The Importance of Dental Hygiene
Oral hygiene is essential for good overall health. If an individual’s gum tissue surrounding the teeth are inflamed, it can cause bacteria to easily enter the periodontal pockets and the bloodstream, which can lead to life-threatening diseases.
Bacteria linked to periodontal disease and chronic gum inflammation can put individuals at risk for a wide range of health problems, such as:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Potentially fatal health conditions
Patients with diabetes and poor gum health are twice as likely to have heart disease or kidney failure. An infection in the gums can cause them to bleed when you brush and floss, but sometimes the bacteria can be hidden in areas that you can’t reach when you brush.
Let Our Team Help You
Dr. Rice and her hygienists have over 70 years combined experience at diagnosing and treating gingivitis and periodontal disease at Cool Springs Laser Dentistry.
Our laser technology and enhanced comfort for all procedures has helped families in Franklin, Brentwood and Nashville Tennessee, to get healthy and stay healthy. Make an appointment today using the online scheduling tool or by calling our office.
Q&A: Non-Surgical Gum Treatment and Prevention
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is any infection that invades the connective tissue around your teeth that keeps them attached to the bone. Inflammation of your gums, known as gingivitis, is the start of periodontal disease.
If left untreated, it can spread to the bone and other supportive tissues that protect your teeth from loosening. This attack is why teeth loosen and need to be extracted.
How can I prevent periodontal disease?
Daily brushing and flossing go a long way in preventing the development of periodontal disease, along with regular visits to Cool Laser Dentistry for professional cleanings. This will help prevent plaque and bacteria build up in hard to reach places.
Dr. Rice recommends you come in once every six months, but you may need to visit more often if you already have gingivitis or periodontal disease. Here at Cool Springs Laser Dentistry, we will do a special saliva test if we see signs of gum damage or hidden disease. That way you can get treatment early without surgery, and be confident that your mouth will be healthy for life.
Why do I have gum disease if I brush and floss regularly?
Sometimes, even when you do all the right things, you can still develop periodontal disease. Harmful bacteria can be present for a long time, but may remain in a dormant state as long as your immune system is working well. A chain reaction can result in the development of gum disease, among other illnesses. Some people have a genetic predisposition to harboring the bacteria that’s responsible for periodontal disease.
Keep up with your regular teeth cleanings and checkups so if problems do arise, they’re taken care of in a timely manner, so that you don’t lose your teeth and end up needing expensive dental treatment or gum surgery.
What are the ways I can treat my gum disease?
Gum disease is easier treated when it is diagnosed early, so we can avoid painful gum surgery. Dr. Rice can treat gum disease by:
- Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) – We’ll numb the effected areas with a local anesthesia and treat it using specialized instruments, irrigants, and power time-released antibiotics.
- Laser Bacterial Reduction (LBR) – This treatment is used to treat the bacteria in the periodontal pockets.
- Laser Wavelength Assisted Periodontal Microsurgery – Dr. Rice has received training by the Academy of Clinical Technology at LVI to perform this procedure with the NDYAGG and Erbium LightWalker Laser for more severe cases.
What are complications if I don't treat my periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease affects your overall health. Along with tooth loss, it may have a connection to such conditions as:
- Heart disease
- Premature births
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Respiratory disease
- Alzheimer’s
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Knee and Hip replacement failure
The health of the teeth is paramount to the health of your entire body.
Q&A: Laser Gum Treatment
With the latest technology in laser science, we at Cool Springs Laser Dentistry have the ability to treat infected gums without the use of a scalpel or long healing times.
With the laser, Dr. Rice can eradicate the germs infecting your gums and healing starts right away. Located in Brentwood, Tennessee, it is a much more effective treatment and gets you on the road to a healthy mouth fast.
Does the laser hurt?
The laser is an intense light and can cause the area being treated to become warm, but at the healing settings that Dr. Rice uses so you won’t feel discomfort as she shines the laser on the infection and sterilizes the area.
How does laser gum treatment work?
The laser allows for reduced healing times due to its unmatched precision. The dental laser targets and removes diseased areas from the tooth’s roots. Once this portion of the treatment is complete, Dr. Rice will begin scaling off the calculus and plaque below the gum line and smoothing the roots of your teeth to prevent bacteria from re-adhering to the area.
