Our Urbandale dentist wants to make sure your early gum disease does not progress to advanced stages.

There are four stages of gum disease:

  1. Gingivitis: This is the early stage of gum disease and is less severe than periodontitis, which is a more advanced stage of gum disease. With gingivitis, you may experience red, swollen gums that may bleed when you brush and floss. At this stage, however, you have not yet started losing bone around your teeth.
  2. Early periodontitis: At this stage, your gum disease has spread to the bone and can cause deeper periodontal pockets due to damage done to the structures that support your teeth and gums.
  1. Moderate periodontitis: The disease has gone even deeper and will likely cause bone loss and shifting of the teeth.
  2. Advanced periodontitis: The pockets of infection are so deep that laser therapy or surgery may be indicated.
  1. Gingivitis: This is the early stage of gum disease and is less severe than periodontitis, which is a more advanced stage of gum disease. With gingivitis, you may experience red, swollen gums that may bleed when you brush and floss. At this stage, however, you have not yet started losing bone around your teeth.
  2. Early periodontitis: At this stage, your gum disease has spread to the bone and can cause deeper periodontal pockets due to damage done to the structures that support your teeth and gums.
  3. Moderate periodontitis: The disease has gone even deeper and will likely cause bone loss and shifting of the teeth.
  4. Advanced periodontitis: The pockets of infection are so deep that laser therapy or surgery may be indicated.

Signs & Symptoms of Gum Disease

Please keep in mind that every patient’s symptoms of gum disease will vary. In the early stages, you may only have slight tenderness and redness. However, as the disease progresses and goes untreated, you may experience:

  • Swollen gums
  • Bright red, dark red, or dark purple gums
  • Gums that are painful to touch
  • Bleeding gums
  • Pink or red on your toothbrush after brushing your teeth
  • Spitting out blood when brushing or flossing
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Pus between your teeth and gums
  • Loose teeth or loss of teeth
  • Painful chewing
  • New spaces that develop between your teeth (black triangles)
  • Gums recession
  • Bite changes
  • Swollen gums
  • Bright red, dark red, or dark purple gums
  • Gums that are painful to touch
  • Bleeding gums
  • Pink or red on your toothbrush after brushing your teeth
  • Spitting out blood when brushing or flossing
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Pus between your teeth and gums
  • Loose teeth or loss of teeth
  • Painful chewing
  • New spaces that develop between your teeth (black triangles)
  • Gums recession
  • Bite changes

Your dentist in Urbandale, Dr. Jessica Lawson, will detect early gum disease and devise a treatment plan right away so you never get to the advanced stage of periodontitis.

Advanced Gum Disease Prevention & Treatment

At Lawson Dentistry, we’re elevating gum disease treatment with cutting-edge methods such as Perio Protect, a comprehensive treatment that pairs dental cleanings with targeted medication delivery to combat infection. Additionally, our focus on identifying disease pathogens aids in crafting precise treatments, and although in its nascent stages, salivary diagnostics represent a promising future for non-invasive disease monitoring. Our integrative approach ensures we address gum disease at its source, offering you the best preventive care and overall health management.

Dangers of Untreated Gum Disease

Integrative, wholistic dentistry is so vital because gum disease is a perfect example of how oral health can affect general health. You may be surprised to learn that untreated gum disease can lead to very serious health problems.

  • Premature birth and low birth weight
  • High blood pressure
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Respiratory disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Type II Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Respiratory disease
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Premature birth and low birth weight
  • High blood pressure
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • High cholesterol
  • Alzheimer’s disease

As gum disease progresses, it can leave your gum tissues irrevocably damaged. Part of your periodontal maintenance may include removing diseased tissues so your healthy gums can flourish. Using a carefully calibrated soft-tissue laser, our laser-certified hygienists can perform laser gum surgery that is faster, safer, more comfortable, and more precise than traditional surgery.

Laser Therapy for Gum Disease

As gum disease progresses, it can leave your gum tissues irrevocably damaged. Part of your periodontal maintenance may include removing diseased tissues so your healthy gums can flourish. Using a carefully calibrated soft-tissue laser, our laser-certified hygienists can perform laser gum surgery that is faster, safer, more comfortable, and more precise than traditional surgery.

Imperative Preventative Care

With twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings, Urbandale dentist Dr. Lawson and her team will examine your gums to ensure they’re healthy and free of disease. Please call Lawson Dentistry at (515) 278-4366 to schedule your next exam or fill out our online contact form to request an appointment.