Gingivitis is the main cause of oral health issues around the world, not just the main cause of periodontal disease. Gingivitis causes inflammation in the gums due to the build-up of tartar and plaque which is often found on teeth from not getting regular cleanings from your dental clinic. However, with consistent oral care, you can reverse your oral health for the better. If you leave gingivitis untreated it can lead to periodontal disease, which is also known as gum disease.

If periodontal disease is diagnosed, it is due to your gums becoming swollen and forming pockets of open space between the gums tissue and the teeth. This open space between the gums is a breeding spot for bacteria. If an infection develops, your body’s immune system will start to fight off any of the bacteria; however, if the plaque in your teeth continues to build under the gum line, the plaque will eventually begin to break down your jawbone around the teeth.

Excessive gums are also known as gingival hyperplasia, which is the overgrowth of the surrounding gum tissue that becomes excessive over the teeth. Excessive gums are developed due to several different reasons, the main symptom is due to poor oral hygiene, as well as a side effect of certain medications.

If excessive gums go untreated, it can affect the alignment of your teeth and even increase the risk of developing a disease. This can be repaired by improving your oral health habits; however, if your case is seen as severe, surgery may be necessary.

To improve your oral health habits, you would brush a minimum of twice a day, floss your teeth morning and night, and use mouthwash each day.

If excessive gums are due to a medication or disease and surgery is recommended, certain procedures are used to remove overgrown gums, including:

– Laser
A gum specialist also known as a periodontist will use lasers to remove any of the inflamed gum tissue. Once the inflamed gums have been removed, the periodontist will scrape away any of the plaque buildups that have formed around the roots of your teeth.

– Electrosurgery
The periodontist will apply electric currents which are known as electrosurgery to the gum tissue to remove or cut away any overgrowth.

– Periodontal flap surgery
The periodontist will fold back the gums temporarily to allow access to remove any of the inflamed tissue and again clean away any plaque or tartar that has built up on the teeth.

– Gingivectomy
Our periodontist will remove the portions of the gums that are inflamed surrounding her teeth. The inflamed gums will be trimmed away and removed, then repaired with stitches.

Periodontists also known as gum specialists, specialize and focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease or gum disease affects the common bones that help support the teeth. Periodontists go through extensive additional training for periodontal surgery or other periodontal issues including having to perform dental implant procedures and many more. Often if a patient is dealing with a severe case of periodontal disease, dentists will refer the patient to a periodontal specialist. Periodontists also provide a wide variety of specialized services that may include scaling, root planning, root surface debridement, cosmetic periodontal treatments, and oral infection treatment.

For more information, call us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Miami Beach FL, Greater Miami FL, Midtown FL, Miami Shores FL, Aventura FL, Wynwood FL, Little Haiti FL, Dodge Island FL, North Miami FL, and Pinewood FL.