This four-part article series takes a look at the various treatments and procedures available for four common dental problems: (1) tooth decay, (2) gum disease, (3) stained teeth and (4) tooth loss.

1. Four Common Dental Problems and What Your Wilmington Cosmetic Dentist
Can Do To Treat Them, PART 2
Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the various treatment options
available for the four dental problems most commonly experienced by Wilmington residents. Previously, in
Part 1, we examined what can be done to treat tooth decay and in addition to discussing dental fillings,
crowns and root canals, the importance of preventative measures (good oral hygiene) was emphasized.
Now, let’s take a look at the next dental problem causing many Wilmington residents proverbial and literal
toothache: gum disease.
Common Dental Problem # 2: Gum Disease
Gum disease is an advanced bacterial infection of the soft tissue surrounding the teeth and even the
jawbone. It’s typically caused by a chronic neglect of good oral hygiene and by habits such as heavy
drinking, an unhealthy diet and tobacco-use. According to the Center for Disease Control, full-blown
gum disease affects 50% of Americans, while an additional 30% of Americans present with the
beginning stages of this disease.

2. “Gum disease or periodontitis has severe ramifications for health,” says one Wilmington cosmetic
dentist. “Not only will it totally devastate your teeth and your smile if left without treatment, but it has
also been linked with a host of other potentially fatal illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes,
dementia and respiratory disease.”
Thankfully, periodontitis can be treated, although it is much easier and cheaper to prevent it in the first
place!
Possible Solutions:
• Laser Therapy
The use of concentrated beams of high-energy light can be used to painlessly and very precisely cut
away diseased, infected tissue, leaving only healthy tissue behind. This gives the mouth a good start to
healing.
• Root Planing and Scaling
A deep cleaning involving root planing and scaling is often recommended by Wilmington dentists –
sometimes in addition to laser therapy - for the treatment of advanced gum disease. The more
bacteria, infection and diseased tissue eliminated from the mouth without compromising the integrity
of the remaining healthy teeth, the better a patient’s chances are of making a full recovery. This
procedure involves the deep cleaning and polishing of the tooth roots beneath the gum line, where
deep pockets of infection may have accumulated.

3. • Preventative Oral Hygiene
Gum disease treatment often involves several appointments with specially trained and qualified
Wilmington dentists, or with a gum disease specialist called a periodontist. In addition to this treatment,
patients should really reassess their lifestyles and make certain changes (improved eating habits, quitting
smoking, drinking in moderation) to ensure that they won’t succumb to infection again.
Also, it’s vital that patients learn how to care for their teeth properly and to perform the necessary oral
hygiene routine each and every day to prevent the recurrence of infection. The Wilmington residents
who are recovering from gum disease will need to go over and above the usual as far as their hygiene
efforts are concerned:
Three times daily brushing for two minutes at a time
Daily flossing
Swilling with an anti-bacterial mouth rinse two to three times per day
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To find out about the various treatment options available for the next common dental problem
to be discussed (stained teeth), stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article
series, coming next week.