Gum Disease in Minneapolis & Minnetonka, MN

At Holger Dental Group, we work diligently to prevent gum disease in our patients. Gum disease is a common condition, and most adults will suffer from some form of gum disease during their lifetime. The challenge is that gum disease can lead to bone and tooth loss, making it incredibly important to prevent and treat it. Suppose you live in Minneapolis, Minnetonka, or the surrounding area. In that case, we can examine you and tell you if you are showing any signs of the condition and make recommendations for preventing it.

Causes of Gum Disease

There are several reasons that gum disease develops. The primary causes are plaque and tartar. Anything that becomes stuck between your teeth, gums, or under the gum tissue can cause irritation and swelling. Plaque is a problem everyone deals with; however, the buildup under the gums causes issues. There are other risk factors to consider like pregnancy, diabetes, and smoking, since they restrict blood flow to the gums, causing them to swell.

Ways to Prevent Gum Disease

We recommend doing what you can to prevent gum disease so you do not experience discomfort or additional health problems. One of the best ways to prevent this condition is to keep your teeth clean. At Holger Dental Group, we encourage our patients to brush their teeth two to three times a day and do so in a circular pattern, moving food particles and plaque away from the gums toward the center of the mouth. You also need to floss daily and be sure to reach down rather than stop at your gum line. Using an antiseptic mouthwash can also help kill lingering bacteria.

It would help if you cleaned your teeth at least twice per year. It is difficult to remove all the plaque at home, and tartar is too hard to remove by brushing and flossing. We can remove both plaque and tartar in our dental office and reduce your risk of gum disease. Simultaneously, we recommend that you stop smoking, keep your blood sugar under control, and drink plenty of water since this can also help improve your gum health.

Common Signs of Gum Disease

Some of the most common signs of gum disease are:

• Red and swollen gums
• Gums that bleed when brushing, flossing, or eating anything crunchy
• Teeth that appear to be getting longer since this is a sign of gum recession
• Loose teeth

If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend that you call us to schedule an examination with our dental office.

Treatment Options for Gum Disease

There are several ways to treat gum disease, and what we recommend will be based on how far the condition has progressed. To start, we typically recommend that our patients have standard teeth cleaning. If you are only at the beginning stages of the condition, that is likely all you will need to return your gums to good health. However, if the condition has progressed further, you may need a dentist to provide you with the following:

• Periodontal infection therapy. This is a therapy where chemicals are used to slow the growth of gum disease. In this case, your dentist may prescribe the use of an antiseptic mouth rinse designed to reduce or fight gum disease. Used daily, it can work to kill bacteria.
• Deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is typically conducted in four appointments. Your mouth is broken up into quadrants, with each area being cleaned on a different day. In a deep cleaning, the gums need to be pulled away from the teeth so a dentist can scrape off the plaque and tartar underneath the gum tissue. Naturally, this procedure can cause discomfort, which is why it is completed over multiple visits. However, some dentists use lasers, which can expedite the process.
• Gum grafts. If your gums have receded and too much of your teeth or roots show, a gum graft may be necessary to restore the gum tissue around the teeth. This can be done by suturing tissue from the roof of your mouth to your gums or using tissue from a donor. In both cases, the gums will be secured back around your teeth, like they were before you developed gum disease.
• Antibiotics. Your dentist will often prescribe antibiotics to be taken in combination with gum therapy. This is done to eliminate any infection that could be lingering.

Why You Could Need a Bone Graft Following Severe Gum Disease

Severe gum disease can drastically and negatively impact your oral health. As gum disease progresses, your gums will swell and then begin to recede or pull away from your tooth structure. This is problematic because the more of your teeth and roots are exposed, the more likely bacteria will begin to attack them. Simultaneously, your jawbone can also be negatively impacted and begin to lose its density.

If you suffer from bone loss, you may need a bone grafting procedure. We place synthetic bone in the area where you experienced loss during a bone graft to encourage bone growth. This can be a necessary procedure when you have experienced enough bone loss to negatively impact the health and stability of your other teeth or the appearance of your face. Whether or not this is necessary is highly dependent on what your X-rays show. However, if you identify signs of gum disease and treat it early, you will likely prevent the need for this procedure.

Schedule an Examination With Our Dental Office

Call our dental office right away if you suspect that you may have gum disease because your gums are red, swollen, or receding. At Holger Dental Group, we can examine you, know if gum disease is present, and make recommendations regarding how to treat it.

Definition of Gum Disease Terminology

Chronic Periodontitis

Chronic periodontitis is the most common form of periodontitis, involving inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth and pockets forming.

Periapical Cyst

A periapical cyst is a pathological cavity, roots of the teeth, that typically has epithelium in the lining and contains fluid or soft matter.

Periodontal Ligament

Periodontal ligaments are a group of tissue fibers that help attach the tooth to the alveolar bone, which can sustain damage from gum disease or improper oral hygiene.

Periodontal Surgery

Periodontal surgery is the treatment of extreme levels of periodontal disease that can involve multiple techniques to remove the inflamed tissue and infection before it spreads.

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease

Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection that causes lesions on the face and other symptoms due to the necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligaments, and alveolar bone.

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a serious inflammation of the gingival tissues and the periodontal membrane of the teeth that causes pain and helps form deeper gingival sulcus.

Periodontal Pocket

A periodontal pocket is a potential area of space, known as a gingival sulcus, deeper than normal and can contain bacteria that cause an infection.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planning is a non-surgical therapy that involves the removal of dental plaque in hard-to-reach places with patients who do not take proper care of their teeth.