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Periodontal Therapy – Columbia, TN

Maintain a Healthy Home for Your Teeth

man in dress shirt and tie smiling after periodontal therapy in Columbia

What’s the most common reason behind tooth loss in America? You might think it’s due to injuries or cavities, but it’s actually because of gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease drastically increases your risk of tooth loss and other oral health problems. Even though more than half of adults in the United States will develop gum disease at some point in their lives, our team here at Beck Dental Care of Columbia can help treat it with periodontal therapy in Columbia, TN. Contact us today to learn more about this treatment and how it can help you maintain a healthy home for your teeth.

What Is Gum Disease?

closeup of person pointing to their red inflamed gums before periodontal therapy

Gum disease is a bacterial infection within the gum tissue. It can appear in one of several stages, all of which present their own symptoms and dangers. When the gums are attacked by acids produced by the bacteria in dental plaque, the tissue becomes irritated and inflamed, causing it to bleed easily. Unless this condition is treated, the infection can spread to the entirety of your gum tissue, resulting in sensitive or tender gums, bleeding when brushing or eating, receding gums, or even tooth loss.

Even though gum disease is one of the most common chronic infections in the world, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be treated. If your dentist in Columbia catches it in the early stages, it can even be reversed. Furthermore, even the advanced stages of gum disease can be treated with skilled, personalized treatment from our dentists.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

woman giving thumbs up in the dental chair after periodontal therapy

One of the most dangerous aspects of gum disease is the fact that it sometimes doesn’t present noticeable symptoms until it has already done serious damage. However, there are a few telltale signs you should watch out for. Give us a call if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or chewing hard foods
  • Gums that are swollen, tender, red, or dark purple
  • Receding gum tissue that makes your teeth look longer than normal
  • Mouth sores
  • Persistent bad taste in your mouth
  • Chronic bad breath that doesn’t subside even after brushing
  • Changes in the way your teeth fit together
  • Teeth that begin to shift or feel loose
  • Pus forming in between your gums and teeth

In the earliest stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, you may notice bleeding after brushing or flossing. However, in some cases, this is a sign that you’re not flossing enough and should subside after a few days. If it doesn’t, call our dental office right away.

How We Can Treat Gum Disease

young woman smiling in dental chair after periodontal therapy

While gingivitis can often be reversed with improved at-home care, the more advanced stages typically require in-office gum disease treatment in Columbia. The most common and conservative treatment we offer is known as scaling and root planing.

First, we administer a local anesthetic to numb you up and maximize your comfort during the procedure. During the scaling portion, we use special instruments to break up and remove plaque and tartar (its hardened form) that have attached themselves to your gums and tooth roots. Then, in the root planing portion, we smooth out the roots, removing the remainder of the bacteria from those areas. This treatment also makes it significantly more difficult for plaque to build up on the teeth in the future.