Periodontal Procedures in El Paso

El Paso Family Dental provides periodontal procedures in El Paso, TX. Call 915-585-2020 to learn more and schedule an appointment.

What Is Periodontics?

Periodontics is the field of dentistry that is concerned with the support structures for the teeth, primarily the gums. Periodontal tissue is the official name for the gum tissue that helps to hold the teeth in place. The most common condition affecting the gum is periodontal disease, better known as gum disease. Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums caused by plaque and calculus that accumulate on the teeth. Periodontics primarily treats gum disease and the resulting damage it causes.

Benefits of Periodontics

Periodontics provides many oral and dental health benefits:

Treat gum disease. Periodontal care can eliminate the source of gum disease and treat the infection.
Prevent gum disease. Periodontal maintenance prevents gum disease from recurring after treatment.
Repair damage caused by gum disease. Periodontics also includes procedures to repair damage to the gums and jaw bone caused by gum disease.
Improve support for the teeth. Periodontal care improves the support structures for the teeth, preventing teeth from loosening and keeping them in place.

Learn More about Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Maintenance Program

Home care is an extremely important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but even excellent home care cannot prevent bacteria and plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden, becoming calculus. We will recommend a periodontal maintenance program that is best for you based on how quickly you develop calculus and your past and current periodontal health. During your maintenance visits, we will perform an oral examination as well as a dental cleaning.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. During the scaling process, specialized dental instruments are used to remove dental plaque and calculus from beneath the gums. Planing is the procedure used to smooth the tooth’s root after the scaling process. Root planing helps the gums heal and reattach themselves to a cleaner and smoother root surface.

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Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is commonly used to expose more tooth structure, crown lengthening involves the removal of gum tissue and/or bone to expose more of a tooth’s structure.

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Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is the replacement or enhancement of bone around teeth. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone collapses. Bone grafting is performed to reverse bone loss or enhance bone. The bone can be taken from parts of the body or from synthetic material. Bone grafting allows for proper support of dental implants or prostheses.

Why Choose El Paso Family Dental?

We believe that having healthy support structures for your teeth is just as important as the health of your teeth. Your convenience is a top priority of ours, which is why we provide in-house periodontal services rather than referring you to a periodontist. We create an individualized plan and schedule for periodontal maintenance that will eliminate gum disease at the source and keep it from recurring.

Frequently Asked Questions About Periodontal Care

What is the best way to prevent periodontal disease?

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day will go a long way toward preventing gum disease. These habits remove plaque from the surface of your teeth and the spaces between your teeth before it can harden in calculus. It also helps to go to the dentist every 6 months for professional teeth cleaning.

Why does calculus cause gum disease?

When plaque is not removed from the teeth it hardens into calculus, which is much more difficult to remove. It also contains mature bacteria that are more likely to infect the gum tissue.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Common symptoms of gum disease include red and swollen gum tissue, bleeding gums, abscesses on the gums, bad breath, and loose or missing teeth. If you notice any of these symptoms, call us to schedule an appointment.

What happens if gum disease is not treated?

If gum disease goes too long without treatment, your teeth may become loose and even fall out. In many cases these teeth can’t be saved and will need to be replaced. You can save a lot of time and money by getting treatment for gum disease at the first sign.

Will gum disease clear up on its own?

It is rare for gum disease to simply go away without treatment. Improving your dental hygiene habits may help, but once the infection has set in you will most likely need professional treatment.

How does a nutritious diet and avoiding tobacco affect periodontal health?

A nutritious diet and abstaining from tobacco have a significant impact on maintaining optimal periodontal health. By consuming a well-balanced diet, filled with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, you provide your body with the necessary tools to keep your gums and teeth in the best shape possible. This means incorporating a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and dairy products into your meals.

A diet rich in these nutritious foods helps strengthen your immune system, allowing your body to effectively fight off gum diseases and infections. Adequate intake of vitamins like vitamin C plays a crucial role in collagen production, promoting healthy gums and preventing gum bleeding. Similarly, consuming sufficient calcium from sources like dairy products helps maintain the strength and integrity of your teeth and jawbones.

On the other hand, avoiding tobacco in all forms is vital for preserving periodontal health. Smoking or using tobacco products increases the risk of gum disease, tooth loss, and other oral health problems. Tobacco use not only weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections, but it also reduces blood flow to the gums, hindering their ability to heal and regenerate.

By embracing a nutritious diet and eliminating tobacco, you give yourself the best chance of keeping your periodontal health at its maximum strength. These healthy lifestyle choices not only help in preventing gum diseases but also improve the overall health and longevity of your teeth.