Among the most common dental treatments for adults is gum disease treatment. Unfortunately, in the U.S. alone, nearly half of all adults 30 or older have some level of gum disease. While only a small percentage see gum disease in its advanced stages. Fortunately, there are options for all patients struggling with gum disease. And, if you’ve already taken the first step in visiting the dentist. Depending on what you’ll need to get a healthier smile, there are plenty of options available to move forward from gum disease.

Unsure about whether you have gum disease? Fortunately, there are a few key signs and symptoms of gum disease that you can see before a trip to the dentist. These include bad breath, redness and swelling around the gums, bleeding gums, pain while chewing, loose teeth or gaping gums, sensitive teeth, spaces between teeth, and even changes in bite or fit in dentures. Seeing a dentist for these symptoms will insure that you get the best gum disease therapy according to your needs.

Non-surgical treatments for gum disease treatment include scaling, root planing, and antibiotics. Scaling and root planing is essential a deep cleaning. Twice a year, we go to the dentist for a routine cleaning, but if the signs of gum disease are present, your dentist will recommend a deep cleaning. The procedure reaches deep beneath the gum line to remove plaque and tartar building on the root surfaces. If there are rough spots on the roots, they will be smoothed out during this process. A deep cleaning cleans out harmful bacteria and seeks to prevent it from coming back. Antibiotics are another solution.

Surgical treatments for advanced stages of gum disease include pocket reduction surgery, and guided tissue regeneration. Pocket reduction surgery is a process in which the dentist creates incisions along the gum line, temporarily moving the gums away from your teeth. Upon seeing the roots, any tartar building can be removed and root surfaces cleaned. In guided tissue regeneration, a membrane is placed in the damaged areas so your body has time to naturally regenerate bone around the teeth.

If you suspect that you have gum disease at any stage, you need to see a qualified dentist in Colorado. However, even if you don’t, remember the importance of seeing your dentist on a regular basis. Routine check ups can prevent future gum disease and keep it from reaching advanced stages.