Gums Form the Essential Foundation for Your Teeth
Periodontal disease is a common oral infection affecting the tissues surrounding and supporting your teeth. Called gingivitis in its early stages, gum disease is linked to excessive harmful bacteria (found in plaque) that causes swollen and bleeding soft tissue. Gum disease can lead to a gum infection, periodontitis, and functional, cosmetic, and systemic health issues that negatively impact your quality of life.
When plaque is left to accumulate on your teeth, it hardens into tartar and releases bacterial toxins that irritate gum tissue, causing them to form periodontal pockets. At Clovis Family Dentistry, our dentist has specialized training in treating early to advanced gum disease and restoring lost tissue, bone, and teeth. We aim to deliver gentle periodontal disease treatment in Clovis, CA, that restores oral health and ensures gum disease doesn’t impact your pearly whites and life!
Gum Disease Warning Signs
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Painful chewing/eating
- Loose or sensitive teeth
- Gums that have pulled away from teeth
- A change in bite or the fit of dentures
Treating Gum Disease is About More Than Your Smile
Our team urges you to schedule gingivitis treatment in Clovis, CA, before gum disease advances and wreaks havoc on your teeth and the rest of your body! In advanced stages of gum disease, oral bacteria can infiltrate the bloodstream, leading to systemic infections and worsening symptoms if you have diabetes, respiratory disease, or heart disease. With targeted and effective gum disease treatment at Clovis Family Dentistry, you can prevent tooth loss and enjoy a more comfortable and healthy life!
Personalized Gum Disease Treatments
Scaling and Root Planing
This two-part procedure is typically the first-line gum disease treatment in Clovis, CA. During scaling, our dentist uses an ultrasonic scaler to remove tartar and plaque on tooth surfaces and irrigate below your gum line with an antimicrobial rinse to help reduce bacteria. During root planning, the tooth root surfaces are smoothed to promote healing and help prevent bacteria from accumulating in the future.
Crown Lengthening
During this procedure, your gums are reshaped at the base of the affected tooth to expose more of its surface. Crown lengthening may be necessary to uncover adequate tooth structure to place a dental crown. Excess gum tissue and bone are removed to resolve gummy smiles to create a symmetrical gum line and balanced tooth-to-gum ratio.
Gingival Grafts
During gum grafting for advanced cases of gum recession, damaged or diseased gum tissue is surgically removed, and sections of healthy gum tissue are grafted in place with sutures to restore the impacted areas. The grafts are created from a small amount of healthy soft tissue from the roof of your mouth or another donor source. Gum grafts help restore protective function, health, and aesthetics to gum tissue.
Gingivectomy
Soft tissue damaged by gum disease pulls away from your teeth, leaving deep periodontal pockets that trap plaque and bacteria. During a gingivectomy, damaged and loose tissue is removed, and the pockets are cleaned, enabling healthy gums to reattach to your teeth. Restoring the health of your gums ensures a tight seal that effectively blocks bacteria from inflicting future damage.
Frenectomy
The frenum is the tissue at the top of your mouth that connects gums to your lip, while in the lower mouth, it’s located between the base of the tongue and the floor of your mouth. Removing excess frenum from the upper gums (lip-tie surgery) can prevent gaps in the front teeth and associated orthodontic problems. Loosening frenum tissue under the tongue (tongue-tie surgery) allows better mobility and prevents related speech problems in children.
The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique
This scalpel-free, suture-free procedure provides a gentler approach to treating gum recession than traditional gum grafting. With a needle, our dentist makes a small hole in your gum tissue, then uses specially designed instruments to loosen and guide gum tissue to cover the exposed root structure. With this minimally invasive gum recession technique, you’ll experience reduced postoperative symptoms such as pain, swelling, and bleeding.
