Gum Disease and Recession
Gum recession is the decline in the amount of gum tissue that surrounds the teeth. It begins to wear away, or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth, and the root. When gum recession takes place, pockets, or gaps, develop between the teeth and gum line, making it even easier for disease-causing bacteria to accumulate and build up. If the gum disease is left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structures can be severely damaged and may eventually result in tooth loss.
Periodontal therapy refers to surgical and non-surgical treatments that are designed to address gum disease and recession, which usually begin with an infection or inflammation of the gums and can result in jawbone deterioration.
The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental radiates compassion and enthusiasm. Every member embraces your individual comfort and dental needs. We seek balance in our practice, our procedures, and your health. You will find your entire dental experience with us comforting from start to finish. We balance exceptional, personalized dental care with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Call us today at 440-974-4449 to schedule your appointment for an evaluation regarding gum disease and recession. You can conveniently find us at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.
Dr. Crystal
Dr. Crystal is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine and went on to receive training at one of the most prestigious dental residencies in the nation, The Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital Advanced Education in General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX.
Inform & Educate
We empower you to make wise, well-informed decisions for your oral health through patient education and individual consultation. We do this through the modern technology we offer. Our digital x-rays are equipped with special cavity-detecting software, and we also utilize an intraoral camera to show you what we see in your mouth. We also make sure to stay up-to-date on your medical history, current medications and any other factors that might affect your dental health and treatment.
Insurance & Billing
We are an insurance-friendly office, so please call us about your plan. We will do our best to assist you in maximizing your benefits. At your first visit to our Mentor dental practice, we will ask you for your current insurance information. We may ask you to confirm this information at subsequent visits so we can stay up-to-date and fully informed to serve you. As a courtesy to you, we file all claim forms electronically, provide postage for special claims, and we track claims for you.
Several Symptoms of Gum Recession
Gum recession can happen without any visible symptoms, so maintaining your routine dental exams and checkups are critical, as Dr. Crystal Dental will be able to notice the early signs. The most common symptoms of gum recession that you may see on your own include:
- Starting to bleed after brushing or flossing your teeth.
- You have developed persistent bad breath.
- You have pain at the gumline with swollen, red gums.
- You now have exposed tooth roots that are causing sensitivity.
- A loose tooth has suddenly developed.
- Your gums are shrinking.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a progressive issue that will gradually increase in severity. You can develop periodontal disease in the following order:
- Gingivitis: The first stage of periodontitis, gingivitis develops from bacterial plaque that builds up along the gumline. Gingivitis becomes evident with sensitive gums that are puffy, red, and bleed easily. Gingivitis can be stymied and reversed with proper deep cleaning at Dr. Crystal Dental and improved oral health care, but if not addressed quickly, it will develop into a more severe form of gum disease.
- Early Periodontitis: Early periodontitis is from the continued build-up of bacterial plaque and develops when the gingivitis is left untreated. Early periodontitis has the same symptoms of gingivitis, just becoming more severe. The gums will now feel painful and become even more sensitive, and brushing and flossing results in excessive bleeding. Unlike gingivitis, which can be treated through a deep cleaning and improved self-care practices, early periodontitis will require more intensive interventions.
- Advanced Periodontitis: When the bacteria, plaque, and toxins have developed to the point that gum tissue is now being destroyed, you have developed the third stage, advanced periodontitis. If you have progressed to this point you have gum recession and have developed small pockets between your gums and teeth, which accelerates bacterial to grow. These pockets will continue to expand which cause the gums to recede. If left untreated long enough, this recession will result in bone loss.
Periodontal Therapy Options
There are both surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy options available that can reverse the impact of gum disease.
Once your gums have pulled back from your teeth, it is gone. However, there are options for treating gum recession. Dr. Crystal Dental will evaluate your oral health to determine the cause of your gum recession. After an assessment, we can recommend the best course of treatment in moving forward for your needs.
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 the teeth below the gumline, the pockets between the gums and teeth, removing the source of the infection and giving your gums a chance to heal.
If there is a noticeable recession, or you have developed sensitivity, or you are not happy with the visible appearance of your teeth and gums, Dr. Crystal Dental might recommend a gum graft procedure to replace the lost tissue. Gum grafting is a simple surgical procedure that involves taking a small amount of tissue from one area, like the roof of your mouth, then transferring it to the gum area in need.
Here are several common periodontal therapy procedures options:
- Scaling and Root Planing: A deep cleaning that removes bacteria carrying plaque and tartar that have developed below the gum line. Scaling refers to the removal of damaging plaque and calculus from the surface of your teeth, where root planing is the smoothing out your teeth’s roots to prevent additional bacteria from forming and to accelerate the healing process.
- Periodontal Laser Treatment: Removes diseased gum tissue with lasers. You might consider this option because unlike traditional treatments, periodontal laser treatment causes less gum shrinkage and less discomfort and heals quickly.
- Periodontal Plastic Surgery: A recontouring or reshaping procedure that is performed to improve the aesthetic appearance of your gum tissue.
- Dental Implants: The dental implant process begins with the extraction of a decayed or damaged tooth, if necessary, followed by an x-ray to determine if there is sufficient jawbone density to adequately support a dental implant. If there is insufficient jawbone, a dental bone graft may be necessary. If it is determined that you are a viable candidate, a titanium post will be surgically placed into your jawbone. After this has healed, the replacement tooth or bridge will be placed on this post.
Comprehensive Dentistry
Comprehensive dentistry with Dr. Crystal Schneider, involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the teeth, gums and jaw. She believes that preventive care is the most important aspect of comprehensive dentistry. Dr. Schneider aims to identify and treat problems while they’re still small, which can save you time, money and more extensive dental treatment.
Cosmetic Dentistry
An attractive smile can boost your confidence, help you make better first impressions on others, and improve your personal and professional life. We provide several cosmetic dental treatments that can subtly enhance your smile, and there are many other more dramatic treatments, often called “smile makeovers,” that can give you the smile of your dreams.
Specialized Dentistry
Missing teeth can take the joy out of the everyday things we love, from smiling and talking with confidence to eating our favorite foods. All of these things can become easier again with specialized dental care. Dr. Schneider offers advanced treatments that will not just restore your smile to its former health – they’ll make it look and feel even better than before!
Our Devotion to Family Dentistry is Unparalleled
Our attention to detail is second to none. Either when it comes to your personalized dental care or the array of amenities in the relaxing comfort of our office. The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental goes the extra mile in providing communication and consultation, realizing that we collectively are committed to developing long lasting relationships with every patient. We find gratification in life changing healthy smiles. Call us now at 440-974-4449 to make an appointment to evaluate if you might benefit from an evaluation for gum disease and recession. Our office is located at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.