More than half of American adults contract gum disease, or periodontal disease, at some point in their lives. This infection makes gum tissue inflamed and can advance to cause deterioration in the tooth root and jawbone without treatment. The infection will not go away on its own, but your dentist can treat gum disease with periodontal therapy.
Even after your dentist eradicates the disease, your teeth and gums may have sustained irreversible damage. This could impact the way that your smile appears. Read on to see how your dentist can get your smile looking its best again after suffering from gum disease.
Reduce Puffiness in Gums
Infection in the gum tissue can lead to uncomfortable symptoms that can impact the way that your gums look. For instance, patients with periodontal disease may notice swelling, redness, and bleeding in their gums.
Many people may feel self-conscious about a puffy appearance in their gums, but this issue usually goes away after a dentist gets rid of the disease. They will begin treating this problem by thoroughly cleaning the teeth, especially deep in the gum pockets. These intensive cleaning methods are known as scaling and root planing.
If the infection persists, you may require more invasive treatments, including gum surgery, to eliminate the problem. Your dentist might suggest using an antibacterial mouthwash at home to keep the infection at bay.
Realign Shifting Teeth
The swelling of the gums combined with the damage to the tooth root could cause teeth to shift. Even when your dentist treats the gum disease, you may notice that your teeth have become crooked.
They may also overlap each other or have grown gaps. Small spaces in the upper area between teeth that close at the bottom of the teeth are called black triangles.
These spacing issues in your smile will remain after your dentist gets rid of the gum disease. Your dentist can offer cosmetic dental solutions, including porcelain veneers, to give your teeth a straighter and more even appearance to fix these aesthetic concerns.
Find Permanent Teeth Replacements
If gum disease progresses into periodontitis, your teeth and bone may deteriorate to the extent that you could suffer tooth loss. Missing teeth may detract from the appearance of your smile. But it could also put you at risk of further oral health complications.
Your dentist can help you replace missing teeth permanently with dental implants. These fixtures use titanium post anchors surgically placed into the jaw which will support prosthetic teeth.
Whether you have lost one, several, or an entire arch of teeth, your dentist can find an implant that will suit your unique dental needs. If you need more bone structure to sustain an implant in your jaw, your dentist may suggest a bone graft surgery to add stability in this area of the mouth. Schedule a visit with your dentist to get a restorative treatment plan to replace missing teeth and help you achieve your smile goals.