Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it usually develops with no pain at all. At Western Piedmont Dental, serving Connelly Springs and Rutherford College, NC, we screen every patient for it at every visit, because caught early, gum disease is manageable, and catching it early is what saves teeth.
Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis, gum inflammation from bacterial plaque along the gum line. At this stage it is fully reversible with cleaning and better home care. The problem is that it rarely hurts, so it is easy to ignore.
Left untreated, it advances to periodontitis, where the infection spreads below the gum line and destroys the bone holding your teeth in place. That bone loss is permanent. This is why we screen for gum disease at every visit, finding it early is the difference between a simple cleaning and losing teeth.
From screening and diagnosis to deep cleaning and ongoing maintenance, we treat gum disease at every stage at our Connelly Springs office, an easy drive from Rutherford College and Valdese.
Because gum disease is usually painless, screening is the only way to catch it early. We check your gums and measure pocket depths at every checkup, so we can act while the problem is still reversible.
Vigilant screening, effective treatment, and a focus on saving teeth before disease takes hold.
We screen for gum disease at every single visit, because finding it early, while it is still reversible, is what keeps it from ever costing you a tooth.
From scaling and root planing to ongoing maintenance, we treat gum disease thoroughly and track your healing to make sure it is working.
Dr. Sam, recipient of the Russell W. Bunting Award, leads a practice that treats gum health as fundamental to your overall health, not an afterthought.
Gum disease is linked to heart disease and diabetes. We coordinate with your medical care when it matters and treat your mouth as part of your overall health.
Most dental insurance plans cover scaling and root planing and periodontal maintenance as non-surgical treatment, typically at 50 to 80 percent after deductible. Our front desk verifies your coverage before treatment. Flexible payment options are available for patients without insurance.
Treatment depends on the stage, but here is the general path.
We measure the pockets between your teeth and gums and take X-rays to assess bone levels, giving us an exact picture of the disease.
For early to moderate disease, we deep-clean the root surfaces below the gum line under local anesthesia, removing the bacteria driving the infection.
Four to six weeks later, we re-measure the pockets to confirm the gums are healing and decide if any further treatment is needed.
We move you to a three to four month cleaning schedule to keep bacteria in check, because they repopulate pockets within about three months.
Periodontal disease is not just a dental problem. Research has linked untreated gum disease to a higher risk of heart disease, poorer blood sugar control in people with diabetes, complications in pregnancy, and respiratory issues. The chronic inflammation and bacteria involved affect the body well beyond the mouth.
This connection runs both ways, diabetes makes gum disease worse, and gum disease makes diabetes harder to control. Treating one helps the other. That is why we treat gum health as part of your overall health, not a separate silo.
For patients with diabetes, heart conditions, or who are pregnant, we coordinate with your medical providers when gum disease is present, so your care is joined up rather than fragmented.
Gum disease is linked to higher cardiovascular risk.
Gum disease and blood sugar control affect each other directly.
Untreated gum disease is linked to pregnancy complications.
Our office at 560 Malcolm Blvd, Connelly Springs, NC 28612 screens for and treats gum disease for patients throughout Burke County including Connelly Springs, Rutherford College, Valdese, Drexel, Morganton, Glen Alpine, and Hildebran. Call us to book an evaluation.
Have a question we haven't covered? We're happy to help.
Call us at (828) 874-3678 and our friendly front desk will walk you through it.
(828) 874-3678Gingivitis, the early stage, is fully reversible. Periodontitis, where bone loss has occurred, is not reversible but is highly manageable. With treatment and consistent maintenance, it can be stopped and your teeth kept for life.
Often not until it is advanced, which is exactly why it is dangerous. Bleeding gums when brushing is an early warning sign worth reporting. A professional screening is the only reliable way to detect it early.
For most cases, scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning of the root surfaces below the gum line under local anesthesia. We then move you to a more frequent maintenance schedule to keep it under control.
Scaling and root planing is done under local anesthesia, so it should not hurt. Some soreness for a few days afterward is normal and easily managed.
After treatment, every three to four months rather than the usual six. Bacteria repopulate the pockets within about three months, so this interval is necessary to keep the disease from returning.
Yes, it is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. As the supporting bone is destroyed, teeth loosen and are eventually lost. Caught and treated early, this is entirely preventable.
Treatments connected to gum disease care at our Connelly Springs office, serving Rutherford College and Burke County.
Whether you have a dental concern or simply want to ensure optimal oral health, our professional, courteous staff is here to help. We will get back to you within one business day.
