Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is swelling or soreness of the gums (the soft tissue) around your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that forms on your teeth. The plaque bacteria have toxins that inflame the gums. If you do not remove plaque by brushing and flossing your teeth, it can build up and infect your gums, teeth and the bone that supports them. If not treated by a dentist, you can lose your teeth. The signs of gum disease are not always easy to see and can be painless. The earlier gum disease is caught, the easier it is to treat. That's why it's important to see your dentist regularly.
Three Stages of Gum Disease:
Gingivitis
This is the first stage of gum disease. Your gum may feel tender and you may see some bleeding when you brush or
floss. The American Academy of Periodontology considers gingivitis a mild periodontal disease. Gingivitis can be reversed by having a dentist or hygienist clean your teeth and with proper brushing and flossing at home.
Periodontitis
At this stage, plaque spreads to your tooth roots causing an infection, which can damage the bone and fibers that hold teeth in
place. Your gums may begin to pull away from your teeth. Proper dental care and better home care can help stop more damage.
Advanced Periodontitis
In this final stage of gum disease, the fibers and bone holding your teeth in place are destroyed. This can cause your teeth to
shift or loosen and Com affect your bite. If treatment can't save your teeth, they may need to be removed.
Treatment
The type of treatment you require depends on how advanced your particular case is. Individualized treatment may include any of the following:
- More frequent cleanings. It may take the bacteria at 81e base of the pocket up to three months to colonize into numbers able to destroy bone. Frequent cleanings can prevent this buildup.
- Scaling and root planing. Scaling is removing the calculus deposits from your teeth. Root planing is the smoothing of the root surfaces so that the gum tissue can reattach to the tooth.
- Curettage removes the soft tissue lining the periodontal pocket. This helps the gum tissue to heal.
- Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of the periodontal pocket to allow easier access for cleaning.
- Flap surgery allows us to gain access to the root of the tooth for removal of calculus, plaque and diseased tissue. The gum is then secured back into place.