Those in the Lehigh Valley area who have swollen gum tissue should visit a nearby General Dentist as soon as possible. Although it is possible that the swelling may be the result of an injury, it is most likely the result of gum disease, which is also known as periodontal disease. Untreated gum disease could lead to the loss of gum tissue and the eventual loss of teeth. That is why those who have swollen gum tissue should visit the Dentist in Lehigh Valley as soon as possible for treatment.
When the Dentist in Lehigh Valley sees swollen gum tissue, the next thing to do is to figure out how serious the periodontal disease is. This is usually done by measuring the depth of the pocket between the gum tissue and the teeth. A measuring probe will be used. There should be little to no pain while the dentist is measuring the depth of the pockets. Based upon the result of the examination, a treatment plan can be generated for the patient.
In many instances, a low dose oral antibiotic needs to be taken by the patient in order to help the body fight the bacteria that is causing the periodontal disease. This medication needs to be taken on a daily basis. However, this is usually not enough to control the patient’s gum disease.
Another potential treatment that the Dentist in Lehigh Valley may suggest is a deep cleaning. It is somewhat similar to the regular cleaning at the dental office. However, anesthetic injections just like those used for filling cavities will be needed. The anesthetic injections are needed so that the hygienist can clean below the gum line. Because this type of cleaning is much more thorough, most patients find that only one quadrant of the mouth can be deep cleaned per visit.
Finally, those that have serious periodontal disease may need to get gum surgery. With gum surgery, the pockets are surgically closed to reduce the depth. This type of surgery does not require overnight hospitalization, but patients will need to eat soft foods for up to a week.
Although all of these treatments are available for periodontal disease, patients need to stop the progression of the disease as soon as possible. Once gum tissue is lost, it won’t come back. That is why it is important for those with swollen gum tissue to get treated as soon as possible.
