Periodontist in Ventura

Gum Disease Treatment 

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What is Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)?

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Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection. When left on your teeth untreated this leads to the earliest form of gum disease: gingivitis. Other causes of gum disease includes smoking and chewing tobacco leading to more severe gum disease. 

 

This bacteria causes irritation and infection making the gums to become inflamed and bleed. If gingivitis is not treated, it can advance to periodontal disease. Some common symptoms of periodontal disease are: bleeding gums, bad breath, loose or shifting teeth, gums that have receded (shrunk) and make the teeth appear longer.

 

How Gum Disease Affects Your Health

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Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. Periodontal disease has also been associated to:

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• Heart disease and stroke

• Osteoporosis

• Respiratory infections

• Diabetes

• Pre-term & low birth-weight babies

• Gum recession or receding gums

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How Dr. Shapiro Can Help You

 

Dr. Shapiro, periodontist in Ventura, can help treat mild, moderate and advanced gum disease. These are some common treatments performed by Dr. Shapiro:

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• Treatment of Gum Recession: Through minimally invasive techniques, Dr. Shapiro can help stop gum recession or cover exposed roots.

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• Scaling & Root Planing (Non Surgical Periodontal Therapy): The initial periodontal treatment is typically scaling and root planing; this treatment exists to remove tartar at or below the gum line. “Scaling” clears the way for a deeper clean. “Root planing” involves cleaning plaque from below the gum line that is most often the source of periodontal disease.

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• Gingivoplasty: Also known as soft tissue re-contouring, when gums recede due to periodontitis, the teeth may appear longer; causing a “toothy” smile. Dr. Shapiro, periodontist in Ventura, can remove tissues or straighten the gum line to make the teeth look more even.​

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• Bone Grafting: Bone grafting is an excellent way to to prepare the jaw for a dental implant(s) or to regenerate lost bone support around existing teeth.

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• Flap Surgery: For more advanced gum disease and deep pockets, Dr. Shapiro may suggest flap surgery. This allows Dr. Shapiro to insure that all the calculus is removed from the roots of the teeth and the bone has the proper contours. This allows the gum and bone to heal and for the use of regenerative techniques and materials.

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• Crown Lengthening: Dr. Shapiro, periodontist in Ventura, offers crown lengthening. This is used to correct excess gum tissue. Crown lengthening exposes more of the natural tooth by reshaping or re-contouring bone and gum tissue. This treatment can be performed on a single tooth, many teeth, or the entire gum line, for a more beautiful smile.