Gum Disease Does Not Announce Itself Until It Has Already Done Damage.
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and most patients do not know they have it until the damage is already underway. Grand Prairie Family Dental, located in Grand Prairie TX, offers general dentistry, periodontal therapy and gum disease treatment under Dr. Behrooz Khademazad, DDS, who has practiced at this location since August 28, 1988. His approach connects oral health to systemic health because the research connecting untreated gum disease to heart disease and diabetes is too significant to ignore.
If you have noticed bleeding when you brush, gums pulling away from your teeth, or persistent bad breath that does not resolve with brushing, those are clinical signs worth taking seriously. Patients from Dalworth Hills and Country Club Park come to Grand Prairie Family Dental with exactly those concerns. Most leave the evaluation with a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan that makes sense before anything is scheduled.
What Is Periodontal Disease and How Does It Progress
Gum disease begins when plaque and bacteria build up below the gum line and cause inflammation in the surrounding tissue. In the early stage, called gingivitis, the gums bleed easily and appear red or swollen but no permanent damage has occurred yet. Left untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, where the infection spreads to the bone supporting the teeth and begins causing irreversible bone loss. The American Dental Association identifies periodontal disease as the primary cause of tooth loss in adults over 35.
Dr. Khademazad screens for gum disease at every comprehensive exam because early-stage gum disease is almost always reversible with treatment and better home care. Advanced periodontitis can be managed and stabilized but the bone that is lost does not grow back.
Signs You May Have Gum Disease
Gum disease is often painless until it has progressed significantly. Dr. Khademazad evaluates gum health at every exam and looks for clinical signs that patients often miss on their own. Common signs that warrant a periodontal evaluation include:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss even gently
- Gums that look red, swollen, or feel tender when touched
- Gums pulling away from the teeth, making teeth appear longer
- Persistent bad breath that does not resolve with brushing
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted position
- Pus between the teeth and gums or a bad taste in the mouth
Patients from Grand Peninsula and Forum Meadows who come in after noticing one or more of these signs almost always receive a clear diagnosis at the evaluation. Dr. Khademazad explains exactly what stage of gum disease is present and what treatment is needed before anything is scheduled.
What Periodontal Therapy Involves
The primary treatment for active gum disease at Grand Prairie Family Dental is scaling and root planing, a deep teeth cleaning procedure that removes bacterial buildup from below the gum line and smooths the root surfaces so gum tissue can reattach properly. The procedure is performed under local anesthetic so you are comfortable throughout. Most cases are completed in two appointments, treating one side of the mouth at a time.
Antibiotic therapy may be used alongside scaling and root planing to reduce the bacterial load and support healing. After the active infection is resolved, Dr. Khademazad places you on a periodontal maintenance schedule with more frequent visits to monitor the tissue and prevent recurrence.
