Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.
Are you hesitant to smile because you know that your gums look puffy and inflamed? If so, this could be due to gum disease. It's a problem that can be fixed thanks to scaling and root planing, which helps reduce the puffiness and pain you are experiencing. It's important to understand why you developed this condition, and what can be done to correct the problem.
Why Do Your Gums Become Puffy and Inflamed?
Gum inflammation occurs because plaque contains bacteria, and it can cause your gums to be infected. There will be an accumulation of plaque between your teeth and gums, which causes that puffy appearance. When plaque is not removed, it can become hard and cause the puffiness to increase. This is a result of what happens when you don't brush as frequently as you need to.
Your dentist will treat the condition with a dental procedure known as scaling and root planing. They use ultrasonic scaling equipment that can remove the plaque found under the gums, even when there is a lot of it. Once most of the hardened plaque is removed from your gums, they manually scrape away all of the remaining plaque so that the surface is smooth.
Your gums will still be puffy immediately after having the procedure done, but swelling will gradually reduce over the next few days. You'll be prescribed an antibiotic to help deal with any inflammation you're experiencing due to the procedure, and pain medication when it is necessary.
What Will The Procedure Cost?
Your costs for this procedure will always depend on the degree of work that needs to be done. Gum disease could be isolated to a part of your mouth, or be affecting all your teeth. Another factor will be if you are using dental insurance, and if it will pay for a part of the procedure. If you are not using insurance, expect that you will pay between $100 and $450 if having a single quadrant of your mouth worked on. On average, it could cost $1,257 for your entire mouth to be worked on.
While this may seem like a costly procedure, know that it is designed to reduce pain and improve the appearance of your teeth. If you continue to ignore the problem, your gum disease will continue to get worse as the bacteria below the gum line hardens and causes more irritation. You then may need the help of a dentist, like one from The Family Dentist, that specializes in periodontics.
Share28 March 2017
