Treating Gum Disease

As we discussed in our article on the basics of gum disease, we know that this condition is quite common and should not be taken lightly. It causes more loss of teeth than cavities and is even linked to non-oral health conditions. The good news is that there are more ways of treating gum disease than ever before. There are two types of gum disease; the first being gingivitis (the more milder form) and then periodontitis (the more severe) The methods of treatment vary and are also dependent on which type of gum disease is prevalent. Let’s take a look at some of the different methods of treatment…

Drugs to treat periodontal disease

In some cases, medicine can be used to treat gum disease. Since gum disease is caused from bacteria dentists will often use antibiotics as treatment- the most common being a drug called tetracycline. This is used mostly in the case of periodontitis. Another medication commonly used is chlorhexidine. This is like a special mouth wash that is used in the pocket of the gums.

Surgery to treat gum disease

There is a type surgery used to treat gum disease called flap surgery. In this procedure the gums are literally pulled away from the teeth which enable the removal of all the excess tarter and plaque. After that is removed, the gums will then be replaced to where they were before. In many cases, the gums will be put back in a way so that they fit tighter around the teeth. The purpose of that is to reduce the amount of space between the gums and the teeth where potential plaque can reform.

Cleaning teeth professionally

Since buildup of plaque is the major cause of gum disease, having your teeth cleaned regularly is a great way to treat and prevent the condition. Plaque is not something that is easy to remove with over-the- counter products. Only a dentist with special tools and in-office products can remove excess plaque effectively. If you want to prevent gum disease, you should visit your dentist for professional cleanings on a regular basis.

Regeneration through tissue guiding

This is another process meant to prevent gum disease but can also be used as treatment. The purpose of this procedure is to make sure that tissue is not growing in the wrong areas. The most common issue among patients in this case is when tissue grows in spots meant for bone growth and vice versa. The dentist will place a piece of mesh material between the tissue of the gum and the bone which will guide each to grow in the right direction respectively.

Root Planing and Scaling

In this procedure the tarter and plaque which has accumulated beneath the gum line are scraped off with special tools. That is the scaling portion of the process. The planing portion is when any uneven or jagged parts on the tooth’s root are smoothed out with a special file tool. This comes after the scaling. This procedure will always require the patient to be put to sleep.

Bone Surgery

When gum disease reaches the stage of periodontitis, the bone of gums will start to decay and craters start to form. Surgery can then be performed which will make the craters smoother making it a lot harder for harmful bacteria to accumulate inside the bone.

Bone Grafts

When gum disease has completely killed the bone, it is possible for dentists to do a bone graft to which will then restore the teeth. This means that part of another bone in your body will be used to replace the one that has been destroyed by gum disease. Any tissue that has been killed can also be replaced by a tissue graft. In this case, the tissue used to replace the dead tissue will usually be taken from the roof of the patient’s mouth but in can vary.