While cavities are the main concern for many folks when they visit Dr. Jennifer Perkins, gum disease (periodontal disease) is a bigger problem for many adults:
- It’s the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
- Studies have linked it to medical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and low birth weight in babies.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of American adults have gum disease.
That sounds like a lot of bad news. The good news is that it’s easy for us to treat gum disease in its early stages. We can detect it during your dental exams in our Huntsville, AL dental office.
If your gums are tender and bleed when brushing your teeth, you may have gum disease. Call Dr. Jennifer Perkins, DDS at 256-801-0002 to schedule your dental exam and gum disease treatment Huntsville, AL area appointment.
How We Get Rid of Gum Disease
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning method we use to remove the bacteria from your gums and the “pockets” where it collects. This method also smoothes your tooth roots to make it easier for gums to reattach to your teeth.
Depending on your situation, we’ll send you home with a system called Perio Protect® that uses a sturdy plastic tray similar to a mouthguard to deliver antibiotic medication beneath your gums. You’ll just wear the tray for a few minutes a day.
Gum Disease Explained
Gum disease is caused by a buildup of bacteria between your teeth and gums. Gum disease has two stages:
- Gingivitis. In this early stage, the main symptoms are tender gums that may bleed. There is no lasting tissue or bone damage. And a professional dental cleaning by our hygienists should take care of it.
- Periodontitis. In this stage, your gums pull away from your teeth, creating “pockets” where bacteria collect and cause infection. As your body tries to fight the infection, the connective tissue around your teeth begins to break down, endangering your smile.
If your gums have receded far enough to expose your tooth roots, Dr. Jennifer Perkins can perform a gum graft to repair them. Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique may be another option to consider when repairing gum recession.
Dr. Jennifer Perkins obtained her DDS from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. She is also a member of many professional organizations such as the Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Alabama Dental Society, Huntsville-Madison County Dental Society, and Eighth District Dental Society. After 22 years of practicing dentistry, she’s still excited to help patients restore their oral function and give them their dream smile.