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periodontist of Fort Bend Dental

Periodontics

Dentistry isn’t exclusively focused on teeth. Your gums and jawbone, as well as their ability to support the teeth, are equally important.

Our periodontist can perform procedures to correct gum disease, keep your teeth firmly in place, and prevent jawbone atrophy.

See how Dr. Andrew Dugum can protect the health of your mouth with periodontal treatment.

What Is Periodontics?

Periodontics is a specialized field of dentistry that focuses on treating gum disease and other issues affecting the foundation of your smile. Surgical and nonsurgical procedures alike can be used to combat gum disease and keep your teeth firmly in place.

What Is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is someone who, in addition to attending a four-year dental school, completed an additional three years of training in periodontics. They can provide a variety of dental solutions for periodontal problems, such as gum disease.

The Signs of Periodontal Disease

Gum disease is a progressive condition that can lead to serious dental issues when left untreated:

Gingivitis

Gum disease starts as gingivitis, a mild condition that causes irritated, red, bleeding, and swollen gums around the base of your teeth. It’s important to treat gingivitis quickly so it does not progress. Many cases of gingivitis can be treated with a good at-home oral care routine and regular dental checkups.

Advanced Periodontitis

When left untreated, gingivitis progresses to a more serious form of gum disease. The final stage of gum disease can result in redness, swollen gums, bad breath, sensitivity, pain when chewing, periodontal pockets, and loose teeth that may fall out. This stage of gum disease requires treatment from a periodontist.

Dr. Andrew Dugum and our Specialty Perdiontic Department provides comprehensive periodontal care to residents across all of Fort Bend County.

The Dangers of Gum Disease

Your periodontal health affects your overall physical health. Gum disease has even been linked to other serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia. By seeking treatment when you notice signs of gum disease, you significantly reduce your risk of more serious health problems.

Protect the Health of Your Mouth

Request an Appointment Today

Dr. Dugum provides comprehensive periodontal care to residents across Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana, Sugar Land, TX, and beyond. He can treat gum disease at any stage and restore periodontal health. Promptly addressing gum disease can prevent worsening conditions and the need for other costly dentistry procedures like implants in the future.

We want dental care to be easily accessible, so we have convenient locations throughout Southeast Texas. You can find us in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land. We invite you to request an appointment using our consultation form or call:

(281) 499-3541

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The Causes of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease can stem from a variety of causes, such as:

Poor Oral Hygiene

Failing to brush and floss every day leads to a buildup of plaque and tartar, which causes gingivitis. Even if you brush and floss regularly, failing to attend regular professional dental cleanings can also result in gum disease.

Family History

Genetics plays a significant role in your risk of gum disease. If gum disease runs in your family, you are more likely to develop it. In these cases, we typically recommend more frequent cleanings and exams to better monitor your periodontal health.

Medications and Hormones

Certain medications, hormone fluctuations, and certain illnesses can lead to gum disease. Discuss these factors with your dentist to ensure your gums remain protected.

Smoking

Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco can increase your risk of developing gum disease. We recommend you quit this habit altogether.

Diagnosing Gum Disease

Dr. Dugum can diagnose gum disease during an appointment at one of our offices. He can identify gum disease and determine its stage by:

Performing a Dental Exam

A simple dental exam can determine if your periodontal health has been compromised. Dr. Dugum will carefully examine your gums to check for signs of gum disease.

Measuring Periodontal Pockets

Dr. Dugum will measure the depth of your periodontal pockets to determine the stage of gum disease. Healthy gums have a pocket depth of one to three millimeters. Pocket depths of more than five millimeters are typically indicative of gum disease.

Taking X-Rays

Dr. Dugum may take X-rays to confirm the diagnosis and detect any bone recession.

Treating Gum Disease

With Our Dental Solutions in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX

If you have any stage of periodontal disease, we can help restore the health of your mouth. Our offices have a variety of surgical and nonsurgical solutions, such as:

professional cleaning

Professional Cleaning

When treated in its earliest stages, our dentists can often reverse your gum disease through nonsurgical methods, like an in-office cleaning. These appointments will allow our dentists to remove bacteria buildup and tartar that you can’t remove with at-home care.

professional cleaning

Antibiotics

Topical antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and prevent the destruction of connective tissues. Antibiotics can be used alone or in combination with other therapies.

antybiotics
scaling and root planning

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a dentistry solution that can treat mild-to-moderate gum disease. This nonsurgical treatment eliminates plaque and tartar from below the gumline. It also smooths the tooth roots to encourage the reattachment of healthy gums and prevent the buildup of bacteria.

scaling and root planning

Soft Tissue Grafting

In more advanced cases of gum disease, your doctor may recommend surgical treatment like soft tissue grafting to add tissue to your receding gums and protect the tooth roots.

soft tissue grafting
dental implants

Dental Implants

If your gum disease has progressed to a point at which a tooth or teeth have fallen out, we can place implants. Dental implants replace tooth roots and can support crowns, bridges, and dentures. This pairing replaces teeth from the roots to the chewing surfaces. Though restorations need to be periodically replaced, dental implants can last a lifetime. Our dentists can perform bone grafting or a sinus lift to restore your candidacy for implants after jawbone atrophy.

dental implants

LANAP Laser Gum Therapy

When gum disease advances beyond a mild-to-moderate infection, it is known as periodontitis. This condition, if untreated, can lead to several serious oral health complications. Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP®) can eliminate associated symptoms and address the root cause of aggressive gum disease for patients in Fort Bend County.

lanap procedure

Need to Refer a Periodontist?

Let Us Work With You

If you’re a referring dentist in need of a specialist to provide periodontal care to your patients, Dr. Dugum has the credentials and skillset necessary to perform comfortable care and precise treatment. We understand that the doctor you choose to refer your patients to reflects on you and your practice, and we pride ourselves on being reliable, trustworthy, and capable.

If you would like to make a lasting connection with our periodontist or another one of our qualified dentists, we invite you to call our Missouri City, TX, office at (281) 499-3541 .

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