Periodontal Gum Disease in Santa Barbara, CA
Providing Exceptional Gum Disease Treatment
Living with gum disease can be painful. If your condition has progressed into periodontal disease, seeking treatment is imperative. The team at Jeffrey A. Stratford-Jones can provide exceptional treatment for all stages of periodontal disease. Our patients from Santa Barbara and Goleta, CA leave our office with the tools to better care for their gums and treat the condition before it worsens.
Types of Periodontal Disease
As gingivitis worsens into periodontal disease, the condition can bring many more bothersome symptoms, including chronic inflammation, bone loss, and tooth loss. However, periodontal disease has some common varieties of its own. Here’s a brief overview of the most prevalent types:
- Chronic Periodontitis: The most common form of periodontal disease, this condition involves the progressive or rapid loss of gum tissue and inflammation in the gum tissue.
- Aggressive Periodontitis: This form of gum disease occurs rapidly, destroying gum tissue and bone.
- Necrotizing Periodontitis: This form of gum disease involves tissue death in the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. It is most common in patients with HIV, immunosuppression, and malnutrition.
- Periodontitis Caused by a Systemic Disease: This type of periodontitis emerges at an early age in those with respiratory conditions and heart disease.
Treatments We May Recommend
Fortunately, the team at Jeffrey A. Stratford-Jones is well-versed in a variety of treatments for periodontal disease. We may recommend one or more of the following methods:
This procedure aims to thoroughly clean the teeth, removing any tartar and plaque buildup.
Scaling and root planing procedures remove bacteria from the gum line and may be used as a preventative measure.
This procedure uses laser therapy to eliminate the bacteria that cause gum disease and alleviate any symptoms.
Pocket irrigation cleans plaque buildup from between the teeth and under the gumline. This process is often performed with other treatments.
During this treatment, your dentist will apply medication directly to the gum pockets. This method stops bacteria from taking hold again.
Crown lengthening can reshape and remove gum tissue to allow for a more natural smile.
Soft tissue grafting can mitigate the effects of gum recession.
This surgical procedure allows your dentist to access teeth roots and remove bacteria and tartar.
A variety of regenerative procedures are available to rebuild gum tissue and bone that has been lost to periodontal disease.
Helping You Maintain Gum Health
Once you’re diagnosed with gum disease, continuous care is essential. We’ll see you four times a year to clean your teeth and gums to ensure the condition is not progressing. Our team will also educate you on proper home care to restore and maintain your oral health.