by dds2017 | Jul 10, 2025 | Blog, Dental Information, Dental Topics 5
Gum disease treatment varies significantly depending on the severity of the condition. While mild issues may require nothing more than a professional cleaning and improved oral hygiene, advanced cases can involve more complex and sometimes painful procedures. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, seeking prompt treatment is critical to prevent further damage.
Diagnosis and Evaluation
Your dentist will begin by conducting a thorough gum examination, which includes:
- Measuring gum pockets around each tooth
- Checking for inflammation or swelling
- Assessing gum recession
If the gum pockets are extensive, this could indicate bone loss, and your dentist may refer you to a periodontist, a specialist in treating gum disease.
Gingivitis: Early-Stage Gum Disease
Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease. Treatments typically include:
- A professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup
- Improving oral hygiene habits (brushing, flossing, and mouth rinses)
- Regular dental checkups to monitor progress
With early intervention, gingivitis is reversible, and your gums can heal over time.
Advanced Gum Disease: Scaling and Root Planing
When gum disease progresses beyond gingivitis, deeper treatments may be required, such as:
- Scaling and Root Planing: A thorough, deep cleaning below the gumline to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria.
- Medications: Antibiotics or antimicrobial rinses may be prescribed to control infection and inflammation.
Surgical Treatments
If non-surgical methods fail to resolve gum disease, surgery may be necessary to remove diseased tissue and create an environment conducive to healing. Common procedures include:
- Gum Surgery: Removes infected gum tissue and protects healthy gums and bone.
- Gum Graft: For receding gums, tissue is surgically taken from another area of the mouth and grafted onto the affected area to restore appearance and function.
- Abscess Treatment: A gum abscess may require deep cleaning to clear diseased tissue and drain any pus. Antibiotics are often prescribed to fight infection and prevent recurrence.
Prevention is Key
While treatments exist for all stages of gum disease, prevention is always the best approach. Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash daily. Combine this with regular dental checkups to catch gum issues early before they progress.
If you’re concerned about gum disease, consult your dentist in McDonough for a comprehensive evaluation and a personalized treatment plan.
Take the first step towards a confident smile. Contact our McDonough dental office to schedule your consultation!
by dds2017 | Jul 3, 2025 | Blog, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Topics 5
Do you have gapped or crooked teeth? Have you been wondering if braces are the best option to correct your alignment issues? Slight imperfections that didn’t bother you as a child might now seem like major concerns. If the thought of wearing braces or another type of orthodontic treatment for years is daunting, consider talking to your dentist—dental veneers could be the perfect solution for your smile.
Dental veneers are thin layers of porcelain, composite resin, or other tooth-colored materials that are permanently bonded to the surface of your natural teeth. While veneers cannot correct alignment or bite issues, they can create the illusion of perfectly straight, white teeth. Unlike braces, veneers don’t require any metal hardware, and they can typically be completed in just one or two office visits. Veneers are highly durable and long-lasting, often lasting up to twenty years with proper care.
If you are in good general health, you may be a candidate for dental veneers. Since veneers rely on the strength of your natural tooth to bond, any tooth that is decayed or infected cannot support a veneer. Issues such as cavities or other dental problems must be treated before a veneer can be placed. Patients with healthy mouths, but crooked, gapped, discolored, or chipped teeth, are ideal candidates for veneers.
If you’re not happy with your smile, speak to cosmetic dentist Dr. Adkins in McDonough today. Dental veneers could be the perfect way to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Why wait for the results of braces when dental veneers can give you the smile you desire now?
Ready to transform your smile? Schedule your appointment today at our McDonough dental office.
by Dr. Adkins | Jun 26, 2025 | Blog, Dental Topics 1, Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry at our McDonough dental office helps patients get the care they need for their teeth and can turn an otherwise stressful experience into a comfortable dental visit. Initially developed to focus on patients with special needs and those with acute dental phobias, it has progressed to be utilized by a wide range of patient groups.
Putting off dental care can affect all levels of your health. Even regular cleanings are shown to improve overall health. Untreated issues can lead to bad breath, gingivitis or periodontitis, bone loss, acute gum disease, or other serious issues.
Have you put off your dental care? Have you have been wondering if a faster, more comfortable and relaxed dental experience could benefit you? If so, see if some of the symptoms below are relatable to you.
- You miss regular check-ups and postpone care.
- You experience anxiety at the mere thought of a dental visit.
- It has been years since your last dental examination.
- The sights, sounds, and smells of a dental office cause you to feel uncomfortable and tense.
- You feel exhausted after a dental visit. Your muscles are tired and sore.
- You have an acute gag reflex and worry about vomiting during a dental procedure.
- You have difficulty getting numb during procedures.
- You have a physical condition such as Parkinson’s disease or cerebral palsy that causes you to make involuntary movements.
- You have TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint disorder) or are unable to keep your mouth open for long periods of time.
- Your jaw might be sore for days after a dental visit.
- You need extensive, painful or treatments over several visits, such as gum surgery, bone grafting or extractions.
- You have a fearful and anxious child who won’t follow instructions or sit still during a dental visit.
- You desire the most comfortable dental experience possible.
Does even one of these descriptions ring true for you? If so, talk to your dentist about sedation dentistry today! Don’t wait to enjoy the optimal level of oral care available to you.
If you need a dentist in McDonough contact us today
by Dr. Adkins | Jun 19, 2025 | Blog, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Topics 2
The first impression you make on the world often starts with your smile. Dingy, dull, crooked or chipped teeth create the appearance of an “old” smile, making you look older than your actual years. Restoring your smile’s youthful look is an easy way to subtract years from the image you portray to the world. Thanks to advances in modern cosmetic dentistry, your smile can appear as young as you feel.
As tooth enamel thins with age, teeth lose their shine and appear darker. Thin enamel also causes teeth to weaken, making them easier to chip and causing wear and shifting. Cosmetic dentistry offers many procedures and treatments to address these problems and help return your smile to a younger, more vibrant state. Just a few options you may want to consider include:
- Professional teeth whitening to improve the color of teeth that have been darkened by stains or discolored from age.
- Porcelain veneers and bonding to correct gaps, chips, and teeth with uneven lengths. Veneers can also reshape teeth, restoring the youthful appearance created by longer teeth. Veneers can also be used to build up your back teeth to support the cheekbones, replacing the fullness lost with aging and giving your face the appearance of a “lift”.
- Orthodontia with either clear or traditional braces corrects the misalignment caused by teeth that shift as you age.
If your desire is to look as youthful as you feel, cosmetic dentistry may be a perfect solution to address the problems of an aging smile. Many procedures can be completed in as little as one office visit, with little to no recovery time. Consult with a qualified cosmetic dentist to find out how you can achieve a younger, more perfect smile.
Schedule your appointment at our McDonough dental office
by Dr. Adkins | Jun 12, 2025 | Blog, Dental Topics 2, Emergency Dentistry
It may be obvious when you’re in a situation that requires immediate treatment by a dentist. Perhaps you’re in immense pain, or you’ve had a tooth knocked out or bleeding that won’t stop. Examples like this make it easy to decide you need help right away, but sometimes it’s not as clear. What are some other problems that may require emergency dental treatment?
Cracked teeth
A cracked or fractured tooth is serious, and often means that the tooth has been damaged both on the inside and the outside. Many times the tooth can’t be saved. If your tooth is broken, schedule an emergency appointment immediately. Remember, a cracked tooth is different than a chipped tooth, which is not as serious. You can usually wait to see your dentist at the next available opportunity for a chipped tooth.
Lost fillings
Some lost fillings require immediate care to avoid worse issues. Fillings protect your tooth’s root from exposure, so if the filling falls out your root can be uncovered and cause intense pain. There is also increased risk for damage to your tooth’s structure, so seeing your dentist as soon as possible is suggested.
Lost crown
If your crown falls out, call your dentist for an appointment as soon as possible. Until you can see the dentist, try putting the crown back in place using an over-the-counter dental adhesive. Do not use any products like Super Glue. If the crown won’t stay in place, make sure you take it to your appointment with you so that it can be re-cemented correctly.
Abscess
If you have a painful swelling on your gum that resembles a pimple, it might be a serious condition called an abscess. It can damage gum tissue and teeth, as well as spread serious infection to your body. See your dentist immediately for proper treatment.
We look forward to seeing you in our McDonough dental office
by Dr. Adkins | Jun 5, 2025 | Blog, Dental Topics 2, Invisalign
Does your child need braces, but isn’t sure about being a “metal mouth” for two or more years? Did your teen come to you and beg for some other option to traditional braces? Perhaps you’ve heard about Invisalign aligners but are wondering if they’ll work for your child. Invisalign is absolutely appropriate for your teen if all of his or her baby teeth have fallen out and adult teeth have erupted.
Invisalign provides the same results as traditional metal braces, but without the metal brackets. Concerns over eating with braces are removed with the Invisalign trays, as they come out for meals, leaving your teen free to eat any food he or she desires.
Invisalign utilizes clear plastic trays that allow the process of straightening your teen’s teeth to be less obvious and less obtrusive. Beginning with x-rays and molds, your orthodontist will make a series of trays, called aligners. These trays are worn most of the day, taken out only to eat or to be cleaned. The process of straightening happens gradually and comfortably.
It is essential during this time that the trays are worn as recommended by the orthodontist. Wearing them less than the recommended amount of time will result in slower correction, and has the potential to lengthen treatment. Have your teen continue with any established good oral hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing must continue on a regular basis, brushing twice a day at minimum and flossing before bedtime.
Being a teenager is full of difficulties, and it is during this time that teens are at their most self-conscious. Adding metal braces to this transition can make everything worse for your child, leaving him or her self-conscious about eating with friends or smiling, talking or laughing in public. Your teen’s gapped, misaligned or crowded teeth can be improved significantly with Invisalign trays. Talk to your orthodontist today to see how Invisalign can make a difference for your child.
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