What is Gum Disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease is an infection of the teeth's supporting tissues. Poor oral hygiene habits typically cause plaque to build up on the teeth and harden, eventually affecting the gums.
If left untreated, gum disease can lead to a variety of oral health issues including inflamed and bleeding gums, a receding gum line, bacteria-filled pockets between the teeth and gums, and eventual bone loss.
Meet Our Periodontal Specialists
Dr. Jennifer Kushner is a periodontist in Bowmanville. She offers treatment for gum disease and cosmetic gum procedures. She can also place dental implants.
Meet Dr. KushnerGum Disease Therapy
Periodontal treatment depends on the type and severity. Our dentists will work with you to create a treatment plan based on your particular case.
Following the completion of your periodontal treatment, our dental team will recommend that you have regular dental examinations and preventive therapy, usually around four times a year.
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Preventive Gum Therapy
If the disease is caught in the early stages, preventive therapy will be recommended.
Regular hygiene cleanings and exams are important for maintaining the health of your gums.
By practicing good oral hygiene at home and eating a balanced diet, you can also significantly reduce your chances of ever getting gum disease.
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Non-Surgical Gum Therapy
For patients with mild gum disease, a deep cleaning performed by a dental hygienist may be enough to reverse it.
The dental hygienist will scrape away the plaque and tartar around and below the gum line, and smooth out any rough areas left behind through a process called scaling and root planing.
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Surgical Gum Therapy
For patients with more advanced forms of gum disease, more invasive surgical treatments may be necessary to reverse it.
There are a few different types of surgical gum therapy such as gum grafting and bone grafting.
Cosmetic Gum Therapy
If your gums rest too low or too high on your teeth and you are unhappy with your smile, you may be a candidate for gum grafting surgery. This cosmetic dental procedure may be able to even out a gum line and reduce the perceived length of the teeth to try and give you a smile you can be proud of.
Placing Dental Implants
Periodontics also includes the placement of dental implants beneath the gum line as part of the process to replace missing teeth. Once a dental implant is placed, the gums have healed, and a tooth replacement is added, this procedure can provide several oral health benefits.