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Your gums and underlying bone provide an important foundation for your teeth and dental work, so it’s important to keep them healthy. And while every mouth contains both healthy and harmful bacteria, sometimes the harmful bacteria can infect the gums and form spaces or gaps around the teeth.These gaps are a sign that you may have gum disease (periodontal disease).

Dr. Keith Blessitt is well trained in the screening and treatment of periodontal diseases. This diseases can create a myriad of problems that not only jeopardize your smile and chewing comfort, but could lead to heart problems as well. Many of these diseases may not be visibly detectable or recognized through pain until they reach advanced stages.

Consequently, our practice includes a number of screening measures that will detect periodontal problems. One of the early stages of the disease, known as gingivitis, creates bacterial infections that eventually cause the gums to separate from the teeth, thereby creating even greater opportunities for infection and decay. If it goes untreated, more serious problems such as abscesses, bone loss or periodontitis can occur.  The latter is is treated in a number of ways. One method, called root planing, involves cleaning and scraping below the gum line to smooth the roots. If effective, this procedure helps the gums reattach themselves to the tooth structure. If it doesn't kill all of the bacteria that cause periodontal disease, Dr. Blessitt may elect to apply a locally administered antibiotic such as ARESTIN®.