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.
Gum disease is a progressive condition that can lead to serious dental issues when left untreated:
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.
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.
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 us.
From Happy Patients Throughout The Greater Missouri City, TX, Area
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Medically reviewed by Zhen Shen, Ph.D., D.M.D., M.S.D. on
Fort Bend Dental has provided the community of Fort Bend County with high-quality dental care serving the community since 1987. With multiple convenient locations to serve you and your family, our services include:
Contact us online or call us at:
Fort Bend Dental Missouri City – (281) 336-9899 (281) 962-7656
Fort Bend Dental Grand Parkway – (281) 519-3135
Fort Bend Dental Rosenberg – (281) 336-9971
Fort Bend Dental Aliana – (281) 761-7194
Fort Bend Dental Sugar Land – (281) 205-8691
