Periodontal Treatment in Bangor, ME
One of our main concerns at Maine Family Dental Practice is preventing and treating periodontal disease. Gum disease is incredibly prevalent among adults in the United States, and it can have serious health consequences.
During your biannual dental exam, you’ll be screened for signs of periodontitis. During the rest of the year, you should schedule an appointment if you notice any symptoms of gum disease. Bangor dentist Dr. Travis Buxton can identify the early stages of gum disease, which are easily dismissed by the untrained individual.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a chronic infection of the tissues surrounding teeth. Bacteria that occur naturally in the mouth create waste products that form a film on teeth called plaque. If you’re not careful to remove plaque by practicing good dental hygiene on a daily basis, plaque can turn into harmful and hard-to-remove tartar.
The build-up of tartar can extend below the gumline, where it pushes the gum tissue away from the tooth. This creates a space – or pocket – where bacteria can further gather.
Gum disease does not only affect the gum tissue – it also causes the jaw bone in the affected area to recede away from around the tooth. The damage to the gum tissue and bone can destabilize teeth and eventually lead to tooth loss.
Gum Disease Prevention in the 04401 Area 
We want to prevent gum disease from affecting your life! Through preventative dental care such as education, regular screenings, and advice regarding your at-home care routine, we hope to keep your gums healthy.
In the event that you develop periodontitis, we are equipped to provide you with effective treatment.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Unfortunately, many gum disease cases go untreated. This may be partially due to fear of periodontal treatments. At Maine Family Dental Practice, we offer gentle treatments for every stage of periodontitis.
The proper treatment for gum disease varies by case. Many times, the earliest stages of the disease – called gingivitis – can be easily treated through improvements in your dental care routine.
For more advanced cases, we offer scaling and root planing. Scaling is a deep-cleaning procedure in which your dentist will remove plaque from beneath the surface of the gums. In the past, this process was done by hand. As an alternative to scraping away plaque with an instrument, we perform scaling with the latest technology. Our ultrasonic instrument uses vibrations and sound waves to loosen plaque and water to wash it away.
During root planing, jagged spots on your tooth’s root surface will be smoothed away so that bacteria cannot congregate in these areas. Antibiotic treatments may also be appropriate.
Schedule A Consultation with Our Dentist in Bangor Today!
Early symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gums, redness, and inflammation. If you suspect that you may have gum disease, schedule an appointment at our Bangor dental office right away! Timely and effective treatment is important for preventing serious health complications.
Gum disease affects more than half of American adults in some form, and it can be a tricky condition to diagnose on your own since it doesn't cause much pain or very many symptoms in the beginning.
Every case of 
Periodontal (gum) disease can be tricky to diagnose on your own since there are not many signs, symptoms, or pain in the earliest stages. Since it is an infection of your gums, some of the first signs to be aware of are:
