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Which Type of Periodontal (Gum) Therapy is Right for You?

January 10, 2020

Filed under: Uncategorized — adirondack @ 11:17 pm
A toothbrush with blood on it and in the sink.

When you look in the mirror, are your gums red and inflamed? Do you find it difficult to brush your teeth or even chew certain foods because of gum sensitivity? Have your teeth begun to look longer than usual? Gum disease can appear when you least expect it, and that’s why it’s so important to stay on top of at-home oral hygiene. However, when gum disease does develop, especially the more advanced forms, now is the time to start thinking about periodontal therapy.

What is Periodontal Therapy?

Periodontal refers to the gum tissue responsible for holding your teeth in place. Therefore, periodontal therapy simply refers to dental treatments specifically designed to improve the condition of your gums. Gum tissue becomes damaged by dental plaque and tartar, which develop as a result of unmanaged oral bacteria. Over time, plaque and tartar can become particularly aggressive, leaving your gums very inflamed, tender, and sensitive.

After enough time, teeth can actually begin to loosen and fall out if treatment is not performed soon. Gum disease can progress very quickly and it is actually the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Thankfully, there are multiple treatments to consider for varying severities of gum disease. This includes scaling and root planing, gum grafting, and crown lengthening.

What is Scaling and Root Planing?

It’s important to keep in mind that gingivitis, the most mild form of gum disease out there, does not necessarily require professional intervention to treat. Generally, improvements to your oral care routine and in some cases a cleaning from a periodontist can get the job done. However, if your gum disease develops into periodontitis, more advanced methods will be needed for treatment.

For mild to moderate levels of periodontitis, the standard approach is scaling and root planing. While scaling works to remove calcified plaque and bacteria from tooth enamel both above and below the gum line, root planing is designed to smooth out the tooth roots so they can better attach to the gums. Gum disease causes gum tissue to recede from teeth, and root planing ensures that this recession does not continue. You’ll need to attend routine periodontal maintenance visits every three to four months to make sure the infection does not return as well as complete treatment as gum tissue requires time to heal in between therapy.

What is Gum Grafting and Crown Lengthening?

For more advanced cases, the periodontist may need to remove gum tissue entirely if it is dead or dying and cannot be saved. This process is known as crown lengthening, which is often associated with cosmetic dentistry. However, it is also effective at removing damaged tissue and making other areas of teeth accessible for cleaning when they were not before. Keep in mind gum disease can also damage tooth enamel and crown lengthening makes it possible to reach these areas more easily.

Finally, in order to replace gum tissue that was removed or is dead, gum grafting is an option. This surgical treatment requires removing gum tissue from other parts of the mouth (such as the roof) and placing it onto areas where it’s needed.

Are you suffering from gum disease? If you’re tired of dealing with gum pain and discomfort, get in touch with a periodontist today!

About the Author

Dr. Gordon Davis is a dedicated and experienced periodontist who is trained to perform all levels of gum therapy. Whether you need a simple cleaning to manage your gingivitis, scaling and root plaining to remove plaque, or gum grafting surgery to cover your teeth, he’ll make sure that you’re fully informed and feeling confident about your care. To schedule an appointment, you can contact him through his website.

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