What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a common but progressive condition that begins with subtle symptoms like redness or swelling and can advance to gum recession, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. If left untreated, it harms your smile and can impact your overall health.
At HD Prosthodontics, our prosthodontist, Dr. Benjamin Pinto, provides treatments like deep cleanings and scaling and root planing to restore gum health and protect your smile.
The Warning Signs of Gum Disease
- Bleeding when you brush or floss, or that starts at random
- Red or blue-red gums, especially at the edges and between the teeth
- Swollen, enlarged, or shiny gums
- Signs of gum infection, such as pus from under your gums
- Persistent bad breath or foul tastes in your mouth
- Receding gums or teeth that look longer than they used to
- Loose or shifting teeth or changes to your bite
- Pain or tenderness when chewing or biting
- Increased tooth sensitivity
Expert Care for Effective Gum Disease Treatments
Our prosthodontist, Dr. Benjamin Pinto, is proud to provide proven gum disease treatments to help you regain a healthy smile and protect your overall well-being. Whether you need deep cleaning, gum grafts, or advanced periodontal care, we have the expertise to restore your oral health.
Gum disease is a progressive condition, so early gingivitis treatment and regular dental cleanings is the best way to prevent irreversible damage to the ligaments and bone sockets that hold your teeth in place. However, even if it’s been years since you last saw a dentist or you’ve been struggling with periodontal disease for a long time, we can help.
Our Comprehensive Gum Disease Treatments
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a procedure to reshape excess gum tissue (and underlying bone in some cases) to expose more of the tooth. We frequently recommend crown lengthening when there is not enough tooth structure to complete other treatments like dental crowns to eliminate periodontal pockets and to make a tooth with bone loss easier to clean. Coupled with veneers or other restorations, crown lengthening is an effective way to correct a gummy smile.
Gingival Graft
If you have receding gums, a gingival graft is an effective way to restore lost tissue and prevent further recession. The procedure involves harvesting tissue from another area (usually the roof of your mouth) and using it to cover areas where the gums have moved away from their normal position. This procedure protects your tooth roots, reduces tooth sensitivity, and improves the appearance of your smile.
Scaling and Root Planing
Sometimes called “deep cleaning,” scaling and root planing is frequently the first steps in reversing periodontitis. In almost all cases, gum disease happens when bacterial plaque and hardened tartar build up on the teeth, especially when deposits develop below the gums.
Scaling and root planing is a minimally invasive way to remove plaque and tartar altogether and eliminate the source of periodontal disease. It’s an effective way to smooth the tooth roots and help gums reattach to prevent further infection.
Frenectomy
A frenum is a tissue band connecting the lips or tongue to the gums. Many people have frena that are too short or too tight. A frenectomy is a simple, straightforward procedure to release overtight frena, freeing the lips or tongue to move normally. This can help improve speech, reduce gum recession, and enhance oral function.
Gingivectomy
Chronic inflammation can cause the gums to become enlarged, creating areas where more bacteria can hide. This can happen due to untreated gingivitis, certain medications, or irritants like braces. Gingivectomy removes excess or infected gum tissue and restores a healthy gum line. This can help to reverse gum disease and improve the look of your smile.
Pinhole® Surgical Technique
This minimally invasive procedure treats gum recession without needing scalpels or sutures. Instead of harvesting and moving gum tissue as with a graft, this technique uses special instruments inserted through tiny pinholes in the gums to reposition tissue, restoring a healthier gumline. This cutting-edge, predictable approach has high success rates with significantly less discomfort.
Osseous Surgery
Osseous surgery reshapes and smooths the bone around teeth damaged by gum disease. The goal is to eliminate deep gum pockets and create a healthier environment where the gums can better attach to the teeth. This helps prevent further bone loss, reduces infection risk, and improves the long-term stability of the teeth.
Periodontal Maintenance
We offer periodontal maintenance to help you protect your gums and oral health after gum disease treatment. These visits are scheduled more frequently than regular cleanings and focus on removing plaque, tartar, and bacteria from above and below the gumline. By keeping the gums healthy and monitoring for signs of infection, periodontal maintenance helps prevent disease from returning and supports long-term results.
Your Gums Deserve Expert Care.
Schedule your consultation for gum disease treatment in Victorville, CA, today!
