Periodontics Specialist

What is periodontics?

Periodontics is a dental specialty dedicated to the health of your gums and the structures that keep your teeth in place. Healthy gums are essential for a healthy mouth, and with periodontics, Dr. DiMariano can optimize your oral health by preventing and treating conditions like periodontal disease.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease, the most common cause of tooth loss in adults, is an infection of your gum tissue. It’s typically the result of poor oral hygiene and develops when you leave plaque to sit on your teeth for too long.

Plaque is a substance that develops on your teeth after you eat or drink foods and beverages that contain carbohydrates. It’s a soft and colorless film that sticks to your teeth and contains a multitude of acids and bacteria.

If you don’t regularly remove the plaque from your teeth with proper brushing and flossing, those acids and bacteria irritate your gum tissue leaving it swollen and irritated.

Dr. DiMariano can reverse this initial stage of periodontal disease, called gingivitis, with more frequent dental cleanings. If left untreated, however, it can develop into periodontitis, where your gums begin to pull away from your teeth to avoid contact with the plaque. 

This recession creates pockets between your teeth and gums, which gather more harmful debris and worsen the infection. Eventually, the structures holding your teeth in place become so infected that they erode, and your teeth fall out.

What are the warning signs of periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease can produce the following symptoms:

• Gums that are red, swollen, and tender
• Bleeding when you brush or floss
• The feeling that your teeth don’t fit together when you bite down
• Loose teeth
• Pus around your gumline

Periodontal disease has a reputation for developing silently, which means that many patients aren’t aware that they have it until it’s already progressed into its later stages.

Dr. DiMariano can recognize the signs of gum disease early on, making it incredibly important to maintain regular visits and cleanings with the team.

How do you treat periodontal disease?

If your gum disease is still in the early stages of gingivitis, Dr. DiMariano can usually reverse it by scheduling you for more frequent dental cleanings and exams. If your gum disease has progressed to the stage of periodontitis, he might recommend a more advanced treatment.

One such treatment, called scaling and root planing, is a deep cleaning where Dr. DiMariano removes the plaque and tartar buildup from both above and below your gumline. After your teeth are free of plaque and tartar, he smooths down their surfaces, which makes it more difficult for bacteria to adhere.

To learn more about how Dr. DiMariano can improve your smile with periodontics, schedule a visit with the team today by calling the office or booking online.