Perio Disease & Treatment in Newport Beach

Periodontal (perio) disease is often referred to as gum disease – an infection that can cause tooth loss and is associated with several serious health conditions including heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. Periodontal disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults of age 35 and over. That’s why it is so important to have oral exams and preventative dental hygiene treatments at least twice a year with Dr. Sherri Worth and her Newport Beach dental team to assess your periodontal health.

Genetics play a role in gum disease, but you may be at increased risk for periodontal disease if:

• You are over 40 years old
• You are a woman (due to hormonal changes that can affect the gum tissue)
• You are a smoker
• You haven’t seen a dentist in more than 2 years
• You do not floss regularly
• You have heart disease, osteoporosis, osteopenia, high stress, or diabetes
• You have poor diet or are significantly overweight

What is Perio Disease?

Periodontal (gum) disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. The primary cause of gum inflammation that starts gum disease is plaque – the sticky colorless coating that constantly forms on your teeth and contains bacteria.

• Gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease, is frequently caused by lack of oral hygiene and results in red, swollen or bleeding gums. You can reverse gingivitis by getting professional dental care from Dr. Sherri Worth and taking better care of your teeth at home, including daily brushing and flossing, eating well and not smoking.
• Periodontisis is a more serious form of periodontal disease. If untreated, plaque can spread below the gum line, producing toxins and triggering an inflammatory response in the body that causes tissues and bone supporting the teeth to break. When gums separate from the teeth, pockets are formed that become inflamed and deepened with time. Often, this process has very mild symptoms until it results in tooth loss.

Periodontal Treatment Options in our Newport Beach Office

Dr. Sherri Worth specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. Dr. Worth has had extensive periodontics training and uses the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, including dental implants and other cosmetic dentistry procedures to help you achieve the smile you desire.

Scaling and Root Planing

The least invasive and most cost-effective periodontal treatment is a non-surgical procedure called scaling and root planing (SRP). During this procedure, Dr. Worth will perform a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Sometimes, SRP may be followed by local antibiotic treatments, and most patients will need ongoing therapy to maintain oral health.

Surgical Treatments

Sometimes, non-surgical therapy is not enough to achieve periodontal health, and in these cases Dr. Sherri Worth may recommend surgery to restore teeth and gums damaged by periodontal diseases:

• Pocket reduction and regenerative procedures: If the pockets between teeth and gums have become too deep, Dr. Worth will fold back the gum tissue and remove the disease-causing bacteria. In some cases, the damaged bone surfaces may also be smoothed to limit areas where bacteria can hide. Dr. Worth may also recommend using bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins to help your body regenerate bone and tissue.
• Crown lengthening: During this procedure, Dr. Worth will adjust the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored with a dental crown or bridge.
• Soft tissue grafts: During this procedure, Dr. Worth will take gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root or develop missing gum tissue.

Dental Implants in Newport Beach

If you are in good general oral health but have lost teeth due to periodontal disease, dental implants – artificial tooth roots placed in the jaw to hold a replacement tooth – may be a great option for you. Learn more about dental implants >>

Contact a Periodontist in Newport Beach

Dr. Sherri Worth is an expert in diagnosing and treating gum disease. She can help you prevent serious forms of periodontisis or replace your lost teeth with state-of-the-art dental implants. Contact Dr. Worth in our Newport Beach office to achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile!