Soft Tissue Periodontics - Hannibal, MO
Don’t Let Gum Disease
Damage Your Smile
Why Treat Gum Disease?
Gum disease may start quietly. At first, you may notice your gums feel tender or bleed when you brush and floss. When plaque and calculus are allowed to accumulate on your teeth, your gums become inflamed and tender before pulling away from your teeth. If left unchecked, this infection can cause more than a little pink in the sink, though. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss, bone loss, and even cause systemic health conditions like cardiovascular disease, stroke, or diabetes complications.
Our skilled, caring dental team at McKenzie Family Dentistry offers the highly effective, minimally invasive treatments you need to keep infection under control and maintain proper oral health for years to come. We partner with multiple insurance companies to ensure your entire treatment process is easy and painless. Contact us at the first appearance of symptoms!
Gum Disease Warning Signs
- Tender, inflamed, or bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
- Loose, shifting teeth
- Toothaches
- Receding gums
Targeted Treatment for Gum Disease
The great news is that gum disease is preventable—and curable at an early stage! Just be sure to brush and floss your teeth and have regular professional teeth cleanings and checkups. If you do require care for gum disease, we’re the team to trust. We provide multiple treatments for gum disease in Hannibal, MO, depending on the severity of your case and the stage of gum disease you’re in. We’ll begin with a consultation that includes an oral examination.
Our dentist will assess your current oral health and provide you with a customized treatment plan that reflects your unique needs. Depending on your treatment and your anxiety level we may offer calming sedation dentistry to guarantee you’re comfortable throughout your visit. With proper treatment, maintenance, and good oral health habits, gum disease doesn’t have to damage your smile again. Most importantly, a smile free from bacteria and infection helps you live an overall healthy lifestyle!
Key Gum Disease Treatments
Scaling and Root Planing
Too much gum tissue covering your teeth can make them appear small or short and give you a “gummy” smile look. With care and precision, we’ll reshape the gum tissue and remove excess bone around your teeth to restore better symmetry and improve your tooth-to-gum ratio. Soft tissue recontouring, crown lengthening, and gingivectomy procedures rebalance your smile and restore your confidence!
Frenectomy
That slender tissue connecting your top lip to your gums or your tongue to the bottom of your mouth are each called a frenulum. If either of these tissues is too restrictive, you may have difficulty speaking or eating leading to a tongue-tie or lip-tie. Receiving a frenectomy in Hannibal, MO releases this problematic tissue, freeing you to get full enjoyment out of meals, conversations, and even simply smiling.
Gingivectomy
Gums receding or pulling away from the teeth leave sensitive roots exposed to harmful bacteria. Gum grafting restores gum tissue where it has receded, usually replacing it with tissue from your own mouth This tissue graft will fuse with your existing gums, alleviating your tooth sensitivity and giving you a consistent and healthy gumline.
Periodontal Maintenance
Once gum disease has been comprehensively treated, periodontal maintenance is recommended to ensure it does not return. This procedure is completed every 3-4 months and involves deep teeth cleaning at and below the gumline to remove bacteria and plaque accumulation. These deep cleanings will replace your regularly scheduled hygiene appointments.