How will I know if I have Gum Disease?

The first step for the prevention and detection of gum disease is to see Dr. Han for regular check-ups. Some warning signs of gum disease are: red, swollen or tender gums, gums that bleed when brushing, flossing or eating, gums that have pulled away from teeth in one or more areas, loose or separating teeth, pus around the teeth, and a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.

What treatment does Dr. Han recommend for gum disease?

Gum disease treatment depends on the severity of the disease and can range from more frequent cleaning visits all the way to gum surgery. Tooth loss is not the only potential problem posed by gum disease. There appears to be a link between gum disease and increased risk for diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular and Alzheimer's disease.

In our La Jolla office, we treat mild to moderate cases of gum disease with thorough cleaning, PerioProtect™ antibiotic trays, and laser gum treatment. If your gum disease is very advanced, we will recommend that you see one of our colleagues, a trusted periodontist, for treatment.

PerioProtect: a complete system for healthy teeth and gums

The PerioProtect nonsurgical gum disease treatment uses a patented device called Perio Trays. After a thorough examination, we take impressions of your teeth and gums in our La Jolla dental office. A PerioProtect-licensed dental laboratory then constructs the Perio Trays to meet your custom prescription.

Specially prescribed medications are placed into the Perio Trays and then placed over the teeth and gums. The time and frequency the Perio Trays are used each day varies by the severity of the disease. The patented trays ensure that the medications will move deeply into the infected gums to reach and kill the harmful bacteria that are the cause of periodontal disease. Even in advanced cases, this gum disease treatment takes only minutes per day.

Laser Gum Disease Treatment

Laser gum disease treatment is an advanced technique used by the hygienists at La Jolla Dental Care to the gums and avoid the need for surgery. A laser light is used to gently remove harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket. This allows the body to heal naturally so the gum pockets improve and the teeth become more stable.

There are many benefits to using laser therapy rather than traditional gum surgery in indicated cases. It is less traumatic, but highly effective. Because there is no cutting of the gum tissue, no stitches are required, making healing time much faster. Laser treatment also acts to preserve gum tissue, rather than cutting it away, and there is reduced root exposure and sensitivity.