Periodontal Treatments You Might Need To Stop The Progression Of Your Gum Disease
If you have gum disease, regular brushing and flossing at home probably won't be enough to reverse it. Instead, you may need periodontal treatments. A periodontist can provide treatments that treat the infections and allow your mouth to heal. This could even entail having oral surgery. Here are some periodontal services you might need to treat your gum disease.
Remove Deep Plaque And Tartar
Gum disease starts off as a buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth that irritate your gums. When gum disease has advanced far enough, regular dental cleanings won't be enough to get rid of the buildup and infection. Your periodontist might recommend scaling and root planing. This involves scraping plaque off your teeth below the gum so all the irritation is removed.
Eliminate Infection
When you have gum disease, your gums pull away from your teeth and form pockets that hold infection. This infection is cleaned out during the scaling and root planing process. If you have extensive gum disease, this may be a long process that requires multiple visits.
Your dentist might use a laser to help kill bacteria, and they may place antibiotics in the area or prescribe oral antibiotics to help fight the infection so it clears up. Your periodontist might also give you a tray system to wear that's similar to a mouth guard, but it holds medication against your gums to kill bacteria.
Regenerate Tissue
Gum disease causes your gums to recede and it can also cause bone loss. Your periodontist may need to use a surgical procedure to help regenerate the lost tissue. This might be done through a gum graft or bone graft. As the tissues and bone around your teeth heal and regenerate, your mouth can be restored to good health.
Not all cases of gum disease require surgical procedures, but sometimes surgery is necessary to save your teeth, treat bone loss, decrease tooth sensitivity, and improve the appearance of your teeth due to receding gums.
Prevent Worsening Gum Disease
If you have mild gum disease, you may just need one visit to the periodontist for scaling and root planing. If your condition is more advanced, you may need regular treatments and monitoring until your gum disease has stopped progressing and your mouth has been restored to good health.
You'll also need to be vigilant with oral care at home so gum disease doesn't come back. Successful treatment of gum disease doesn't mean it can't come back in the future if you get lax with oral hygiene. You may be more susceptible to gum disease than others if you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes. So, if you're concerned about gum disease, talk to your dentist about treatments that can help.
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