Periodontal Disease Prevention and Treatment

Our Bayside Family Dental Care team brings forth our best effort every day to improve or maintain our patients' dental health and wellness. Periodontal disease is a common condition that affects millions of Australians and impacts quality of life. Dr Chad Henderson and our dental team are committed to helping you prevent and treat periodontal disease so you can have the healthy, lifelong smile you desire. 

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal (gum) disease is a common condition we prevent and treat at Bayside Family Dental Care. This condition develops from the accumulation of plaque and tartar under the gumline. Plaque is a sticky substance that attracts bacteria and eventually transforms into tartar, which can irritate the gums and cause infection. 

Signs of Gum Disease 

Everyone has different signs and symptoms of gum disease. Some of these include:

  • Swollen or puffy gums
  • Bright red or purplish gums
  • Tender or sore gums
  • Bleeding of the gums
  • Bad breath (halitosis)
  • Bumps or sores between the teeth and gums 

Preventing Periodontal Disease 

Dr Henderson and our hygienist gather as much information about you as possible and discuss your oral health goals and concerns. Establishing a trusting and communicative relationship with our patients allows us to provide the best, most personalised treatment available. 

Practising excellent oral hygiene can help prevent gum disease, reducing the risk for developing harmful health conditions, such as heart disease. 

Here are some methods we recommend for preventing periodontal disease:

  • Brushing at least twice daily 
  • Flossing at least once every day
  • Getting routine preventive dental exams and cleans
  • Reducing your risks 

Some risk factors are:

  • Poor oral hygiene 
  • Smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products
  • Diabetes, heart disease and other medical conditions
  • Certain prescription medications 
  • Dry mouth 
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Genetics

Treating Periodontal Disease in Batemans Bay, NSW 

Preventive dental care can protect your and your family's smiles for life, and this includes periodontal disease prevention. It's our goal to prevent issues before they have a chance to progress, but if they do, we have various treatment options to help you protect your oral health from disease. 

Dr Chad Henderson first performs a thorough oral health exam to determine the location and severity of the condition. Depending on its level of advancement, we develop a detailed treatment strategy to meet the patient's needs. Treating the periodontal disease early is essential to halt its progression to other areas of the mouth and body. Our dedicated hygienist assists Dr Henderson with patient education, preventive care and dental cleans and exams. 

Treatments for periodontal disease often include: 

  • Scaling and root planing (deep pocket cleaning)
  • Excellent oral hygiene 
  • Gum health products (e.g., antimicrobial mouthwash)
  • Medication or antibiotics
  • Removal of unhealthy tissue

For those with mild gingivitis, we encourage a renewed commitment to oral hygiene habits, such as brushing, flossing and reducing individual risk factors. Moderate-to-advanced gum disease may require other methods, such as a deep cleaning treatment known as scaling and root planing. During this treatment, we remove all traces of tartar from below the gumline and smooth the pockets to prevent bacteria from collecting. 

We Offer Personalised Solutions for Gum Disease 

Do your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth? If you suspect you may have gingivitis or gum disease, we invite you to call us and arrange an appointment. Dr Henderson will speak with you about your options and develop an effective treatment plan that improves your oral health and protects your smile.