After years of wear and tear on your teeth and gums, needing a periodontal treatment is not unusual as you get older. However, periodontics isn’t just an adult concern. Children need periodontal care, too, and more often than you may think. Fortunately, Lovett Dental Corpus Christi offers comprehensive care for children and adults, including periodontics.
Lovett Dental Corpus Christi is a family dentistry practice that caters to all ages. We provide general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and other specializations, such as periodontics.
It’s a common misconception that periodontal issues are relegated to adults. Kids, particularly teenagers, suffer from teeth and gum issues all the time. However, when children need the intervention of periodontics, it’s typically for specific reasons. Chronic gingivitis and aggressive periodontitis are among the most frequent periodontal concerns for children.
If you’re concerned about the health of your teeth and gums, or if your child has irritated or inflamed gums, reach out to our team today to make an appointment.
Family History and Periodontal Disease
Having close relatives with periodontal disease indicates that children are more prone to developing similar issues with teeth and gums. Incidents of severe periodontitis are more prevalent if a parent or sibling suffers from the condition, particularly male subjects that are smokers. Does that mean you don’t have to worry about periodontal treatments and your daughters? Not at all. Genetics play a strong role with anyone, female or male, being more prone to developing periodontal diseases.
How Hormones Affect Gum Development
As children develop and grow into adults, changes in hormone levels affect teeth and gum development. Therefore, the potential for periodontal concerns substantially increases. Adolescents have a higher prevalence of gingivitis than younger children or adults because of rising hormone levels during the onset of puberty. So, it’s important to keep a lookout for your teen’s teeth and gum health. Don’t be surprised if the need for a periodontist becomes a sudden reality.
Lackluster Dental Hygiene
One of the good habits you try to instill in your children is proper dental hygiene. Brushing their teeth at least twice a day, rinsing after sugary snacks, and visiting the dential for annual teeth cleanings are probably in your parental toolbox in keeping their teeth healthy and strong. Obviously, great hygiene learned early can carry us into adulthood with healthy teeth and gums.
However, kids will be kids. Despite the best efforts, children and adults can be a little lazy about taking care of their teeth and gums. In fact, based on various factors, tooth decay is considered an epidemic by many medical professionals and organizations. Children who lack regular dental care suffered twice as many dental-related conditions, which can severely impact their overall health and wellness. Annual checkups and regular access to dentistry can help identify periodontal issues early on, increasing treatment options, or even preventing these types of issues altogether.
How to Know If You Need a Periodontist for Your Child
In addition to the previously mentioned factors and annual checkups, you may not be able to spot everything with the naked eye. Some periodontal concerns can only be spotted with a medically-trained eye, which is why having a specialist is so important. Thorough exams and X-rays are often used to confirm suspected teeth and gum problems, revealing the need for further periodontal treatment.
If you have concerns about if anyone in your family needs periodontal treatment, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Lovett Dental Corpus Christi. Make an appointment online or give us a call at 361-986-1117. We look forward to helping keep your entire family healthy with our dental services.