Often, when you think about a healthy smile, it tends to focus on your teeth and keeping them free from tooth decay. However, there is another vital component to your dental health—your gums. They are critical to the health of your teeth and ensuring that they last for a lifetime. Not to mention, they are an extension of your body, promoting your systemic health. To achieve this, periodontics plays an important role in your dental care. As your dentist serving Chehalis, Dr. Blaine Kennington provides the prevention and treatments you need to protect your smile.
What is Periodontics?
Your teeth rely on your gums as they contain the supporting structures they need to stay healthy. Periodontics is an area of dentistry that focuses on keeping these supporting structures healthy. By doing so, it supports the health of your teeth to ensure that they will last for a lifetime.
However, the gums and supporting structures are not just important for your dental health. They are also an extension of your body overall. They influence your systemic health. If issues develop, such as gum disease, it will negatively impact your body. The bacteria responsible for the gum infection will enter the bloodstream, increasing your risk for cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, and cardiovascular complications.
Periodontal care provides prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease in the tissues surrounding the teeth. By doing so, it promotes the function and esthetics of your smile.
What Is Involved in Periodontics?
Most often, periodontics involves the treatment of gum disease and the placement of dental implants. When infection is present, special periodontal procedures can treat the infection while also rehabilitating the health of the supporting structures. If the infection causes significant damage, more advanced treatments may be used, such as bone grafting or tooth replacement options, like dental implants. Periodontal care plays a valuable role in the long-term success of implants by helping to maintain your gum health around the implants.
Do I Need Periodontal Care?
There may come a time when you require periodontal care. If you develop gum disease or have a high risk for periodontal infection, you need care to protect your gums. Dr. Kennington will create a customized treatment plan to prevent or deal with the infection. He offers a proactive approach to stop periodontal infections while preventing future damage. He also provides care to deal with damage that has already occurred. Dr. Kennington sometimes works with periodontists or other specialists when particular needs arise.
If you have suffered significant complications from the infection, such as tooth loss, Dr. Kennington provides several options, including dental implants, to fill the space while rehabilitating your dental health.
Where Can I Get Periodontal Care Near Me?
If you need the care of a periodontal care, Dr. Kennington at Cowlitz River Dental can help. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.