Questions For Your Allentown Dentist
We believe that we can provide the highest quality dentistry when our patients are an active part of the decision-making process. Answering your questions isn't just a courtesy – it gives us an opportunity to explain things to you in such a way that you feel confident and understand what it means to you and the direction of your oral health care. No question is too small, and the only silly question is the one that isn't asked.
We've shared a few of the questions we hear most often below. You probably have plenty of your own, though, so please don't ever hesitate to contact our Allentown dental office, and we'll find the answers you're looking for.
Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss today. Untreated gum disease causes tooth loss because it’s an infection that attacks your gums and the bones that hold your teeth in place.
If you have gum disease, one of the first things you’ll probably notice is that your gums bleed when you brush, floss, or eat hard, crunchy foods. Other symptoms to look for are:
- Chronic bad breath that remains even after brushing or using mouthwash
- Puffy or inflamed gums that are tender to the touch
- Teeth that feel like they’re coming loose
One of the big problems with relying on noticing the signs of gum disease is that the disease can progress to severe stages without presenting any symptoms at all. This is why routine exams and cleanings are crucial – they’re the best way to catch gum disease in its early stages before too much damage has been done.
If you do have advanced gum disease, don’t worry – we offer effective treatment that can eliminate the infection and get your oral health back on track. Please call our Allentown dental office to arrange your next cleaning so we can make sure your mouth is healthy and free of disease.
In the early stages, periodontal disease can be reversed simply by reinforcing proper oral hygiene through regular brushing and flossing. At later stages, while periodontal disease can be checked by intensive treatment, the damage already done cannot be reversed.
Common Signs of Gum Disease
Some of the symptoms of gingival and periodontal disease are as follows:
- Swollen and bleeding gums - Swollen gums are an early sign of initial stages of gum disease. At this stage, a resumption of thorough oral hygiene along with a cleaning at the dental office should suffice to cure it and prevent any damage.
- Tender gums - Tenderness of gums will normally accompany their swelling due to early gum disease.
- Reddish Gums - Reddened gums are another sign of periodontal disease.
- Receding gums - Periodontal disease loosens the gums and makes them recede towards the root. Because of this, teeth look longer than normal. Part of the root becomes bare.
- Spaces between your teeth - Receding of gums causes spaces to appear between the teeth. These spaces are not between the tops but lower parts of the crowns and the bared parts of the roots.
- Pus between your teeth and gums - In later stages when infection bacteria have taken hold, pus may appear between the gums and the teeth.
- Bad breath - Diseases tissue of the gums gives off bad odor in addition to the pus.
- Bad taste in your mouth - Pus from the diseased tissue gives a bad taste in the mouth in addition to the bad odor.
- Loose teeth - This happens in advanced stages of the disease, jaw bone starts deteriorating, and the ligaments holding the teeth become weak, the teeth become loose in the sockets.
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite - Loosened teeth may move or get misaligned. The mating between upper and lower jaws is no more perfect. We say the ‘bite’ has changed.
Periodontal (gum) disease is a progressive oral condition that gradually attacks the gums around your teeth. It is caused by a buildup of bacteria-filled plaque and tartar that collects at or below the gum line. Nearly half of all US adults over age 30 have some degree of gum disease.
Gum disease treatment is essential to protect the integrity of the structures that support your tooth. Scaling and root planing at our Allentown, PA dental office is the procedure we recommend for advanced gum disease.
If we see you soon enough and catch gum disease early, treatment involves a thorough dental cleaning with our skilled hygienist and a review of correct oral hygiene skills.
Advanced Gum Disease Treatment
If you miss several appointments, gum disease has a chance to spread. Advanced gum disease requires scaling and root planing at our Allentown, PA dental office. During a deep cleaning procedure, we remove plaque and tartar from all the surfaces of your teeth above and below the gum line.
Next, we smooth the root surfaces of your teeth. Bacteria collect on rough spots, and removing them gives them one less place to hide.
Periodontal disease is a serious condition that threatens your gums and ultimately, the bone that supports your teeth. Preventive dental exams and cleanings at Evolve Dental Care are your best insurance against gum disease. Please call us today to schedule.
You may have heard about dental plaque, calculus, and tartar in TV ads. These terms also appear in health and dental hygiene books and dental blogs.
Do you know the difference between dental plaque and calculus?
In the paragraphs below, we will explain dental plaque and calculus. First, your dentist in Allentown will talk about each and their differences.
What Is Dental Plaque?
Dental plaque is the soft, sticky layer of food debris that accumulates on our teeth immediately after eating or drinking. The formation of plaque is virtually a continuous process. It starts forming the moment you finish cleaning your teeth.
Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly removes most of the plaque. However, the plaque layer thickens if we are not regular and thorough in our oral hygiene. The thick layer turns yellow if allowed to accumulate.
Dental plaque is the source of most dental and periodontal problems. Disease-causing bacteria thrive in the plaque and convert food remnants into acid.
This acid weakens the saliva's protective action and permits enamel erosion. Continued erosion leads to cavities, pain, and other dental problems, which may ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Bacteria in the plaque can also cause early gum disease, starting with inflammation of the gums. Untreated gum disease will ultimately lead to advanced gum disease, bone loss, and even loss of teeth.
It is possible that despite all your efforts, you cannot clean the plaque from your teeth thoroughly. Plaque can remain like spots on the surface or between the teeth, making it difficult for the brush or floss to clean effectively. It can also lodge along the gumline. Complete cleaning of plaque is possible through regular dental exams and professional teeth cleanings every six months.
What Is Dental Calculus?
If you're wondering about tartar vs. calculus, they are the same. Calculus is another word for tartar. If plaque is allowed to accumulate over the teeth, it hardens over time and becomes calculus or tartar. Calculus provides a safe breeding ground for harmful bacteria, which promotes gum and periodontal disease.
Calculus forms between teeth and gums, which will deepen as calculus increases.
Bacteria thrive there, aggravating gum disease to periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. In the ensuing battle, the immune system reacts and attacks the gum flesh and the jaw bone.
The result of untreated advanced periodontal disease is loosening and, ultimately, loss of teeth. It can also impact overall wellness.
Plaque vs. Calculus
Plaque is relatively fresh and soft and can be cleared with routine brushing. Calculus is the more complex form of plaque. Regular cleanings can remove calculus at the gum line at a dentist's office in Allentown, PA.
If calculus is present on the root surfaces, it can only be cleaned by a dental procedure called deep cleaning or scaling and root planing. Deep cleaning involves the removal of calculus from the teeth using ultrasonic scalers and periodontal curettes.
The tip of ultrasonic scalers vibrates at very high frequencies, which helps in plaque and calculus removal. Are you curious about dental topics? Contact our dental office in Allentown if you have further questions or would like to schedule an appointment.
Routine dental exams are an essential part of any good oral health care routine. Exams combined with a healthy diet and conscientious oral hygiene are your first line of defense against decay and infection.
What Happens At My First Dental Exam?
Every routine exam by our dentist in Allentown begins with dental charting. This involves listing and describing the health of each tooth and noting any conditions that need attention. Your chart is an integral part of your dental record because it provides us with important information that is easily accessible in one simple format.
We Offer Modern Dental Technology
We believe strongly in patient education, so we use an intraoral camera to show you problem areas. The tiny camera is guided over your teeth, and the image is immediately displayed on your chairside monitor. Understanding the need for treatment is much easier when you can see what we see!
During your dental exam, we will also examine your gums for signs of infection and note periodontal pockets that have formed around your teeth. And since we care about your well-being, every exam includes a visual screening for oral cancer.
Learn More By Reaching Out
Semi-annual dental checkups are essential if you want to enjoy a healthy smile. If it’s time for next exam, please call our dentist in Allentown to arrange a convenient appointment.
