Our Services
Prevention & Gum Disease
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin
At the Nettleton Dental Group, we have a constant emphasis on prevention and health. Our mission statement reads that our goal is the patient’s health, and not just the oral health.
The numerous connections of oral health to the rest of your body make it very important that each patient is educated and given tools to help maintain their oral health.
Here are a few examples of the types of preventive services we provide:
- Diagnostic services utilized to catch signs of oral problems early including:
- Oral evaluations (check-ups)
- X-rays, all digital in nature to limit radiation exposure.
- Oral Cancer screenings
- Professional cleanings
- Screening blood pressure measurements at every hygiene appointment
- Fluoride treatments, especially for children
- Sealants, which are plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surfaces of permanent teeth, most often molars, to prevent decay inside the grooves that naturally occur in teeth
- Educational instruction provided by your dentist or dental hygienist, including:
- Techniques for proper brushing, flossing and use of other oral hygiene aids
- Nutritional and/or tobacco cessation counseling
- Space maintainers for children
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth.
It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults.
Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it.
Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.
Here are some warning signs that can signal a problem:
- gums that bleed easily
- red, swollen, tender gums
- gums that have pulled away from the teeth
- persistent bad breath or bad taste
- permanent teeth that are loose or separating
- any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- any change in the fit of partial dentures
If you suspect you have gum disease, you should make an appointment because the sooner you treat it the better. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning, followed by daily brushing and flossing.
Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the United States. It can lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth and it may become more severe over time. If it does, your teeth will feel loose and start moving around in your mouth. Periodontal disease usually gets worse slowly, but there can be periods of rapid progression.
Aggressive periodontitis is a highly destructive form of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy. Common features include rapid loss of tissue and bone and may occur in some areas of the mouth, or in the entire mouth.
Research between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases is ongoing. While a link is not conclusive, some studies indicate that severe gum disease may be associated with several other health conditions such as diabetes or stroke.
At the Nettleton Dental Group, we provide comprehensive non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. Schedule an appointment today with one of our amazing team of dental hygienists to evaluate and find out how we can help you achieve excellent gum health.