Periodontal Care in Urbandale & Johnston, IA

With so much information available to us now about the connection between periodontal health and overall health, we can tell you that there’s never been a more critical time to understand your oral health and take charge of it so you can protect your well-being.

The Oral-Systemic Connection

Studies have shown that the same bacteria that causes periodontal disease can also contribute to other systemic health concerns in the body and vice versa. Some of these health issues are:

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Complications or low birth weight with pregnancies
• High blood pressure
• Stroke

We now understand that the bacteria that causes periodontal disease can enter into the bloodstream and travel to other areas of the body where it contributes to these health concerns.

Taking great care of your oral health ensures that you are also caring for your overall health.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

When excess plaque causes your gums to separate from your teeth, harmful bacteria can descend below the gum line where it causes infection to both your gums and jawbone over time. Gum disease can be tricky to diagnose on your own because many patients don’t feel any pain or suffer from very many symptoms at first. This is why consistent examinations with your Johnston dentist every six months are so important.

The Stages of Gum Disease

Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. Some of the symptoms of gingivitis to be aware of are:

• Chronic bad breath that doesn’t go away
• Your gums bleed during brushing or flossing
• Your gums look red, swollen, or irritated

If you are struggling with any of these symptoms, please contact Northpark Dental right away and schedule an examination with Dr. Phan or Dr. Babor. If you are proactive about treating gum disease, it can often be controlled or reversed with a professional cleaning and improvements to your home care routine.

Periodontitis is the advanced stage of gum disease, and in this stage,  you may start to notice that you experience pain or tenderness when biting or chewing, mobility in your teeth, and that your gums are beginning to recede.

In this stage of gum disease, a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing is needed to reach below the gum line and remove the plaque and tartar buildup. We may recommend antibiotic therapy to combat the infection, and some cases will require surgery to avoid tooth loss.

At Northpark Dental, we also use advanced laser therapy to treat periodontal disease. The dental laser combines concentrated light and heat, which allows us to eliminate diseased tissue without harming healthy soft tissue. It also sterilizes the treated area to accelerate the healing process.

Contact our Johnston Dental Clinic

If you’ve been noticing any of the signs of gum disease, or if it’s time to schedule your next dental cleaning, contact Northpark Dental today. We proudly serve Des Moines, Johnston, Grimes, Urbandale, and the surrounding areas.