Our gentle dentists, Dr. Sam Amirani and Dr. Tom Lawlis, and team are pleased to provide periodontal care in Wichita, Kansas, to help your smile return to optimal health. Periodontal care is a specialized type of dental treatment that is used to treat periodontal disease. Also known as gum disease, periodontal disease is a degenerative condition that is caused by bacteria in plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film that develops on the surface of the teeth over time; it can be removed by brushing and flossing, but it turns into tartar, which can only be removed by our dentists or dental hygienist, if it is not removed from the teeth within 24 hours. Common signs and symptoms of periodontal disease include:
- Swollen, red gums
- Tender gums that bleed easily
- Loose teeth
- Receding gums or teeth that appear longer than normal
- Persistent bad breath
- Painful chewing
- Increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
Your risk for periodontal disease may be increased by certain factors, such as smoking, medications, illnesses, diabetes, and hormonal changes experienced by girls and women. If periodontal disease is left untreated, it can lead to loss of the teeth, gum tissue and supporting bone structure. To halt the progression of the disease and to encourage the growth of healthy gum tissue, Dr. Sam Amirani and Dr. Tom Lawlis may recommend root planing and scaling. Root planing and scaling are deep cleaning methods that can help to improve the health of the gums. If needed, we may also recommend other types of periodontal care and treatment. For more information on periodontal care and how we can treat periodontal disease, we invite you to contact our Associates in Family Dentistry today at 316-686-7155!