Gum Disease

Periodontal disease progresses as the space between the tooth and gums gets filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar that can cause damage to the gums and the bone that supports the teeth. Let us now consider both stages and steps taken for treatment.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Early Stages:

If the disease is caught in the early stages of what is called gingivitis, and no damage has been done, a regular cleaning will be recommended.

You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral habits as well as to maintain regular dental cleanings. Treatments for gum disease that don’t need surgery from a professional hygienist will include removing the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line of all teeth.

If you were wanting to do any cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening or veneers, you will need to wait until your gums have fully healed to begin those procedures.

Secondary Stage:

In case you have gum disease, your dentist will suggest professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year. Tartar removal is performed by your dentist so that he or she can see that your teeth received a thorough cleaning to quickly remove the deposits of plaque called calculus and other bacterial toxins from your teeth.

This process of cleaning is generally known as scaling and root planing carried out by a hygienist or a periodontist, and may require local anesthesia.

Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque tartar from deep periodontal pockets and it results in little to no pain.

After three or four weeks your dentist will observe and evaluate the response of your tissue to the initial therapy.

They may recommend using oral antibiotics to help control bacterial infection which include mouth rinses or the insertion of gels in the space between your teeth and gums.

Oral antibiotics in some cases may be necessary to completely eliminate bacteria.

Surgical Treatments

Some treatments for progressed gum disease turn out to be surgical.

Some examples are like flap surgery/pocket reduction where the gums are lifted back and the tarter is removed. The gums are then placed so that the tissue fits around the tooth.

This method reduces the size of the space between the gum and tooth, decreasing the areas where bacteria can grow and avoids any chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease.

Another type of treatment called bone grafts, involves using fragments of your own bone, or of a donated bone to replace bone destroyed by gum disease, which restore the stability to your teeth.

This type of technology, called tissue engineering, encourages your own body to regenerate bone and tissue at a very fast rate.

On the other hand, soft tissue grafts, reinforce thin gums or fills in places where gums have receded, that is stitched in place, adding tissue to the affected area.

It is typically used when the bone supporting your teeth is destroyed, stimulating bone and gum tissue growth.

The bone surgery treatment will allow the bone around the tooth to be reshaped in order to decrease existing craters, making it hard for bacteria to collect and grow.

In the case of tooth loss, the periodontist is able to perform natural tissue regeneration, and insert dental implants.

Preventing periodontal disease is critical in preserving the health of your teeth. Make sure to address the issue with your dentist to help prevent its recurrence which may lead to tooth extractions.