Periodontal Treatments

Treat Gum Disease With Advanced Procedures

Periodontitis is a form of advanced gum disease that affects almost half of Americans older than 30, according to a study performed by the CDC. If left untreated, the possible result could be loss of several teeth. However, many treatment options are available to address periodontitis in various stages, including full mouth rehabilitation  if major damage has occurred. Keep in mind that periodontitis doesn’t start out as full blow advanced gum disease, but rather starts with minor issues, like gingivitis and plaque build up.

What is Periodontitis?

Many people are familiar with the term gingivitis and what it means for your oral health care. Gingivitis develops when bacteria and food debris is not properly cleaned out from between the teeth and gums. Some of the telltale signs including bleeding, swelling, aching, and red gums. Thankfully, if caught at this stage, gingivitis is fully reversible with proper oral health care, including a professional cleaning alongside daily brushing and flossing.

If left untreated, however, gingivitis can quickly develop into a far more serious dental health issue known as periodontitis. This disease can affect not only the health of your teeth and gums, but can negatively impact the bones and ligaments in the jaw that support your teeth. Eventually, this will lead to the teeth decaying and loosening in the gums. Typically your teeth will begin to fall out or need to be pulled out if they become painful or irritating.

What Treatments Are Available?

If you have developed periodontitis, you can rest assured that Advanced Dental Arts will work closely with you to bring your mouth back to a healthy state. There are a number of treatment options available depending on the extent of the damage and your unique needs and preferences. Some options include:

• Scaling and root planning, otherwise known as a deep professional cleaning. Tartar and bacteria is scraped from above and below the gum line and then rough spots on the tooth root are removed and then a teeth cleaning is performed.
• Medications can be administered either in conjunction with another treatment or as a standalone treatment. Depending on the severity of the situation, surgery or a scaling and root planning may also be needed.
• Flap surgery is recommended if inflammation and deep pockets are still present following a medication treatment. This can also help remove tartar deposits. During the procedure, the gum will be lifted from the tooth and any debris underneath will be eliminated.
• Bone and tissue grafts may also be done in addition to a flap surgery if the bone or gum tissue has been destroyed by periodontitis. Tissue regeneration can be achieved with grafts, which will help encourage new growth in areas that were affected.