. He has a gentle and caring approach to dentistry and is committed to providing exceptional care to each patient.
Meet Dr. Zammuto
Meet Dr. Peter Zammuto, a passionate dentist who graduated from Midwestern Dental in 2015 and has been providing exceptional dental care for 8 years. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve optimal oral health.
Meet Dr. Konieczki
Dr. Corey Konieczki is a talented and experienced dentist who is passionate about helping his patients achieve healthy and beautiful smiles. He was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois and is proud to serve his local community.
Common Symptoms of Gum Recession
Gum recession occurs without any visible indicators, so maintaining your regular dental checkups are important, as your team at Riverside Dental Center will be able to identify the early signs. The most common symptoms of gum recession that you may notice include:
- Your gums are receding or shrinking.
- You start to bleed when brushing or flossing your teeth.
- Your exposed tooth roots are sensitive.
- You have persistent bad breath.
- You have discomfort at the gumline with swollen, red gums.
- A loose tooth has suddenly occurred.
Superior Dentistry with A Personal Touch
The entire team at Riverside Dental Center believes that you should have sufficient information to make educated and informed decisions about your oral health, treatment options, and the choice of your dentist in Loves Park. You will find all this essential information on our website, including directions to our Loves Park office, service descriptions, patient forms, patient education resources, and more.
We are located at 2028 E. Riverside Blvd., Ste 210, Loves Park, IL, 61111. Please call us today at 815-877-4300 to schedule an appointment for your dream smile. Let us smile together.