FAQ

Gum disease is a generic term for inflammatory diseases of the support around the teeth. Plaque bacteria acts like a splinter in your finger and activate your body’s immune system. The battle between the bacteria and immune system damage the gum and bone support around your teeth. While plaque bacteria are the primary cause of gum disease other significant risk factors include genetic factors, smoking, and diabetes.

Gum recession may be a direct consequence of gum disease. Other causes of gum recession include traumatic tooth brushing, poor tooth position, bite and other related factors. It is important to understand the cause of a recession before treating it so as to best assure that the problem will not reoccur. An examination of the mouth is often necessary to determine the specific cause.

There is not currently a cure for gum disease. Like Diabetes, Hypertension, and Heart Disease, the goal of treatment is the restoration and maintenance of health.

Not necessarily, treatment of periodontal disease has advanced to the point that in many cases a person can keep their teeth for a lifetime provided the disease is treated early enough.

No. Non-surgical treatment may be all that is necessary to resolve a problem.

No. Non-surgical and surgical periodontal procedures are usually performed using local anesthetic (Novacaine) and are painless. Even after the local anesthetic wears off following periodontal surgery, our patients typically don’t require more than over-the-counter pain relievers (like Advil) taken once or twice.

Everyone’s insurance benefits are different. Visit our Insurance page for more information.

Be proactive! Even the best oral hygiene cannot reverse gum disease, so don’t ignore your dentist’s advice. Have your condition treated. The earlier your problem is diagnosed and treated, the more likely that you can keep your teeth for a lifetime.