Everything You Should Know About Periodontics in Palm Beach

Dentistry covers a myriad of specialties that cater to all the dental needs of patients. Periodontics is one of those specialties that make a huge difference in the lives of patients. If you thought that dental care means taking care of your teeth only, you are mistaken. Taking care of your dentition should also encompass the gum tissue and other parts of the oral cavity. This is why dentistry has various specialties, to account for the different oral needs. Today we look at periodontics treatment in Palm Beach, with details on when you can reach out to a dentist in West Palm Beach FL for the treatment.

What Is Periodontics?

It is a branch of dentistry that deals with the gum tissue and the surrounding tissues that support the teeth. A dentist in Boca Raton FL will tell you that periodontics near you also deals with the different oral conditions associated with these areas. One common word for the supporting tissues of the teeth and the surrounding tissues is periodontium.

Palm Beach periodontics focus on soft tissues of the oral cavity, as well as those of the jawbone. Gum disease is a fairly common oral problem in dentistry. Many patients test positive for gum infection, even though they may not be aware of the condition. This infection quickly escalates into a critical dental health disaster, unless it is handled at an early stage.

More About Periodontal Disease

The periodontal disease manifests differently for people, depending on the stage of advancement. The infection of the gums progresses quickly from one stage to the other. This is why the disease is categorized into two parts:

• Gingivitis – This is the initial stage of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, it is the hardest stage to detect. The symptoms may vary from one patient to the other. However, they are not clear symptoms. Often patients disregard the symptoms as indicative of an infection. This is one of the reasons why periodontal disease spreads easily.
• Periodontitis – it is the advanced stage of gum disease. It occurs as a progression of the infection through the periodontium. The symptoms associated with this stage of gum disease are far more advanced and thorough. This stage poses a great risk to the entire oral cavity. Unless you have a dentist check your mouth and treat the infection, you can even lose your teeth to periodontitis.

When Do You Need Periodontics Treatment?

Tracking the health of your oral cavity is paramount if you want to detect gum infection. A simple way to determine this is by considering the symptoms that come with a gum infection. They include the following:

• Bleeding gums – any attempt to bite on foods or brush your teeth can cause bleeding when you have an infection.
• Tenderness and swelling of the gums – the infection breaches the walls of the gum tissue, causing tenderness and swelling.
• Pain when chewing – since the gum tissue holds the teeth in place, chewing will be painful when you have gum disease. The pain will be because of the swelling and the tenderness of the gum tissue.
• Bad breath – mouth odor is a big problem for patients with gum disease. Having that most cases of gum disease are caused by plaque build-up, it explains why bad odor might be a consequence.
• Mouth sores – these sores manifest as a response of your body’s immune system. The mouth sores are hard to tell apart from mere cancer or canker sores. This is why it is important to talk to a dentist as soon as you detect recurring mouth sores.
• Receding gums – the gum tissue will pull away from the teeth when there is an infection. This will only be notable when more of the tooth structure becomes exposed.
• Wobbly teeth – this symptom manifests when you have periodontitis. The gum tissue weakens, leaving the teeth with little support. Besides the receded gums expose too much of the roots of teeth, compromising their stability. This is why the teeth become wobbly. In worse cases of periodontitis, the teeth can begin to fall off.

Summary

The fate of our oral cavity largely lies in how well you care for your oral health. This means being proactive with basic oral hygiene practices that can help maintain a healthy mouth.