5 Common Causes of Cavities
When you schedule your routine family dental care, we know that the last thing you want is a cavity or other dental problem. But cavities can be caused by different things, and sometimes you can’t a…Read More
Preventative Dental Care
GOOD ORAL HYGIENE SUPPORTS OVERALL HEALTH.
Studies show millions of Americans are not aware of the direct connection between great oral health and overall vitality. Choose to support your health by visiting our family dentistry clinic on a regular basis. Let our Seattle dentist help prevent dental cavities, periodontal disease, bad breath and more. It’s a pretty small investment in habits that help you for the rest of your life!
Dr. Singh is considered one of the top dentists in the Seattle area and is passionate about helping the Seattle community by restoring dental function to improve patient’s health, confidence and appeal through preventative services.
Make an appointment for top-quality dental care in our office today.
NORMAL BONE LEVEL
MODERATE BONE LOSS
Additional Periodontal Information:
Periodontal or gum disease is an infection of the tissue that support the teeth. Your teeth are supported by gum tissue, called gingiva, and connective fibers called periodontal ligament that anchor the tooth root into its socket, and bone.
During your check-up we will examine your gums and bone level, this is called periodontal examination. We will gently measure the depth of the sulcus surrounding each tooth. The healthy sulcus depth is usually 3mm or less. Periodontal Disease causes the sulcus to deepen into a pocket. A periodontal probe measures the depth of the pockets, the more severe the disease the deeper the pocket. Dental x-rays are used to evaluate the amount of bone supporting the teeth.
What causes periodontal disease? The cause of periodontal disease is the sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth called plaque, and is made mostly of bacteria. Some of these bacteria produce toxins that can damage the attachment of the gums, periodontal ligament, and bone. Once bone is lost it never grows back.
The treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. The first step usually is a thorough cleaning that includes scaling and root planning around the teeth. The goal of root planning is to eliminate the source of periodontal infection, by removing plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from the root surfaces. Once the source of infection is removed your gums begin to heal, as they heal your gums will tighten around the teeth.
Home care is the key to keeping this healing process going. We will give you the tools and techniques to do it as part of your treatment. With proper gum care, these tissues can help you keep your smile for lifetime.