Your gums are a key component of your dental health. You don’t want to neglect your gum health or your overall oral hygiene.
If you have painful, swollen, or red gums, you likely have gum disease. This is a common dental problem that impacts around half of all adults in the U.S. If not addressed, gum disease can lead to severe tooth loss and other painful symptoms.
Dr. Rudnick offers periodontal care and gum disease treatment in the Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, and Jupiter areas. Call today for assistance.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection or inflammation in the gums and other soft tissue that support and surround your teeth. Often, gum disease is caused by poor dental habits, but some people are more likely to develop gum disease than others. It can happen even if you have good oral health habits.
Gum disease happens in stages:
- Gingivitis: At first, it’s known as gingivitis, and you’ll begin to notice your gums are red and bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, it’s easy to address gum disease before bone loss occurs.
- Periodontitis: If left untreated, gum disease can progress to periodontitis. In advanced stages, you could lose your teeth and jawbone density. Once gum disease worsens past the initial stages, it’s not possible to reverse the damage done. So, seeking treatment as soon as possible is critical.
Periodontal Therapy from Rudnick Dentistry
Feel good about your healthy smile! When you visit Dr. Rudnick for gum disease treatment, he will guide you through:
Laser Dentistry for Periodontal Disease
Scaling and root planing, also known as a dental deep clean, can help your teeth in many ways, but requires a long healing period and sometimes several sessions. Laser dentistry is a new and advanced way we can help your smile during periodontal disease.
Our soft tissue laser gently removes infected tissue while stimulating growth. Since the laser instantly cauterizes the areas it touches, it prevents further infection and has much shorter recovery times than a traditional deep cleaning. Patients also report that it is a much more comfortable experience.
Take advantage of our laser dentistry in the West Palm Beach and Jupiter areas by calling us for an appointment today.
The Benefits of Laser Dentistry
Laser technology offers a modern, leading-edge alternative to traditional methods of treating gum disease. Instead of relying on scalpels or scraping tools, soft tissue lasers use focused light energy to precisely remove bacteria and infected tissue. You can experience these benefits with laser dentistry for periodontal disease.
- Greater precision in removing bacteria and diseased tissue
- Reduced discomfort during and after treatment
- Minimal bleeding and swelling
- Faster healing and recovery
- Preservation of healthy gum tissue
- Fewer follow-up appointments needed
At Rudnick Dentistry, we use laser dentistry as part of a comprehensive approach—helping you restore your oral health while preserving the elegance of your smile.
Laser Dentistry for Cosmetic Upgrades
Not only does laser dentistry work to treat periodontal disease, it also works to enhance the harmony of your smile and gums. When you receive a smile makeover or other cosmetic dentistry treatment, we can gently reshape your gums to fit new restorations or to uncover more of your teeth if your smile is hidden by gums. This is called esthetic crown lengthening.
Recovery from esthetic crown lengthening is much shorter when using a laser rather than a scalpel or dental tools.
Is Periodontal Therapy Necessary?
Yes, periodontal therapy is necessary for restoring your oral and overall health once gum disease occurs. Left untreated, this preventable dental issue can wreak havoc on your body and cause irreversible tooth and bone loss.
Signs You May Need Periodontal Therapy
Please keep an eye out for common signs that you may need periodontal care:
Red or swollen gums- Mouth soreness
- Bleeding gums
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
Red or swollen gumsIn the early stages of gum disease, some signs may be less obvious, which is why it’s so important to maintain your routine dental checkups.
If you’re overdue for a visit to the dentist, have no fear. Please schedule an appointment for a judgment-free exam at our Palm Beach office.
Why Choose Rudnick Dentistry for Your Periodontal Care?
We care deeply about our patients and their well-being. Gum disease is linked to several systemic issues, including heart disease. Our team takes periodontal disease seriously.
We also offer several amenities that make your experience easier:
- Laser Dentistry: Our laser dentistry means that your periodontal care can be more comfortable and effective, all with a shorter healing time.
- Early Detection and Imaging Technology: Detecting gum disease is the first step to treating it. We offer regular check-in appointments with imaging technology to detect periodontal disease.
- Caring Dentist and Team: Dr. Rudnick and his team are highly skilled, and want your smile’s health to improve.
- Sedation Dentistry: If you have been avoiding visiting the dentist due to anxiety, dental sedation can help ease you back into visits and make your dental deep clean more comfortable.
The Causes of Periodontal Disease
While most commonly periodontal disease is caused by poor oral health habits, there are many other things that can cause or contribute to this condition:
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Genetics and family history
- Hormonal changes
- Certain medications
- Chronic stress
- Poor nutrition
- Diabetes and other health conditions
- Teeth grinding or clenching
No matter the cause of your gum disease, our laser dentistry or dental deep cleans can help rejuvenate your smile and gums.
Pregnancy and Your Gum Health
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make your gums more sensitive and prone to inflammation, a condition often referred to as “pregnancy gingivitis.” This can lead to swelling, tenderness, and bleeding while brushing or flossing. Because gum disease has also been linked to complications like premature birth or low birth weight, it’s especially important for expecting mothers to keep up with regular dental visits and maintain excellent at-home care.
5 Tips for Preventing Gum Disease
While it’s possible to get gum disease even if you take good care of your mouth, most cases are caused by poor dental hygiene.
If you want to prevent periodontal disease, you can follow these tips:
- Brush your teeth throughout twice per day using a fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss your teeth once daily.
- Don’t smoke or consume tobacco products.
- Maintain a regular schedule of professional dental cleanings.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash.
And, if you notice signs of gum disease, such as redness, bleeding, or swelling, book an appointment with Dr. Rudnick right away. He will work with the dental team to provide education on caring for your gums.
He also offers periodontal care and maintenance. So, if you have periodontal disease, we can properly clean your teeth and gums to prevent it from worsening. We’re happy to help anyone in the West Palm Beach and Jupiter areas as well.
“One of my crowns came off. I called Dr Rudnick, and they took me right away. They cleaned it and my leftover tooth and put it back on. I have never had such good service from a dentist before. I am so lucky to have him as my dentist.”
– Donna P.
FAQs about Periodontal Care
Understand the complexity of gum disease with our answers to some common questions about gum health.
Keep Your Gums Healthy!
Gum disease can be very uncomfortable and impact both the look and functionality of your mouth. The best way to avoid gum disease is to follow good dental habits. But, if you already have gum disease, routine treatments and cleanings will prevent the spread and help you keep your teeth.
If you’re in Palm Beach, FL, or the West Palm Beach and Jupiter areas, contact Rudnick Dentistry to schedule a consultation for your gum health.
