Gum Disease Treatment With Functional Dentistry

Our Holistic Approach To Periodontal Care

If you’ve noticed symptoms like swollen gums, sensitive teeth, or bad breath, you may have gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. Nearly half of all American adults over the age of 30 have some form of gum disease.

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At Mission Bay Dental, we’re here to help. With our holistic approach to gum disease treatment and advanced technology like GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy) and salivary testing, Dr. Nancy Ly, Dr. Jane Choi, and our team of dentists can recognize, identify, and treat gum disease before it causes permanent damage to your teeth, gums, and jawbone.

What Is Gum Disease, And What Causes It?

Gum disease occurs when bacteria-filled plaque and tartar build up between your teeth and gums. It’s primarily caused by poor oral hygiene. However, there are some other factors that can raise your risk of gum disease, such as smoking, alcohol use, poorly managed diabetes, and many others.

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As bacteria and tartar build up between your teeth and gums, the bacteria begin to infect the gum tissue. Initially, this only causes minor inflammation in the first stage of gum disease, which is known as gingivitis.

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But if left untreated, the infection will get worse. Over time, bacteria will begin to destroy your gums, the support structures of your teeth, and your jawbone. In the most extreme cases, gum disease can cause the loss of most or all of your teeth.

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The good news is that, with proper dental care, it’s possible to halt or even reverse the progression of gum disease. At Mission Bay Dental, our dentists are experts in gum disease treatment and can provide the expert care you need to restore your gums, save your teeth, and get your oral health under control.

Understanding Our Functional Approach To Gum Disease Treatment 

At Mission Bay Dental, we practice functional dentistry. This is a holistic, wellness-focused approach that doesn’t just focus on your oral health. Our dentists look deeper, learn more about you and your lifestyle, and use this information to understand both your oral health and how it’s connected to your whole-body health.

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This functional approach is useful in all areas of dentistry, but it’s especially valuable when it comes to gum disease treatment. No two cases of gum disease are exactly alike. Every patient has a different lifestyle, medical history, personal habits, and dental hygiene routine. And by taking the time to learn about these things and understand the root cause of gum disease, our dentists can take the necessary steps to provide the best possible care.

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) with EMS Airflow

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is an approach that uses minimally invasive dental tools from EMS Airflow to remove biofilm from the teeth and gums. Instead of using traditional dental tools to clean your teeth, EMS Airflow uses a stream of water, air, and powder to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums.

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EMS Airflow is a great tool for regular dental cleanings, and it can be used for periodontal cleanings, too. This approach is less invasive than traditional periodontal “deep cleanings,” allowing our dentists to clean deeply between your teeth and gums while reducing discomfort and minimizing recovery times.

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Along with good at-home oral hygiene and a healthy diet and lifestyle, routine cleanings with Guided Biofilm Therapy are often enough to halt the progression of gum disease and keep your teeth and gums healthy for years to come.

Salivary testing for gum disease detection & monitoring

Along with traditional diagnostic techniques, we offer salivary testing as part of our periodontal treatment protocols at Mission Bay Dental. Your saliva can tell our dentists a lot about your oral health. They can look for markers of inflammation, check for bacteria that are associated with periodontal disease, measure saliva pH, and much more. 

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These insights can help our dentists diagnose gum disease more accurately and develop a better understanding of the progression of your case. In turn, this helps us develop a personalized treatment plan that will help you get your oral health back on track.

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The benefits of salivary testing aren’t limited to your oral health, either. The bacteria that cause gum disease are often associated with a higher risk of other health conditions like heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. By identifying these bacteria through salivary testing, the team at Mission Bay Dental can provide you with valuable insights about your whole-body health.

Get Expert Care For Gum Disease In San Francisco

If you think you may have gum disease, don’t wait. The sooner you get help, the more likely it is that you will be able to halt or reverse its progression, protect your teeth and gums, and smile proudly again. With our functional approach to gum disease treatment in San Francisco, Mission Bay Dental can help!

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Dr. Ly, Dr. Choi, and our dentists are here to provide you with the personalized care you need to fight back against gum disease, gain insights into your oral and whole-body health, and make sure that your teeth and gums stay healthy for years to come. Give us a call at (619) 275-2750 to book your first visit today.