You may think cosmetic dentistry lacks major requirements. After all, it’s usually not invasive and focuses on smile flaws. However, you must put it on hold if you have infected gums. In that case, you should treat gum disease before seeing a cosmetic dentist. The alternative is a service that won’t help your grin. If you’d like, your Ponte Vedra dentist can explain more. Here’s a summary of gum disease, how it impacts your smile, and why to treat it before cosmetic work.
What Exactly is Gum Disease?
Gum disease – also known as periodontal disease – is an infection of your mouth’s gum tissue. It’s usually the result of plaque buildup from poor oral hygiene.
In general, the condition has two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. The first is a mild inflammation that irritates your gingiva (i.e., your gums). Meanwhile, the second is an advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis; it’ll seriously damage your mouth and jaw if left unchecked.
How Does it Impact Your Smile?
If you don’t take precautions, gum disease will ruin your smile’s looks. That’s only natural – many of the issue’s symptoms are highly noticeable. They include the following:
• Puffy or swollen gums
• Changes in gum color (pink to bright, dusky, or purplish red)
• Gum bleeding or tenderness
• Receding gums
Should your gum disease advance into periodontitis, it may cause tooth decay, tooth loss, and bone loss. Thus, you must get it under control as soon as possible.
Why Treat It Before Cosmetic Work?
Put simply, cosmetic work isn’t practical for those with (untreated) gum disease. Shinier teeth won’t distract much from unhealthy gums (especially if they fall out later). Also, specific aesthetic procedures can hide gum disease symptoms – cavities, gum recession, etc. If that happens, your problem will worsen without you knowing it.
Given the above, seeing a dentist for your infected gums first is best. They could fix the issue with deep cleaning, scaling, and root planing. Such steps could take a few months, but the time would be well-spent. It’d strengthen your mouth enough to handle cosmetic work.
If you want your pretty smile to last, treat your gum disease before seeing your cosmetic dentist. That approach will lead to a grin that’s both healthy and beautiful.
About the Practice
Ponte Vedra Complete Dentistry is based in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Led by Drs. Harth and Townsend, our practice gives every patient the best smile possible. To that end, we perform comprehensive dentistry that spans preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services. Our team also offers top-quality emergency oral procedures and gum disease therapy. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (904)-285-7711.