Gum Care and Gum Disease
How we help you eliminate gum disease
Dr. Bursich and his staff will help you eliminate gum disease with gentle treatment to handle mild (gingivitis) to intermediate cases. Dr. Bursich will do a very complete exam to ascertain the extent of the bacterial penetration, the cause of gum disease.
We offer non-surgical treatment to remove the bacteria through Scaling and Root Planing (or "Deep Cleaning"). Our hygienist is excellent and she takes care to keep this procedure painless, while still remaining thorough.
After scaling and planing, Dr. Bursich and his staff will show you a careful regimen of care that you can do at home to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. Repeat visits in two weeks and 90 days are recommended so that Dr. Bursich can check on your progress and make sure that your gums are healing properly.
Symptoms of gum disease
Warning signs of gum disease are:
- Gums that bleed during tooth brushing
- 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
A healthy lifestyle, regular brushing and flossing, and regular visits to the dentist
for cleanings are the best way to keep your gums healthy and to avoid gum disease.
What is gum disease and what causes it?
Gum disease is the #1 cause of adult tooth loss in the US!
Factors that contribute to gum disease include poor oral hygiene, irregular professional dental cleanings, smoking or chewing tobacco, certain medications, defective fillings, crooked teeth and systemic diseases.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. In a healthy state, the gums around your teeth are tight, pink, do not bleed when they are gently probed, and there is little space between the gums and the teeth for bacteria to build up.
If the bacteria are not removed effectively, the first stage of gum disease is that your gums can start to bleed and may become red and swollen (gingivitis). This may not be readily visible, especially in between and around the back teeth, but the space between the gums and teeth becomes bigger. The bacteria now have somewhere to hide.
As the space (pocket) deepens, the bacteria change in nature and become more aggressive. Your body starts to fight this infection. The combination of the bacteria and your body's response to them, leads to a loss of the bone that supports the teeth. This is periodontal disease or periodontitis (periodontitis — a word that comes from the combination of the smaller words: "per" meaning around, "dont" meaning tooth and "itis" meaning inflammation or infection).
Therefore, the most important thing to do is correctly diagnose the presence and severity of gum disease. We test your gums for signs of gum disease and severity and then an appropriate plan can be made to prevent the spread and progression
of the disease.
Schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Bursich today!
Call 814-476-4172 or click here to schedule an appointment online.
