Non-surgical or surgical gum treatments are commonly used to treat periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is caused by microorganisms known as bacterial plaque. This plaque collects at the gumline when daily oral hygiene methods aren’t being used to remove it. As the plaque sits on the gumline it creates inflammation that causes the gums to begin separating from the tooth. These pockets of separation allow the bacteria to reproduce in an environment that is hard to reach and clean. Untreated periodontal disease can spread to the supporting bone and eventually lead to tooth loss.
Schedule an AppointmentLaser removes a thin layer of infected skinm, teeth cleaning
Who is a candidate for non-surgical gum treatment?
Dentists generally chose to try a non-surgical option before implementing more invasive surgical methods. The severity of a patient’s periodontal disease will determine which treatment option is best suited.
What are the non-surgical gum treatment options?
A deep cleaning procedure also called scaling and root planing is used to physically remove pathogenic bacteria from the tooth above and below the gumline.
- Scaling and Root Planing: this deep cleaning procedure will remove the bacterial plaque and other deposits that a normal toothbrush cannot remove. An additional procedure called root planing may also be performed to smooth the tooth root’s surface. A smoother root surface makes it more difficult for bacteria to reattach and encourages the gums to adhere to the teeth.
- Arestin Treatment: Once teeth have been cleaned and smoothed, the dentist may apply an antimicrobial gel called Arestin. This gel will sit in the periodontal pockets and fight infection at the source for 14 days after application. By removing the bacteria and implementing infection control methods, the depth of periodontal pockets will ideally decrease.
When is surgical gum treatment necessary?
If a patient has advanced periodontal disease that does not improve with non-surgical treatments then surgical treatment may be indicated. There are several types of surgeries to choose from depending on the patient’s condition.
What are the surgical gum treatment options?
Your dentist will choose a surgical treatment or combination of treatments based on the disease severity and the surrounding bone condition.
- Flap Surgery: during this procedure, small incisions are made in the gums to peel them away from the tooth and expose the root for more effective scaling and root planing treatment.
- Bone Grafting: periodontal disease can destroy the bone surrounding teeth and holding them in place. The grafting procedure uses small pieces of your own bone, donated bone, or synthetic bone to hold teeth in place and act as a platform for natural bone growth.
- Tissue Stimulating Methods: there are several methods dentists use in an attempt to stimulate healthy bone regrowth. Certain gels and other biocompatible fillers may be used to support the healing area while the body works to repair destroyed bone.
(718)