Periodontics - Waco, TX
A Healthier Smile Starts with Effective Gum Disease Treatment
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease might start small, but can lead to big problems if left untreated. In almost all cases, it begins with plaque buildup along the gumline, which can irritate your gums and cause swelling, bleeding, and tenderness.
Without professional care, gum disease can progress into periodontitis, a serious condition that can damage the ligaments and bone supporting tooth roots. Our skilled dentist, Dr. Michael Thrasher, has extensive experience diagnosing periodontitis and providing gum disease treatments in Waco, TX, that stop the infection in its tracks and help restore your oral health!
Signs & Symptoms of Gum Disease
- Redness along the gumline or between the teeth
- Swollen or enlarged gums that look puffy or rounded between the teeth
- Bleeding when you brush or floss
- Signs of gum infection, like pus that comes out between the gum and the tooth
- Receding gumline or teeth that look longer than they used to
- Loose or shifting teeth, or changes to your bite
- Pain or tenderness when biting or chewing
- Evidence of bone loss on your routine check-up dental x-rays
- Gum pocket measurements deeper than four millimeters
Gum Disease Treatments Are an Investment in Your Oral and Overall Health
Untreated periodontal disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss. Beyond putting your smile at risk, gum disease has also been closely linked to serious health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, certain types of cancer, arthritis, poor pregnancy outcomes, and more.
Our team at Hillcrest Dental Care has extensive experience treating all stages of gum disease, from early gingivitis treatment to advanced interventions. We also provide preventive care, personalized home routines, and regular dental visits to help you maintain a strong, healthy smile. We also offer flexible financing options to make gum disease treatments in Waco, TX, affordable because your health shouldn’t have to wait!
Our Gum Disease Treatment Options
Crown lengthening reshapes the gum and bone tissue to expose more of the natural tooth. It can be necessary if there is not enough tooth structure available for a restoration such as a dental crown or as part of a cosmetic treatment plan to improve the look of a “gummy” smile. It’s a straightforward procedure that can make a big difference in function and aesthetics.
If your gums have receded due to grinding and clenching or periodontitis, a gingival graft can help. This procedure uses tissue from another part of your mouth or a donor source to rebuild the lost gum tissue. This protects your tooth roots, reducing your risks for decay, sensitivity, and tooth loss, and enhances your smile by restoring a balanced appearance.
Scaling and root planing is a procedure to remove plaque and tartar below the gumline. By smoothing the roots and cleaning infected pockets, we give your gums the chance to heal and reattach to the teeth, helping to stop periodontal disease from progressing.
This is a critical first step in restoring your gum health and preventing further damage to the bones and ligaments that hold your teeth in place.
Frena are bands of tissue that connect your lips and tongue to the gums. If a frenum is too tight, it can cause functional issues with speaking and chewing, pull on the gums and lead to recession, or even cause the teeth to shift and create spacing issues.
A frenectomy is a quick and simple procedure to release a tight frenum, improving function and preventing other issues. It’s frequently done in early childhood, but adults can also benefit!
Gum tissue can sometimes become enlarged and overgrown. This frequently happens with braces, certain medications, or medical conditions like pregnancy or diabetes. Gingivectomy is a simple and straightforward oral surgery that allows us to restore the gums to their ideal shape. This makes the gums easier to clean by eliminating plaque traps, controlling gum disease, and helping your smile look its best.
Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure, or LANAP for short, is an advanced laser therapy that treats periodontal disease without traditional surgery. Using precise laser technology, we can remove diseased tissue and stimulate your healthy cells to encourage the regrowth of healthy gums and bone tissue. This minimally invasive periodontitis treatment reverses even severe gum disease and stabilizes oral health, all with minimal discomfort and fast healing.