Posts Tagged ‘periodontal disease’
Different Options Available For Periodontitis Treatment
Seeking periodontitis treatment immediately before the condition worsens does more than just save your pearly whites but also steer you away from life threatening medical conditions. According to studies, periodontitis have been linked to cardiovascular diseases, strokes and aggravates pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes. There are different treatment available, depending on the severity of the periodontal disease you are experiencing. A quick visit to the dentist will help you determine the right treatment for your periodontal disease. Here are just a few options offered by dentists and periodontists. While most of them are a bit pricey, they are guaranteed to spare you from eventual teeth loss as well as from possible health risks associated with gum diseases.
Scaling and root planing is an often uncomfortable periodontal disease treatment involving scraping away of the tartar from the base of the teeth. Depending on the depth of the pockets formed between the teeth and the gums, your dentist or dental surgeon may first probe deep into these pockets to remove tartar that has formed along or within the gumline. As the toxins emitted by the bacteria found in the tartar eats away the tissues surrounding the teeth, removing them right away can prevent teeth loss and further inflammation of the gums. However, in cases where the tartar has burrowed deep into the gumline, a surgical removal of the tartar may be necessary.
A flap surgery involves cutting and peeling the gum tissue to expose the entire tooth and to thoroughly remove the tartar that has accumulated deep into the gumline. In cases where the gums have receded, dentists may employ gum grafting to cover the exposed tooth and reinforce it back to the bone cavity. It also keeps the bacteria out to avoid reinfection. Scaling and planing is still part of the surgical process to avoid reoccurence of the periodontal disease. Your dentist will also prescribe antibacterial medication in form of an antiseptic mouthwash or medicated toothpaste to aid in the healing of the gum tissues.
Laser periodontal disease treatment is a more recent development in treating periodontitis. A light sedative may be required to avoid any discomfort during the treatment process. This treatment uses a flexible fiber optic to access the pockets in the gumline and burn away the infected tissues as well as bacteria. Once the bacteria has been removed, a special instrument is then used to compress the gum tissue against the root surface. The only downside with laser treatments is that they require several sessions to complete, depending on the severity of the gum infection. While it may be a bit costly compared to the other options available, the healing process is faster, usually within 24 hours after treatment.
5 Common Ways to Treat Gum Diseases
Gum disease is also known as gingivitis or periodontal disease. There are other names used to refer to the said disease such bleeding or swollen gums. Regardless of what one may call it, the fact remains the gum disease is a serious problem for everyone which may require considerable expenses later.
It is important that you know the effective ways to treat gum diseases even if you are not yet experiencing the worse symptoms. It is because, if you have an idea about periodontal disease, you can prepare for it and you can make the right steps to avoid such kind of oral health problem.
Some gum diseases like swollen gums are usually ignored and many people fail to detect that they are already suffering from such a disease. Unless they sense serious pain, they usually fail to stop the disease from getting worse – for they do not actually know they have it.
You can prevent gum diseases from afflicting you by following the easy things to do for oral hygiene. These include regular brushing of teeth, flossing and regular visit to the dentist. These are quite easy to follow and they promise great things in avoiding almost all kinds of oral diseases.
However, there are times that the said easy things to do are not enough to avoid gum diseases. Once you develop such a problem, here are the five (5) common ways to treat gum diseases:
- Dental cleaning – You can have a professional level of dental cleaning each time you visit a dental clinic. This can be done by the dentist himself or by his staff or a dental hygienist. Brushing or flossing alone could not remove plaque and tartar. It is recommended that one see a dentist from time to time.
- Root scaling and smoothening – This is a more thorough and all-encompassing dental cleaning and is done under anesthesia. This process removes the bacteria that can cause a gum disease while in the process of smoothing the rough spots.
- Soft tissue grafts – This is a surgical procedure done to reinforce receding gums and fill the teeth. This will make the gum more resistant to gum diseases.
- Flap surgery – This is another surgical procedure to lift back the gum to remove the tartar build up. When the gum is pulled back into place, it reduces the space between the gum and the teeth. As a result, chances for any bacteria to slip in and form are lessened.
- Antibiotic treatments – Antibiotics are one of the effective treatments of gum disease if the problem is already chronic or persistent. But you should never take an antibiotic unless prescribed by your dentist.
Aside from the dental cleaning, which a recommended procedure at least twice a year, surely, you will not desire to undergo other procedures to treat gum diseases. So take good care of your oral health and avoid gum diseases.