How can we help you?
If you have any questions about dentistry in Armidale, NSW, we invite you to get in touch with us. Meanwhile, check out the questions our dental team hears most often from patients just like you.
Periodontal Treatment
There is some evidence that you are more likely to develop gum disease (periodontal disease) if you have a family history of gum problems. However, if you develop a good oral hygiene routine and visit your Armidale, NSW dentist regularly for exams, cleans, and periodic x-rays, you are less likely to develop gingivitis or gum disease.
Gingivitis is a precursor to gum disease. If your Armidale, NSW dentist catches gum disease in the gingivitis stage, it is reversible.
What Are The Symptoms of Gingivitis and Gum Disease?
The symptoms of gingivitis and gum disease may include some or all of the following:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Periodic or chronic tooth pain
- Loose teeth
- Receding gums—making teeth appear longer
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath
If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend scheduling an exam with our Armidale, NSW dentist. Dr Joseph Nyepetsi can halt the progress of periodontal disease and help save your smile. Without treatment, periodontal disease may lead to tooth loss. Some evidence suggests that gum disease may also be linked to heart attack, stroke, and other health conditions.
Visit Your Armidale Dentist For Your Routine Dental Exam
When it comes to preventing periodontal disease, we recommend not dwelling on family history but seeing your dentist regularly for exams and cleans. Dental exams help your Armidale, NSW dentist spot gingivitis before it becomes gum disease. And regular cleans clear away the stubborn bacteria that may lead to gum disease.
Once gum disease has shown up on your radar, twice-a-year check-ups just won’t cut it. Plaque can regroup in about 12 weeks, so the magic number for most folks is a visit every three months.
At Markham Street Dental, our periodontal maintenance in Armidale schedule flexes with your lifestyle:
- Lower risk — You don’t smoke, your diabetes is in check and gum pocket depths are shallow. After a solid year of stability, we might ask you to come for dental maintenance checks every four months.
- Higher risk — You enjoy a cig or two, diabetes isn’t fully controlled or you have deeper gum pockets. We encourage you to plan on popping in every two to three months so we can stay ahead of the condition.
Here's what you can expect at periodontal maintenance appointments at Markham Street Dental:
- A super-strength clean under the gumline to clear away tartar
- Measuring the depths of gum tissue pockets
- A polish and fluoride boost so tooth roots stay strong
- A mini coaching session (e.g. on using water flosser, interdental brushes)
- A health chat about medications, hormones, stress and more
Gum Disease Treatment in Armidale, NSW
If you miss periodontal maintenance visits, bacteria can wreak havoc on your teeth and underlying bone. It can even lead to tooth loss! Our team at Markham Street Dental is here to help you maintain a healthy smile.
We welcome your call on (02) 6772 6554.
The short answer is yes. Your gums chat with the rest of your body more than you might think! When plaque turns into an angry gum infection, those bacteria and their chemical messages slip into the bloodstream and stir up trouble far beyond the mouth. So, gum disease and overall health are definitely related.
Heart and Blood Vessels — The same bacteria that camp out under your gums have shown up in artery plaque. This usually manifests as sore, bleeding gums, which may double the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Blood Sugar — Struggling to keep diabetes under control? Infected gums can spike glucose numbers, while a good deep clean can nudge those HbA1c levels down.
Pregnancy — Active gum disease has been tied to early labour and low-birth weight. A quick periodontal tune-up can lower those odds.
Lungs, Joints, Even the Brain — Breathing in oral bacteria makes flare-ups of COPD and pneumonia more likely, and the same bacteria have been found in arthritic joints and Alzheimer’s-affected brains.
Gum Disease Treatment in Armidale, NSW
Our Armidale dentists encourage you to please take ‘bleeding when I floss’ as seriously as you would chest pain. Brushing, flossing, and professional cleans are basically full-body insurance.
If your gums are sending SOS signals (like puffiness, bad breath, wobbling teeth), we invite you to book a visit.
You can call us on (02) 6772 6554!
For Armidale dental care in Armidale, NSW, we emphasise prevention. Part of that means keeping your gums free of periodontal disease.
Learn How To Prevent Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is a serious infection of the gums and periodontal ligaments that support your teeth. Without intervention from your dentist, this condition can lead to bone loss, tooth loss, and it has even been linked to systemic health conditions affecting the heart.
Your Armidale dentist takes measures to lower your risks for periodontal disease but can also treat the condition if it develops.
Our first preventive measures are regular dental exams and teeth cleans once or twice yearly, depending on your specific needs. During your routine dental check-up, your dentist can spot early gum disease (gingivitis), which can be reversed. When gingivitis graduates to periodontitis, we can treat the condition and improve your oral health, but this is not a full cure. However, we can lower your risks for bone loss, tooth loss, and systemic health complications with diligence.
For Periodontal Treatment in Armidale, NSW, We Encourage Your Call
If you notice pocketing gums, bad breath, loose teeth, or any changes to your oral health, we recommend contacting your dentist for a check-up.
Of course, we understand that gum disease can create anxiety and concern, but we will be with you throughout treatment and take all steps to improve your oral health.