Gum Disease Treatment
A serious gum infection damages the gums and can destroy the jawbone.
Periodontitis is common but preventable. The cause is usually poor oral hygiene. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss. It’s a risk factor for heart and lung diseases.
Symptoms include swollen, red, and tender gums. People may experience:
bad breath, toothache, bright red gums, loose teeth, receding gums, tender gums, or tooth loss, swelling or bleeding of gums.
Diagnosis-
To determine whether you have periodontitis and how severe it is, your dentist may:
- Review your medical history to identify any factors that could be contributing to your symptoms, such as smoking or taking certain medications that cause dry mouth.
- Examine your mouth to look for plaque and tartar build-up and check for easy bleeding.
- Measure the pocket depth of the groove between your gums and teeth by placing a dental probe beside your tooth beneath your gumline, usually at several sites throughout your mouth. In a healthy mouth, the pocket depth is usually between 1 and 3 mm. Pockets deeper than 4 mm may indicate periodontitis. Pockets deeper than 5 mm cannot be cleaned well.
- Take dental X-rays to check for bone loss in areas where your dentist observes deeper pocket depths.
Treatment
Treatment is performed by a periodontist, dentist or dental hygienist. As per Gum Treatment Near Harrisburg The purpose of periodontal treatment is to completely clean the pockets around the teeth and prevent damage to the surrounding bone. Incorporating good oral care into your routine, managing health conditions that can affect your dental health, and quitting smoking will give you the best chance for successful treatment.
Non-surgical treatment:
If periodontitis is not advanced, treatment may include less invasive procedures.
- Scaling- It removes plaque and bacteria from the surface of the teeth and under the gums. It can be done using instruments, laser, or ultrasound equipment.
- Root planning- It smoothens the root surface, prevents further accumulation of tartar and bacteria, removes bacterial by products that cause inflammation, and slows the process of healing and reattachment of the gums to the tooth surface.
- Antibiotics- Topical or oral antibiotics help control bacterial infections. Topical antibiotics include antibiotic mouthwashes and placing antibiotic gels in the space between the teeth and gums, or after a thorough cleaning inside the pockets. Oral antibiotics may be necessary to eliminate the causative bacteria.
Surgical treatment:
According to Gum Treatment Near Harrisburg If you have advanced periodontitis, treatment may require dental surgery, such as:
- Flap surgery (envelope reduction surgery). The periodontist makes a small incision in the gum to lift some of the gum tissue to expose the root and allow for more effective scaling and root planing. Because periodontitis often causes bone loss, the underlying bone may be recontoured back in place before the gum tissue is sutured back.
- Soft tissue grafting. As the gum tissue is lost, the gum line decreases. Some damaged soft tissues may need reinforcement. This is usually done by removing a small amount of tissue from the palate (palate) or using tissue from another donor source and applying it to the affected area. This will further reduce the gums.
- Bone grafting. This procedure is performed when periodontitis has destroyed the bone surrounding your tooth root. The graft may be composed of small fragments of your own bone, or the bone may be synthetic or donated. The bone graft helps prevent tooth loss by holding your tooth in place. It also serves as a platform for the regrowth of natural bone.
- Guided tissue regeneration. This allows the regrowth of bone that was destroyed by bacteria. In one approach, your dentist places a special piece of biocompatible fabric between existing bone and your tooth. The material prevents unwanted tissue from entering the healing area, allowing bone to grow back instead.
- Describe by Gum Treatment Near Harrisburg Tissue-stimulating proteins. Another technique involves applying a special gel to a diseased tooth root. This gel contains the same proteins found in developing tooth enamel and stimulates the growth of healthy bone and tissue.
Prevention-
Try these measures to reduce or prevent gum problems:
- Brush your teeth twice a day or, better yet, after every meal or snack.
- Use a soft toothbrush and replace it at least every three months.
- Consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective at removing plaque and tartar.
- Floss daily.
- Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth, if recommended by your dentist.
- Supplement brushing and flossing with an interdental cleaner, such as a dental pick, interdental brush or dental stick specially designed to clean between your teeth.
- Get regular professional dental cleanings, on a schedule recommended by your dentist.
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco.
Get in touch with Uptown Dentistry clinic best Gum Treatment Near Harrisburg situated at 2626 N 3rd St #3c, Harrisburg, PA 17110 if you are facing any issue related to gum and plan your Dental cleaning and go for a dental exam from our clinic for a healthy mouth.
