Periodontal Disease Treatment in Centennial, CO

Treating gum disease in the Centennial, Southglenn, and Greenwood Village communities

Today, you hear dentists talk a lot about periodontal (gum) disease—how it develops, how to prevent it, and the impact it has on our overall health and wellness.

While it is highly preventable, unfortunately, gum disease has become a widespread oral health problem in the US. It currently affects half of all adults over age 30 and is also the number one cause of tooth loss for US adults.

At the dental office of Dr. Michael Franquemont, we take seriously our obligation to inform and educate our patients about the dangers of gum disease. If it does develop, we offer periodontal treatment in Centennial to restore your gum health and protect your smile.

Gum disease develops when inadequate oral hygiene allows bacteria-filled plaque and tartar to build up along your gumline and cause an infection. Brushing and flossing alone can’t remove tartar, and it can only be removed by a dental hygienist using professional dental instruments.

On its own, gum disease can be very destructive to your oral health and lead to loose teeth and even tooth loss. However, what scientists and researchers have learned is that a connection exists between chronic gum infections and systemic conditions like diabetes that impact your overall health and wellness.

What Are Gum Disease Symptoms?

Your dentist and hygienist in Centennial will check for gum disease with every six-month dental exam and cleaning. However, it’s crucial to recognize the symptoms of gum disease—the sooner you bring it to our attention, the sooner we can treat it, and the less damage it is likely to do.

Common symptoms of gum disease we look for are:

• Bleeding when you brush
• Swollen or inflamed gums
• Teeth that feel loose to the touch
• Chronic bad breath that doesn’t go away with mouthwash
• A change in the way your dental bite feels

If you notice any of these gum disease symptoms, call our Greenwood Village dental office to schedule an appointment.

There are two stages of gum disease, and each requires its own treatment approach.

Mild Gum Disease: Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and is limited to your gumline, and obvious symptoms are swollen or bleeding gums. At this stage, gum disease is completely reversible with prompt treatment that includes a thorough dental cleaning with our hygienist. Your job will be to improve your at-home oral hygiene so that your efforts are productive, and our hygienist will be happy to demonstrate proper techniques for you.

Advanced Gum Disease: Periodontitis

Periodontitis is advanced gum disease, and at this stage, the infection causes spaces or pockets to open between your teeth and gums. Now the infection is free to attack not just your gums but also the bones that hold your teeth in place. If we don’t treat periodontitis promptly, your teeth can loosen, and we may need to remove them.

Treatment for periodontitis is a deep-cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing (SRP). Scaling removes plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces above and below the gum line; root planing smooths root surfaces, eliminating spots where bacteria collect and allowing the gums to reattach more easily after treatment.

Schedule Your Next Dental Exam and Cleaning in Centennial, CO

Are you due for your next six-month dental exam and cleaning? Please call us for an appointment so we can get you on our schedule as soon as possible! We are easily accessible from Centennial's Southglenn neighborhood and Greenwood Village.