If you have bleeding or swollen gums, this is often the first sign of early gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque, a naturally-occurring sticky film containing bacteria that builds up on your teeth and causes inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue. Although you can’t change some gum disease risk factors (including your age, genetics, type 1 diabetes and hormonal changes), the #1 cause of periodontal disease is actually completely preventable: inadequate brushing and flossing! You can also follow a healthier diet and stop smoking, since these are both significant factors (plus, these changes will have many benefits beyond gum health). When left untreated, gum disease progresses and causes deep periodontal pockets to form.
At ReNew Dental Care, our dentist Dr. Jewel Landy has advanced periodontal training, so you can receive gentler laser gum disease treatment in Hamilton, Bermuda, without the need to see a specialist.
Without treatment, periodontitis attacks the bone and connective tissue supporting your teeth and can lead to tooth loss. Gum disease has also been linked to systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, several types of cancer in men, and complications in diabetic patients. At ReNew Dental Care, our dentist Dr. Jewel Landy has advanced periodontal training, so you can receive gentler laser gum disease treatment in Hamilton, Bermuda, without the need to see a specialist.
The great news is that gum disease is both curable in earlier stages and preventable! Proper brushing and flossing, as well as regular professional teeth cleanings and checkups, are essential for protecting your smile. If you do need periodontal care, we provide multiple treatments for gum disease in Hamilton, Bermuda, based on its stage and severity. Your consultation includes an oral examination to see if your gums are inflamed. Dr. Landy will also use a tiny ruler called a “probe” to check for and measure any pockets around your teeth, and she’ll ask about your medical history to identify conditions or risk factors that may be contributing to your gum disease.
Although the use of minimally invasive lasers enables the majority of our patients to be treated with just a local anesthetic, a few procedures may require scalpels and sutures. Depending on your treatment and anxiety level, calming sedation dentistry can help you to relax. With proper treatment, maintenance and good oral health habits, gum disease doesn’t have to damage your smile ever again. A smile free of bacteria and infection will help you keep your natural teeth and enjoy an overall healthier lifestyle!
Scaling and root planing in Hamilton, Bermuda is a nonsurgical gum disease treatment that removes plaque and tartar from the root surfaces below your gum line. Under a local anaesthetic, we use ultrasonic and specialized hand tools to carefully remove plaque and tartar buildup from your tooth roots. Then we smooth the tooth surfaces to encourage healthy tissue reattachment and protect your gums from reinfection.
Once gum disease has been thoroughly treated, periodontal maintenance is often required to ensure it doesn’t return. This procedure is completed every three to four months and involves deep cleaning your teeth at and below the gum line to remove bacteria and plaque that have accumulated. These deep cleanings replace your regularly scheduled hygiene appointments.
Osseous surgery, also called “pocket reduction surgery,” may be necessary when nonsurgical scaling and root planning doesn’t stop the advance of bacteria. After the area is numbed, Dr. Landy folds your gum tissue back and away from your tooth or teeth to expose any diseased root surfaces, then remove hardened bacterial deposits. Next, your tooth is smoothed and reshaped and the bone is recontoured to eliminate periodontal pockets. After gum tissue is put back into place and sutured closed, a protective dressing is placed over the area, which usually stays in place for a few days.
If bacteria form around a dental implant, this can lead to peri-implantitis, a serious infection similar to gum disease. Early symptoms include swollen gums and tenderness in your mouth. First, we use a probe to determine the degree of excessive pocket depth around the dental implant. We then use a laser to vaporize bacteria, diseased tissue, pathologic proteins and titanium post contaminants in soft tissue. Next, we remove surface growth with ultrasonic scaler tips and, if necessary, modify your impacted bone and bite. The laser forms a stable fibrin blood clot containing stem cells from the bone, which creates a secure enclosure to protect the area from getting reinfected.
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