“Periodontics” refers to care of your gums and all the structures that support your teeth. In our practice, periodontics is an important way we can help our patients stay healthy and retain all their teeth for their whole lives. 

Gum Health

We find that many of our new patients in Ballwin have not previously been educated on how essential it is to keep their gums healthy. Gum health has everything to do with how good you feel, how high your immunity is, how strong your teeth are and how healthy your entire body is. 


Were you ever educated on the fact that when the gums are infected, the bacteria causing that infection can pass to the rest of your body? Was it explained to you that diseased gums can be associated with such problems as heart disease, diabetes and even complications during pregnancy or birth? That’s why the health of your gums and all the supporting structures around your teeth is so vital. 

Examinations for Gum Disease

During your visits to our office, we will be checking for any of these signs of disease: 

 

  • Swollen, red areas in the gums
  • Bleeding while or after brushing or flossing
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Loose or shifting teeth


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If we find any of these signs, it’s important to start treatment immediately with our periodontist in Ballwin, MO, before your teeth or bone are affected. We have a number of ways we can treat this problem:

 

  • Helping our patient improve their at-home care
  • Scheduling more frequent preventative care visits
  • Removing accumulated tartar under the gums and smoothing tooth roots (called “scaling and root planing”)

 

If you notice any swollen areas or bleeding in your gums, you should consult with us immediately so we can return your whole mouth to excellent health. 

Call Now for Bleeding Gums (636) 434-1244

Frequently Asked Questions About Periodontal Disease

  • What is periodontal disease and how would I know if I have it?

    Indicators of periodontal disease include seeing blood when you brush your teeth. This is not normal and means you need to seek medical advice. Periodontal disease is serious because by the time people know that they have it, irreversible damage has often already occurred, such as bone loss in your jaw. This then attracts more bacteria, which is difficult to treat. Antibiotics do not have any effect, and the disease can only be managed until you become more sick.

  • Can periodontal disease be arrested?

    Efforts can be made to arrest periodontal disease, but it is not a guarantee. It heavily depends on patients' habits, including smoking and diabetes. It is necessary to look at the whole picture. Many patients with periodontal disease do not have a physician, but this is changing as more physicians start to refer patients with periodontal disease to dentists.

  • What are the early indicators of periodontal disease?

    Early stages of gum disease are not easily detectable as it's a silent disease. Sometimes symptoms like bad breath or spreading teeth can be indicators, but usually by the time these occur, the disease has already progressed. It is important to get regular check-ups and periodontal checks to catch the disease in its early stages.

  • Will the bones continue to melt away if you don't treat periodontal disease?

    Periodontal disease affects different people in different ways. Some people do not lose a lot of bone while others do. Some people may not lose a tooth but can have an infection that ultimately leads to the loss of a tooth. The most important thing is to ensure that you have enough jawbone for dental implants in case a tooth needs to be replaced.

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