There are several distinct treatments available for individuals that suffer from gum disease. Depending on the stage of the illness, your overall health, and the response to earlier treatments provided by your periodontist, you may qualify for non-surgical treatments.
In more severe cases, you may be a good candidate for surgical treatments. In this guide, you will be provided with information on both types of treatments. In order to determine which is best for your needs, you will need to work closely with your periodontist.
Non-Surgical Options
The following outlines non-surgical treatments for gum disease. You may have already undergone one or more of these treatments. These options are outlined for general information purposes:
- Professional Dental Cleaning – A professional cleaning is recommended once every six months. If you have gum disease, you may require this type of procedure more than twice a year. Though not considered a typical treatment for gum disease, cleanings are a highly effective measure for staving off the development of gum disease. This process involves removing plaque and tartar from above the gum line and below the same line.
- Scaling – This non-surgical treatment involves being placed under a local anesthetic and the scraping away of plaque and tartar from above the gum line and below the gum line. This is done when a dental professional determines that calculus has formed underneath the gum and needs to be removed. This is a hardened form of plaque that is typically very hard to remove in a traditional dental cleaning.
- Root Planing – This procedure is commonly performed under local anesthetic at the same time that scaling is performed. It smooths out rough spots that are on the teeth. This helps in removing bacteria and providing a clean surface to encourage gum tissue to reattach to the teeth.
Surgical Options
If you have a more severe case of gum disease, it is likely that your periodontist will recommend one of the following surgical options:
- Pocket Reduction Surgery – This involves lifting back the gums to remove tartar. During this process, irregular surfaces associated with damaged bone may be smoothed out. The gum is placed tightly against the teeth. This helps eliminate spaces where bacteria may grow.
- Soft Tissue Grafts – If the gums have receded, this process grafts tissue from the roof of the mouth to the affected region.
- Bone Graft – This takes healthy bone and replaces bone that has been destroyed by the disease. It helps to restore the stability of the teeth.
- Bone Surgery – Typically done after pocket reduction surgery, this type of surgery involves smoothing bone and reshaping the bone that has been negatively impacted.
- Tissue Regeneration – If the bone that supports the teeth has been completely destroyed, this helps to stimulate growth of that bone as well as the tissue surrounding it. This helps in supporting the teeth through the means of inserting a small fabric.
Need Assistance?
Do you suffer from gum disease? You may be a candidate for one of the procedures outlined here – be it deep cleaning or pocket reduction surgery. Contact our office today to set up an appointment so that we can assist you in determining the best treatment for your needs: 316-330-4