Gum disease, not tooth decay, is the predominant cause of lost teeth. Regrettably, it can go undetected until it is too late. Are you experiencing the following symptoms – bleeding gums when you brush or floss, and loose or shifting teeth? Dr. McCormick can help even if you've been told you need gum surgery. Fortunately, obtaining improved oral health and reversing gum disease is possible with a variety of non-surgical treatments.
Medical research shows that gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are linked. This is an especially disturbing fact since heart disease is commonly fatal, which means treating gum disease is vital to your overall health.
The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. These numbers should warrant gum disease being treated as an epidemic. But because losing your teeth is merely unpleasant, not immediately life-threatening, the severity of the disease has been ignored for far too long. However, that thought process is changing.
The American Academy of Periodontology reports: "Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases." The bacteria that infect your gums when you suffer from periodontal disease can seep into your bloodstream and create issues in your heart, lungs, and other vital organs.
The majority of dental insurance plans cover the treatment of periodontal disease. While in some advanced and severe cases surgery is still the best treatment option, there are now powerful NON-surgical procedures that, when combined with improved dental hygiene, can virtually stop the expansion of disease.
No matter how you lose a tooth – gum disease, decay, accident, or any other trauma, you should treat it as a big deal. Losing even a single tooth can cause your other teeth to shift and move around, affecting your ability to chew and process nutrients from your food. You may experience weight gain (due to a softer, carb-heavy diet), a sunken or shriveled facial appearance, or a change in your speech patterns. The best way to replace a missing tooth (or missing teeth) is with dental implants. An implant can take the place of one tooth or many. They'll appear so natural only your dentist will know the difference.
Dr. McCormick is excited to offer his patients a powerful weapon in the battle against gum disease. It's called ARESTIN™. Available in a powder form that contains invisible microspheres, ARESTIN furnishes a time-released antibiotic directly to the site of the infection (the spaces between the gums and teeth). ARESTIN destroys the bacteria that cause gum disease! Even better, it's pain-free!
We can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health. Give us a call today at (925) 685-3043.
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