Periodontal Gum Disease Treatment
In general, it is often observed that people merely pay attention to their teeth health and ignore caring for their gums. Your gums are equally important as your teeth for a healthy smile, as they play a vital role in holding the teeth strongly to the bones. Good dental health is incomplete without caring for the gums, so don’t let the problems arising in gums ruin your spectacular smiles. Neglected gums elevate the risk of periodontal gum disease.
What is Periodontics?
This branch of dentistry is focused on caring for the tissues surrounded by the teeth. It includes the diagnosis, therapeutic procedures, and prevention of gum problems that deteriorate the health of the mouth.
Periodontitis is a condition of the soft mass surrounding the teeth, caused by bacterial infection. The severe consequence of the disease is tooth loss when left untreated, and can manifest severe other health issues. This bacterial infection or gum disorder not only results in loss of teeth but can also injure the soft mass surrounding the dentitions and cripple the osseous matter protecting and supporting the dentition.
The common symptoms include tender gums, swelling, redness, and pus maid teeth and gums. However, the advanced stages of periodontitis can display symptoms like receding gums, persistent unpleasant breath, moving teeth, gaps between gums and teeth, bad taste, and mouth sores.
Patients suffering from the above-mentioned signs should immediately visit the MedDental Clinic in Dubai to get the best possible treatment and to eliminate this disease in the early stages. The periodontists at MedDental Clinic are experts in both surgical and non-surgical procedures.
Stages of Periodontitis
- Gingivitis is the initial stage, which is the onset of inflammation in gums. The basic indication of this condition is swelling, redness, and flow of blood that occurs from the soft mass lining the dentition.
- The following phase is mild periodontitis, which indicates developed swelling of this soft mass up to 3mm. During this stage, bacteria are more aggressive and have reached the teeth bones.
- Moderate periodontitis, the subsequent phase of the disease illustrates that the infection can spread to your immune system and bloodstream. The teeth bones usually have become disoriented.
- Advanced periodontitis is the last stage wherein the bacteria has deepened. It makes you at a greater risk of gum sensitivity, shifting of teeth positions, heavy bleeding, and eventually loss of teeth.
Gum Disease Treatments at MedDental Clinic
If periodontal disease is in its most initial stages, then it can be reversed through good oral hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing is the key to dental hygiene. Also, regular teeth cleaning by a dentist or professional dental hygienist will ensure robust dental health.
Deep Cleaning Procedure
However, if the patient requires periodontal treatment, the conventional first method is non-surgical, generally called Deep Cleaning. It comprises Scaling and Root Planing, performed by a G.P. dentist. Deep cleaning treatment helps gum tissue to heal and periodontal pockets shrink. This process involves:
- Scaling: It removes the dental plaque, calculus, and tartar
- Root Planing: By removing tartar, the exposed tooth root surfaces are smoothened
Most of the patients do not require any further treatment after a deep cleaning procedure, as preventive care and good dental hygiene maintain healthy teeth. The deep cleaning procedure might not be successful if the periodontal pockets are deep and have caused the supporting bone loss. In such a case, surgery might be necessary to avoid tooth loss.
Periodontal Treatment through Surgery
The Periodontist is the Specialist Dentist who will perform the surgery, as he/she is equipped with specialized knowledge and training to treat the patients who require treatment for the supporting structure of the teeth including the gum and bone tissues.
Through the surgery, the Periodontist removes the accumulated plaque and tartar from the areas under the gums and along with the roots. In some cases, additional procedures like bone grafting may be recommended by the Periodontist for rebuilding or reshaping the damaged bone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is periodontal disease curable?
The only curable stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which is the first stage. If the disease has progressed, it is generally treated and made preventable by professional dentists and specialist periodontists.
Can periodontal disease lead to loss of teeth?
Yes, if you don’t receive the treatment for the gum disease, it reaches advanced stages and is probable of causing tooth loss.
Can periodontitis cause other health problems?
When the bacterial infection is left untreated, it can disseminate to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and can cause serious issues like cardiovascular problems.
Is plaque and calculus the same?
Plaque is a sticky thin film that constantly forms on the teeth in which bacteria resides. If this thin film is not removed with brushing, it hardens and forms calculus. Hence, advanced treatments like scaling and deep cleaning become essential to remove calculus.
Can periodontitis develop in children?
Children hardly have this disease but that does not mean that children should keep their teeth dirty. They should be taught to practice all the oral hygiene rules so that they can avoid such diseases in the future.
What can I do to prevent periodontitis at home?
Periodontitis can also be prevented at home by maintaining good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. In addition, visit the dentist regularly to get professional advice about dental issues and prevent it in their initial stages.
Should I be worried if my both parents have periodontitis? Is this disease genetic?
Research reveals that genetics has very little role in causing periodontitis. Nevertheless, you need to be worried about other major factors that cause this disease.