Gum Disease Therapy

Burleson, Texas

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a common condition in adults that impacts their oral health and general well-being. Because it rarely causes pain in its early stages, it often goes untreated until it has advanced. The longer gum disease goes unaddressed, the more difficult it becomes to manage and the greater the risk to the teeth and their supporting structures.

At My Burleson Dentist, we screen for gum disease at every exam. If we detect early signs of gum inflammation or infection, we will recommend prompt treatment to prevent the condition from progressing. Gum disease is manageable with the right care and consistent attention. We invite you to visit our Burleson practice to get started today.

Our Treatments

Treating gum disease isn't just about saving teeth. It's about protecting your health.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an active infection that affects the gum tissue, ligaments, and bone supporting your teeth. It starts as gingivitis, an inflammation and irritation of the gum tissue, and can advance to a serious condition known as periodontitis without treatment.

As the condition progresses, the gum tissue begins to pull away from the teeth, creating deep pockets where bacteria accumulate and continue to destroy the bone and structures that support your teeth. While periodontitis is today's leading cause of tooth loss in adults, it can be managed effectively with the right care.

How Does Your Gum Health Impact Your Health?

Did you know that your gum health is connected to your systemic health? That’s because the bacteria involved in gum infections can enter the bloodstream and lead to inflammatory processes throughout the body. Research has established a strong link between active gum disease and serious health concerns, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes complications, respiratory disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. That’s another reason our team at My Burleson Dentist is serious about your gum health.

How Is Periodontal Disease Treated?

The ideal treatment for periodontal disease will depend on the extent of the inflammation and infection. The following is a look at some of the treatments we offer:

Scaling and Root Planing: The first line of treatment for gum disease is a non-surgical procedure known as scaling and root planing (SRP). The deep dental cleaning involves gently and thoroughly removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and gumline, followed by removing bacterial deposits, calculus, and toxins from your tooth root surfaces to support healing. After scaling and root planing, many patients see significant improvement in their gum health.

ARESTIN Antibiotic Therapy: In some cases, we recommend ARESTIN, a locally delivered antibiotic that we place directly into your periodontal pockets after scaling and root planing. ARESTIN releases minocycline microspheres at the site of the infection over an extended period, targeting the specific bacteria responsible for the infection at their source.

What Is Periodontal Maintenance?

Once gum disease progresses past its earlier stages, it can't be reversed. However, regular care can help keep it from wreaking havoc on your oral health. After treatment, we typically recommend periodontal maintenance visits every 3 to 4 months to help maintain your gum health. During your appointments, we will clean your teeth, monitor your gum health, and intervene, if needed, to keep the infection in check.

A critical component of your periodontal maintenance plan is a meticulous home oral hygiene routine. Our team may recommend using a water flosser for a more effective cleaning experience. We are also happy to demonstrate effective brushing and flossing techniques and pinpoint areas that need a little extra care to help you maintain your gum health between visits.