Periodontal Disease in Gainesville, GA

Gum (periodontal) disease is a condition of inflammation in the gums, which can cause serious harm to your oral health. There are several stages of periodontal disease that range from mild to advanced. The very first phase is gingivitis, which is brought on by a plaque buildup under the gumline. You may see your gums bleed a little when you brush your teeth. Without treatment, gingivitis may develop into the next phase, called periodontitis, which impacts the fibers and bone that support your tooth roots. Advanced periodontitis is the final phase of periodontal disease, which may cause your teeth to become loose or even fall out. To treat gum disease, our office at Patrick B. Toms, D.M.D. provides periodontal treatments based on the severity of the disease, such as injections of antibiotics, scaling and root planing, gum surgery, as well as extractions. When you have symptoms of periodontal infection, get in touch with our office in Gainesville, GA to schedule an examination with general dentist Dr. Patrick B. Toms.

The earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is not easy to discover by yourself, which is the reason why it's very important to schedule yearly dental examinations at Patrick B. Toms, D.M.D. This provides Dr. Toms a chance to check your gums so he can recognize and address the problem before it affects your mouth and general health. As periodontal disease gets worse, signs will include swollen or red gums, bleeding due to regular flossing and brushing, a separated or receded gumline, and chronic halitosis (bad breath). At the subsequent phases of periodontal disease, you can also feel pain when chewing and sensitivity to cold and hot foods. It's necessary to schedule an appointment if you're seeing any of these signs, so that the disease can be treated before it spreads.

Treatment for periodontal disease will be based on the severity of the disease. If Dr. Toms determines you have periodontal disease, He will discuss his suggestions for your treatment plan. In cases caught early, scaling and root planing (SRP) is usually done to clean out your gum pockets. In more serious cases, antibiotics can be taken along with numerous SRP procedures. Severe cases of gum disease will typically require gum surgery like pocket reduction or gum grafting.

Based upon the stage of gum disease and treatment program, your recovery period will be different. You might need to schedule multiple appointments in Patrick B. Toms, D.M.D. to completely treat your periodontal disease. After your dental health is restored, you should continue attending regular dental exams and cleanings at Patrick B. Toms, D.M.D. You should also maintain a daily home dental hygiene regimen, including flossing and brushing. Dr. Toms may suggest an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste reduce your chance of re-developing periodontal disease.

The cost of gum disease therapy will vary depending upon the seriousness of the illness as well as the processes required. If you are using dental insurance, then our office will talk to your insurance provider to ascertain what they pay and if there will be any additional expenses. For patients with no insurance, Patrick B. Toms, D.M.D. takes many payments and we will be able to help you to find medical financing. Questions about costs? Please speak to Dr. Toms through your consultation. Not going to the dentist due to fiscal concerns can lead to larger problems and much more costly therapies.

Periodontal disease will continue to progress if you do not get the proper therapy, so it is important to get expert help when any signs occur. At Patrick B. Toms, D.M.D., we work with you to renew your gums and avoid future reoccurrence of the disease. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Toms, get in touch with our office in Gainesville, GA.