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Gum disease begins with the multiplication of mouthfuls of bacteria. Harmful plaque builds up and hardens into tartar when brushing or flossing does not eliminate this bacterium. Tartar accumulated at the gum line causes gingivitis, which could progress into periodontal disease. Early on in the condition, symptoms may be minor; so, many individuals do not seek treatment until the advanced phases.
Gum disease is one of the main oral diseases in the United States even if it is a preventable illness. Sometimes advanced periodontitis causes tooth loss that is certain. Early intervention allows a dentist to provide patients treatments meant to stop tooth loss. Patients must be aware of all available therapy choices if they are to make wise decisions.
Common treatments for gum disease
Periodontal disease can be treated mostly in two ways: surgically and non-surgical. Usually first line of protection against gum disease is non-surgical treatment. In severe periodontitis, nevertheless, a dentist might advise surgical therapy. Cosmetic treatments for gum disease also enable a patient to feel more confident when they smile.
If your gum disease is in the early stages, cleaning tartar and plaque from above and below the gums could assist to stop the condition from getting worse and stop other issues from starting. Before beginning more involved therapies, this is a crucial diagnostic and preventive step.
Root planning and scaling
Scaling and root planning is one form of non-surgical periodontal care. Under this process, a hygienist or dentist cleans beneath the gum line with scalers and curettes. These tools clear tooth and root surfaces of plaque and calculus.
This treatment aims to disturb harmful, disease-causing bacteria that gather behind the gums, where brushing by itself cannot easily reach. The patient has to commit to the treatment since the dentist or hygienist may carry it across numerous visits. The dentist and hygienist teach the patient correct home maintenance for the teeth and gums once the periodontal treatment is finished.
Periodontal treatment using lasers
Dentists first started utilizing dental lasers in the 1960s, reports the National Institute of Health. Still, until the 1990s, dentists did not apply lasers for periodontal treatment. This somewhat recent discovery has changed the way gum disease is treated by dentists.
Another non-surgical method used by dentists to help patients return to periodontal health is laser periodontal therapy Periodontal disease-causing bacteria break off the gum tissue’s attachment to the teeth. Laser treatment aims to eradicate dangerous bacteria and promote gum reattachment to the teeth so avoiding future problems.
Gum grafting and contouring
Gum recession brought on by periodontitis can elongate tooth appearance than before. One kind of periodontal treatment called gingival grafting covers exposed root surfaces brought on by gum recession. Root surface is softer than enamel, hence it is more sensitive. It might also be more prone to dental decay. For the patient’s general dental health, gingival grafting can help to cover these surfaces.
Certain types of gum disease can also lead to gingival overgrowth, which would make the teeth appear smaller than previously. A dentist might eliminate extra dental tissue with a laser. To remove superfluous gum tissue, they might instead do a gingivectomy, a surgical operation.
Different therapies
For periodontal disease, further surgical procedures such pocket reduction surgery—in which the gums are raised and tartar is removed from behind them—are offered. This operation reduces the space between the teeth and gums, therefore lowering the possibility of hazardous bacterial development. Guided tissue regeneration—which inserts a piece of mesh between the bone and gums to stop the gum tissue from invading the bone area—may be used alongside this kind of surgery. This helps the connective tissue to grow once again and provide better dental support.
To stop the bacterial growth accompanying gum disease, antibiotic therapies can be used alone or in conjunction with surgery. To help with plaque and gingivitis, prescription drug chlorhexidine is offered as a slow-release chip or rinse.
A chronic oral illness, gum disease can often progress with very little notice. Patients can guarantee they have an early diagnosis of gingivitis before it advances to more severe phases by keeping good dental hygiene and routinely visiting the dentist for professional cleaning and examinations. Once periodontitis starts to affect a patient, they should work with their dentist to decide the best and correct course of action.