Preventing Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, presents a serious threat not only to your oral health but also to your overall health. People with gum disease have two or three times the risk of a heart attack. Dr. Frank Gordon Jr is an endodontist and periodontist based in Flint, MI. He gives the following advice for preventing periodontal disease.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a severe infection in the gum tissue that hold your teeth in their normal place. It is caused by poor dental hygiene habits. There are two stages of periodontal disease.

Stage one: The initial stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. Signs and symptoms include:

• Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
• Inflamed gums
• Bright red gums
• Sensitive gums
• Bad breath

At the first signs of gingivitis, Flint residents usually make an appointment with Dr. Gordon.

Stage Two: Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis is left untreated. As well as the above, signs and symptoms include:

• Receding gums
• Loose teeth
• Gum sensitivity when brushing, flossing or chewing
• Tooth loss
• Depletion of bone

At his point, the symptoms of gum disease may be irreversible.

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

You can avoid gum disease by maintaining the following healthy habits:

• Brushing teeth twice a day
• Using a fluoride toothpaste
• Brushing for two minutes
• Flossing daily
• Rinsing with mouthwash
• Visiting the dentist twice a year

Next time you visit your dentist, discuss your gum health. Ask your dentist to provide you with an oral care plan that is designed specifically for your needs. You should also get your children examined regularly for gum disease. If you experience any warning signs of gingivitis, contact your dentist as soon as possible.

If you are looking for a periodontist in Flint, call Dr. Gordon on (810) 230-0990.

When you have a toothache, it's important that you call Dr. Franklin Gordon in Flint, MI, right away. You should never ignore a toothache! It won't go away on its own, and it can cause serious health problems if it continues to fester. Untreated toothaches lead to abscesses and other severe infections. When you have a toothache, your dentist may suggest a root canal to relieve it. If you live in Flint, MI, visit Dr. Frank Gordon for root canals. He can care for all your dental needs.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure where the dentist removes infected material from your tooth to relieve tooth pain. There are nerves and blood vessels inside your teeth. If a tooth becomes infected, removing a nerve from the affected tooth relieves toothache.

Why Do Some People Need Root Canals?

You need a root canal when the soft tissue inside your tooth, called the pulp, becomes infected or inflamed. An injured tooth or chips and cracks in the tooth can cause infection or inflammation. Tooth decay may also be caused by repeated dental procedures on the same tooth or crack within the tooth.

Do You Need a Root Canal?

When you live in Flint, MI, and think you need one or more root canals, Dr. Frank Gordon is ready to care for all your dental needs. Here are some signs that tell you if you may need a root canal.

• Your teeth hurt and are sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages.
• You experience severe pain when you chew or bite.
• You have a chipped or cracked tooth.
• Your gums are swollen or tender near the location of the tooth pain.
• You have pimples on the gum next to the tooth that hurts.
• Your tooth or gum is dark.

How is a Root Canal Performed?

• Your dentist takes an X-ray of the affected tooth to determine the extent of the infection.
• Your Flint, MI, dentist begins root canals by using an anesthetic to numb the tooth so you feel no pain during the root canal procedure. Then he places a sheet of rubber, called a dental dam, to protect the tooth and keep it dry during the root canal.
• Your dentist drills an opening in the crown of your tooth. He then removes the damaged nerve and pulp.
• Your dentist seals the tooth or puts a temporary seal until a permanent crown is made.

If you live in Flint, MI, and think you may need one or more root canals, contact Dr. Frank Gordon, an endodontist and periodontist. Schedule an appointment by calling 810-230-0990. Don't ignore a toothache. Contact us today.

Suffering from a toothache? Here at the Flint, MI, office of Dr. Frank Gordon, we can provide fast relief from your aching tooth. Here is what might be causing your dental pain:

Impacted Wisdom Teeth - Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the back of the mouth that don't have enough room to develop normally or emerge. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in tooth pain, damage to other teeth, and other dental problems. The pain may extend to the ears and jaw.

Knocked-Out Teeth - A broken or knocked-out tooth causes tooth pain. Broken or knocked-out teeth can occur from an injury. If you have a broken or knocked-out tooth, you should call your dentist immediately. If your tooth is fully knocked out, rinse it off and put it back in place. If you're not able to get it back in place, put it in a cup of milk or even water and seek dental care.

Dental Cavities - You may experience tooth pain if you have a dental cavity. Dental cavities are damaged areas in teeth that develop into tiny holes. When a dental cavity is just beginning, you may not have any symptoms at all. As the decay gets larger, it may cause symptoms including a toothache, tooth sensitivity, and a mild-to-sharp pain when consuming something cold or hot.

Dentin Sensitivity - Dentin hypersensitivity is a painful condition that occurs when the inner layer of the tooth becomes exposed. This condition can develop as a result of gum recession. It causes a sharp pain that worsens with pressure on the exposed tooth or when drinking cold or hot drinks.

Need Relief? Contact Our Flint Office Today

Don't let tooth pain affect the quality of your life. Call Frank Gordon Jr DDS at (810) 230-0990 today to schedule a dental appointment in Flint, MI.

What's so concerning about gingivitis and other forms of gum disease? Among other issues, if this infection is left untreated, it can lead to tooth, gum, and bone loss as well as severe attacks on your systemic health. Fortunately, your periodontist/endodontist, Dr. Frank Gordon Jr., treats gum disease in his Flint, MI, office, helping patients have vibrant smiles and improve their overall health.

Just what is gum disease?

You may have it and not even know it. Basically, gum disease is an infection stemming from destructive bacteria that live in soft plaque and hard tartar. These biofilms accumulate on and between teeth and under the gums.

Today, gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). However, many people don't even know they have it, as they can often ignore the subtle signs of the condition.

Signs of gum disease

Here are the symptoms of this potentially difficult oral health issue:

• Gum tenderness, puffiness, and bleeding
• Changes in gum color (redness or duskiness)
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Changes in the fit of a denture or in overall dental bite
• Exposed tooth roots because of receding gums
• Teeth which appear longer than they used to
• Pus
• Deep pockets between tooth roots and gums (greater than three millimeters is diagnostic for gum disease)

Treatment of gum disease

Mild gingivitis usually responds to improved at-home hygiene, dietary habits, and a professional cleaning from our Flint office that removes problematic plaque and tartar. More aggressive periodontitis may require antibiotics and treatments such as gum grafting to cover exposed root or laser debridement of infected tissues.

To stabilize and strengthen mobile teeth, Dr. Gordon may recommend a periodontal splint. For the best in tooth replacement, he places dental implants that retain a single prosthetic tooth or partial/full dentures as needed.

Contact Dr. Frank Gordon

Call our office in Flint, MI, for a complete evaluation. We are open Monday through Friday. Phone (810) 230-0090 today to schedule an appointment.

Have you been diagnosed with gum disease? Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is an infection of the structures around the teeth. A range of treatments is used to reverse or stop gum disease. In the early stages of periodontal disease, treatment usually involves non-surgical procedures. However, in more advanced stages, surgery from your periodontist may be needed. Dr. Frank Gordon, Jr., who is located in Flint, MI, offers non-surgical periodontal therapy to the patients he serves. Read on to learn about four non-surgical treatment options for gum disease.

Antibiotics/Antimicrobials: Antibiotic or antimicrobial treatments can be used alone or in combination with other therapies to reduce or eliminate the bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Antibiotics are taken by mouth or placed under the gums to treat periodontal disease.

Scaling and Root Planing: Deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing, is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease. This procedure from your periodontist in Flint, MI, removes plaque and tartar deposits on the teeth and root surfaces. Scaling and root planing helps to reduce pocket depths and heal gum tissue. In most cases, gum disease can be reversed with a deep cleaning addition to continued daily cleanings at home.

Periodontal Maintenance: Periodontal maintenance involves a cleaning that is deeper than a regular cleaning in a dental office. People with a history of gum disease need deep cleanings because periodontal pockets have developed. Pockets are spaces between the gums and teeth where dental plaque and calculus form. If new or recurring gum disease appears, additional diagnostic and treatment procedures must be considered.

Gingival Irrigation: After your dental provider has completed your scaling and root planing treatment, they may use in-office gingival irrigation to deliver antimicrobials below the gum line. The primary purpose of gingival irrigation is to reduce the amount of bacteria from the between the teeth and under the gum line, therefore lessening the severity of gum disease.

Ready to take charge of your oral health? You need to take control! Call your periodontist at (810) 230-0990 today to schedule a dental consultation in Flint, MI. We will help you reverse gum disease once and for all. You will experience exemplary service and state-of-the-art care at Franklin L. Gordon, Jr., D.D.S., M.S.