Periodontal Treatment in Bangor, ME
One of our main concerns at Maine Family Dental Practice is preventing and treating periodontal disease. Gum disease is incredibly prevalent among adults in the United States, and it can have serious health consequences.
During your biannual dental exam, you’ll be screened for signs of periodontitis. During the rest of the year, you should schedule an appointment if you notice any symptoms of gum disease. Bangor dentist Dr. Travis Buxton can identify the early stages of gum disease, which are easily dismissed by the untrained individual.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a chronic infection of the tissues surrounding teeth. Bacteria that occur naturally in the mouth create waste products that form a film on teeth called plaque. If you’re not careful to remove plaque by practicing good dental hygiene on a daily basis, plaque can turn into harmful and hard-to-remove tartar.
The build-up of tartar can extend below the gumline, where it pushes the gum tissue away from the tooth. This creates a space – or pocket – where bacteria can further gather.
Gum disease does not only affect the gum tissue – it also causes the jaw bone in the affected area to recede away from around the tooth. The damage to the gum tissue and bone can destabilize teeth and eventually lead to tooth loss.
Gum Disease Prevention in the 04401 Area 
We want to prevent gum disease from affecting your life! Through preventative dental care such as education, regular screenings, and advice regarding your at-home care routine, we hope to keep your gums healthy.
In the event that you develop periodontitis, we are equipped to provide you with effective treatment.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Unfortunately, many gum disease cases go untreated. This may be partially due to fear of periodontal treatments. At Maine Family Dental Practice, we offer gentle treatments for every stage of periodontitis.
The proper treatment for gum disease varies by case. Many times, the earliest stages of the disease – called gingivitis – can be easily treated through improvements in your dental care routine.
For more advanced cases, we offer scaling and root planing. Scaling is a deep-cleaning procedure in which your dentist will remove plaque from beneath the surface of the gums. In the past, this process was done by hand. As an alternative to scraping away plaque with an instrument, we perform scaling with the latest technology. Our ultrasonic instrument uses vibrations and sound waves to loosen plaque and water to wash it away.
During root planing, jagged spots on your tooth’s root surface will be smoothed away so that bacteria cannot congregate in these areas. Antibiotic treatments may also be appropriate.
Schedule A Consultation with Our Dentist in Bangor Today!
Early symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gums, redness, and inflammation. If you suspect that you may have gum disease, schedule an appointment at our Bangor dental office right away! Timely and effective treatment is important for preventing serious health complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gum disease affects more than half of American adults in some form, and it can be a tricky condition to diagnose on your own since it doesn't cause much pain or very many symptoms in the beginning.
Symptoms of Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease, and if you are suffering from it, you may notice that your gums appear swollen or irritated. Other signs of gingivitis include bleeding during brushing and flossing or chronic bad breath that you can't get rid of. If you notice these signs, contact your dentist in Bangor, ME right away for a checkup since gum disease can often be treated with improvements to your home care routine and a professional cleaning.
Periodontal Treatment in Bangor, ME
Periodontitis is the more advanced stage of gum disease where you may notice symptoms like:
- Your teeth feel mobile
- Pain or tenderness when chewing
- Gums that are receding
- A metallic taste in your mouth
This stage of gum disease requires a more in-depth cleaning to remove tartar and excessive plaque buildup from below the gum line. Your dentist may also recommend antibiotic therapy to combat the infection. Severe cases of gum disease may require surgery.
Dr. Buxton is well-equipped to help you manage any stage of gum disease you may be facing. Contact Maine Family Dental today to schedule your next appointment or for more information on gum disease.
Every case of gum disease is unique, and there may be different ways to treat this condition depending on how advanced your case is. At Maine Family Dental, we offer several different treatment options so that we can treat your gums in the best manner possible.
To treat the early stages of gum disease, we may be able to make simple recommendations on ways that you can improve your oral health routine and stop gum disease before it progresses.
Scaling and Root Planing
For slightly more advanced cases, we recommend scaling and root planing. This is a deep-cleaning procedure in which your dentist will remove harmful plaque from below the surface of your gums; and then smooth away the rough surfaces on the roots of your teeth where bacteria collect.
Medication and Ultrasonix Treatment
Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may also prescribe medication to kill the bacteria in your mouth that cause periodontitis.
We offer the latest technologies to help fight your battle against gum disease, including Ultrasonix and laser gum disease treatment. These options offer the use of less invasive measures to eradicate this harmful disease from your mouth.
Contact Our 04401 Dentist Office Today!
Schedule a consultation with your Maine Family Dental dentist today. We'll evaluate the condition of your gums and give you a thoughtful recommendation regarding which treatment method might be right for you.
Periodontal (gum) disease can be tricky to diagnose on your own since there are not many signs, symptoms, or pain in the earliest stages. Since it is an infection of your gums, some of the first signs to be aware of are:
- Gums that appear red, irritated, or swollen
- Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
- Chronic halitosis, or bad breath that you can't get rid of
These are the symptoms that indicate early gum disease, or gingivitis. If you notice them, it is best to be proactive and contact your dentist right away for an examination because gingivitis can often be successfully managed with a thorough cleaning and improvements to your home care routine.
Gum Disease Treatment in Bangor, ME
During your dental exam at Maine Family Dental, Dr. Buxton will look for the following symptoms of advanced gum disease:
- Pain or tenderness when biting or chewing
- Your teeth begin to feel mobile
- Your gums are receding
- A metallic taste in your mouth
In this stage of gum disease, a deeper cleaning called scaling, and root planing is required to remove plaque and tartar buildup from below the gum line. Antibiotic therapy may also be recommended, or surgery for severe cases.
Treat Periodontitis in Bangor, ME!
No matter which stage of gum disease Bangor, ME you might be facing, Br. Buxton and his team at Maine Family Dental are well equipped to help! Give our dentist office a call today to learn more.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Travis Buxton DDS
Dr. Travis Buxton, DDS, was raised in Utah where he graduated from high school in 1996 and later married his high school sweetheart. He continued his education at Weber State University in Utah.
After graduating, he moved his growing family to Canada, where he was one of very few candidates accepted to Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry. After graduating in 2010, Dr. Buxton and his family relocated to Bangor to begin his dental career by joining Maine Family Dental Practice.
Dr. Buxton and his family fell in love with the Northeast while ...
Featured Blog Posts - Periodontal Treatment
Understanding and Preventing Gum Disease
Periodontal (gum) disease is prevalent among half of American adults in some form. What's worse is that many people are probably unaware that they have it. That's why it's so vital for your dentist in Bangor, ME to educate patients about gum disease and what they can to prevent it. Read on for some helpful tips and answers.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is best described as a chronic infection of the support system for your teeth, which are your gums and jawbone. It's caused by excess plaque buildup ...
