Will Gum Disease Affect My Ability to Get Cosmetic Dentistry?

Even the most beautiful building is only as strong as its foundation. Modern cosmetic dentistry has become so advanced that an experienced provider can solve nearly any aesthetic issue you might have, crafting you the smile of your dreams. However, each of these cosmetic procedures is heavily reliant on your natural teeth for support.

If you have gum disease, you might wonder if that could potentially interfere with your ability to receive cosmetic treatment. Here’s a guide that can tell you a little more about that.

How Does Gum Disease Affect my Teeth?

Gum disease is an incredibly common condition—in its early stages, it may be so mild that you don’t even know you have it. However, gum disease is also degenerative, meaning that it only gets worse with time if left untreated.

What starts as simple irritation along the gumline could eventually become periodontitis, an infection that can attack bone tissue. In extreme cases, this can lead to tooth loss.

Could Gum Disease Affect My Ability to Get Cosmetic Treatment?

If you get veneers, crowns, or other cosmetic treatments that cover your teeth, that could make it much more difficult to detect and treat gum disease. That puts your cosmetics at significant risk of coming loose if the teeth underneath them are compromised.

For that reason, most providers will test you and have you treated for gum disease before any long-lasting cosmetic procedure. That doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue cosmetic dental treatments if you have gum disease, just that your treatment may take a little bit longer than it might otherwise.

How is Gum Disease Treated?

If you visit a periodontist to have your gum disease treated, they’ll have a wide array of options available for you to choose from. Which one’s they’ll use will depend upon the severity of your condition, but there are some common ones that you can expect to see.

Often, patients are given a round of antibiotics to be taken over the course of 6-9 months. This can’t cure gum disease, but it may make other treatments more effective. Most gum disease patients will also get scaling and root planing, i.e. a deep cleaning of plaque buildup under the gums.

Of course, these are just two of many treatments that can effectively deal with gum disease. A periodontist would be able to let you know exactly what treatment is best for you at a consultation. And once they’ve dealt with the gum disease, there’ll be nothing standing between you and your perfect smile.

About the Author

Dr. Bita Amanda Farhoumand is a board-certified periodontist and implantologist who has the expertise necessary to handle any oral health problem that comes her way. She received her DDS from the UCLA School of Dentistry and her Certificate in Periodontics from New York University. Dr. Bita has received numerous awards for her commitment to her field, and she is a sought-after educator by universities across the world.

If you have any questions about gum disease treatment or cosmetic dentistry, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (703) 981-3185.