Gum Disease Treatment Westchester

Caring for your gums is as important as caring for your teeth. Gum disease, when left untreated, can wreak havoc on your oral health and lead to tooth loss. Gum disease is diagnosed through a dental exam, where the dentist checks for gum inflammation, pocket depth, and any signs of bleeding. X-rays may be used to detect bone loss around teeth. When gum disease is caught early, treatment is fairly simple and affordable. When it has advanced to the stage of periodontal disease, you will need expert treatment from a highly trained periodontist.

While Westchester dentist, Dr. Steven Brisman at Chappaqua Dentistry does perform some gum disease treatment, for the more advanced cases, patients are sometimes referred to his Scarsdale practice where an experienced periodontist (gum specialist) is available to handle the most serious gum issues.

Some of the most common treatments include:

• Debridement: This procedure is essential for patients with a significant build-up of plaque and tartar, especially in cases where this accumulation obscures the teeth and gums. Debridement involves meticulously removing these deposits, allowing for a clearer evaluation and more effective subsequent periodontal treatments.
• Root scaling and planning: This involves removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line, then smoothing the tooth roots to prevent further bacterial buildup.
• Osseous surgery: This surgical procedure is performed by reshaping the bone supporting your teeth. It’s typically needed when the bone has irregularities, often caused by periodontal disease, which create areas where bacteria can thrive. The surgery involves smoothing and sculpting the bone to a more regular contour.
• Gum and soft tissue grafts: These procedures address gum recession and loss of gum tissue. They involve transplanting healthy gum tissue from another part of the mouth to the affected area, promoting regeneration and providing more gum coverage to exposed roots. This can enhance both the function and aesthetics of your gums.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique™ adds collagen material to areas of gum recession—a simple, suture-free, minimally invasive procedure that is highly effective. Treatments are generally safe but may include risks like temporary sensitivity, infection, or bleeding, which dental professionals carefully manage.

If you get gum disease treatment in Westchester in the early stages, you will likely never have to experience the more involved gum treatment procedures that involve surgery. Dr. Brisman is a Westchester dentist who can spot the early stages and take action right away to stop it in its tracks. If you do your part at home and follow Dr. Brisman’s instructions on gum care, you may never need to see our Scarsdale periodontist.

Stages of Gum Disease

There are three stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis may manifest itself with bleeding gums while brushing and flossing. You may notice red, swollen gums, or you may have no symptoms at all. Your Westchester dentist, Dr. Brisman, can spot gingivitis even in its earliest stages when you may not even realize you have it. That is just one of the reasons twice-yearly visits are crucial to oral health.

Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis is left untreated. Plaque will accumulate and will reach the area below your gumline. Plaque produces toxins that cause gum inflammation, pain, and redness. When periodontitis occurs, your gums may recede, causing gaps around your teeth. When left untreated, those gaps become larger and cause noticeable separations between your gums and teeth. Your teeth will loosen as the infection invades the bone supporting your teeth.

Advanced periodontitis is a very serious result of untreated gum disease. Your teeth may become so loose they will fall out, your gums will bleed, and your teeth will be very sensitive to hot and cold food and drinks because your nerves have been exposed. When this occurs, you must see a periodontist at our Scarsdale location because untreated gum disease at this advanced level can be very serious and affect your general health. Heart disease is associated with gum disease, and tooth loss will likely occur due to advanced gum disease.

Signs of Gum Disease

As mentioned above, gum disease does not always have symptoms. Here are the most common indicators that you’re in the early stages of gum disease: