Periodontal Care & Hygiene

by Katy Dentist Dr. Barker

You may think of hygiene visits as just regular cleanings and exams, but we see them as opportunities to stop periodontal problems in their tracks.

Why are healthy gums and bones important?

Your gums are the foundation for a healthy, beautiful smile. Without healthy gums and bone, beautiful teeth become an after-thought. By establishing healthy gums as a first step to complete oral health, we help ensure longer lasting restorations. Proper care of periodontal problems is how we begin dental treatments with our new patients.

It is surprising to many, but more people lose teeth from periodontal disease than cavities. We want your restorative treatments to be the best they can be, and healthy gums and bone are critical in achieving this lasting result. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease have been linked to serious health problems such as heart diseases, poor circulation, strokes, premature and low birth-weight babies, Alzheimer’s and even some forms of cancer. When we treat periodontal disease, our concern is for your overall health, not just your teeth.

How prevalent is periodontal disease?

More than 85 percent of people have some level of periodontal or gum disease. Often, it is misdiagnosed or simply ignored. We use our training and technology to diagnose and treat periodontal disease before it becomes a major threat to your health.

What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?

There often are no symptoms. Gums can recede, leaving teeth vulnerable to decay, abscesses and tooth loss – all without any bleeding or tenderness. But many people have at least minor symptoms, which can include the following:

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Puffiness or tenderness of the gums
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Loose-feeling teeth

What advanced methods are available to treat periodontal disease?

A variety of new technologies, such as ultrasonic scalers, make the treatment of this disease more thorough and comfortable than ever before. We can apply antibiotics directly to gums to help kill bacteria. Soft tissue diode lasers can aid in the treatment of periodontal disease, not to mention making the treatment more comfortable. In short, this disease is treatable, even at an advanced stage, to help you keep your teeth and improve your health. In fact, with the advancements made in laser therapy, we can treat periodontal pockets and even stimulate new bone growth without surgery and without pain. Laser periodontal treatment has proven to be extremely effective for most patients without any of the drawbacks of conventional surgical treatment.

Ensuring your dental health and well-being is the goal of our team at Barker Aesthetic Dentistry. Please call our office for a consultation and let us put you on track for a healthy, beautiful smile.

Periodontal care and advanced hygiene are giving our clients the foundation for a lasting, beautiful smile... at the office of LVI-trained Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. Brad Barker; serving the communities of Katy, Sugar Land and the greater Houston, Texas area.