Dental Care Purcellville VA

Gum Disease FAQs

What are the consequences of missing teeth?
There are actually several negative consequences of missing some or all of your teeth. First, missing teeth will affect the esthetics of your face. Not only will your smile be affected by the gaps from missing teeth, but if you’re missing too many teeth, the skin around your mouth won’t be supported properly and will start to sag, making your appear older than you are. Additionally, missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew your food properly and may even affect the way you speak. Finally, missing even one tooth may have emotional consequences; many people feel less confident about their smile when they are missing teeth. If you are currently missing any of your teeth, consider replacing them with dental implants, which can look and feel just like natural teeth. For more information about implants, browse www.perio.org or talk to your periodontist.

I was recently diagnosed with periodontal disease. How often should I see my periodontist for an examination?
Regular examinations are very important to keep track of the present status of your disease and any disease progression over time. Your periodontist will work with you to create a maintenance schedule depending on how advanced your periodontal disease is at that time. Based on many variable factors such as your overall health, the severity of bone loss, and risk factors such as smoking and genetics, your periodontist will constantly tailor your care so your periodontal disease does not progress further. He or she may recommend exams every six months for mild periodontal disease, or every few months for more advanced stages.

I was recently diagnosed with periodontal disease. My periodontist mentioned that laser surgery would be an appropriate option for my treatment course. Is laser surgery safe? Is it as effective as traditional treatment courses?
There seems to be a lot of mixed messages when it comes to the use of lasers in periodontal treatment. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that any specific laser wavelength is superior to the traditional treatment methods of the common periodontal diseases, such as periodontitis. Therefore, it is always in your best interest to talk with your individual periodontist about the particular laser or therapy he or she plans on using, and why he or she feels that it is the best course of treatment for your particular case. If you still have concerns, you may want to contact another periodontist in your area for a second opinion.

Above article from www.perio.org

Purcellville Dental
Timothy A. Smith, DDS
Telephone: 540.338.0110
609-T East Main Street
Purcellville, VA 20132

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