28
Oct
Periodontal Pocket Treatment for a Beautiful, Gum Disease-free Smile
If you have a healthy smile, you rarely think about your gums. Healthy gums snugly fit over your teeth and don’t cause pain or discomfort. However, when the distance between the teeth and gingival tissues starts widening, this could be a sign of gum disease. These spaces are periodontal pockets, which can cause tooth loss if left untreated.
Are you living in Bedford, Texas, and do you suspect that you have gum disease? It would be best to have treatment immediately before the infection causes permanent damage. Periodontal disease is a severe condition, but it can easily be treated at Maegan Elam, DDS & Associates, when detected early.
How do periodontal pockets form?
When harmful bacteria are left to accumulate in your mouth, it mixes with saliva and food debris to form plaque — a clear, sticky film of bacteria. If not removed, plaque hardens into tartar which your toothbrush or dental floss can’t eliminate. You will need the help of a dentist to remove tartar during a dental cleaning.
When tartar isn’t addressed, bacteria release toxins that inflame your gums, causing gingivitis — an early stage of gum disease. Gum inflammation may result in pocket formation as gums pull away from the teeth. These periodontal pockets form perfect hiding places for bacteria, threatening the health of your jawbone and teeth.
Diagnosing and treating periodontal pockets
Beyond visually inspecting your gums, Dr. Maegan Elam measures the pocket depths using a periodontal probe. The pocket depth helps detect the presence of gum disease and how far it has progressed. If your pockets are more than 3mm deep, you might have gum disease.
While mild gum disease can be treated with diligent at-home oral hygiene, treating periodontal pockets requires a dentist’s help. A deep cleaning — scaling and root planing — removes bacteria in the deep pockets and smoothes out the roots to ensure your gingival tissues reattach your teeth. We may also recommend antibiotics to keep your infection under control.
If you don’t have significant bone loss, these may be the only treatments needed. However, you may need flap surgery and grafting services to restore your dental health if you have advanced gum disease.
Periodontal disease treatment near me in Bedford, TX
Battling gum disease in Bedford, TX? Maegan Elam, DDS & Associates provides effective periodontal care to treat gum infections at the root. Please dial (817) 283-2871 to schedule a consultation with our dental team.
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Dr. Maegan Elam is a highly sought-after dentist in Bedford with a talent for easing dental anxiety. Graduating with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Hardin-Simmons University, she worked as a dental assistant for a year before obtaining her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She is a part of the American Dental Association, the State of Texas Dental Association, and the Fort Worth District Dental Society. Dr. Elam has completed advanced training in offering oral-conscious and nitrous oxide sedation to help patients have peaceful dental experiences. She has a conservative approach to providing excellent dental care and believes in preserving natural tooth structure whenever possible.