Gum disease is probably the most common oral health challenge in the United States. Millions of us suffer from it at one time or another, yet it is incredibly easy to prevent and treat. With that in mind, we wrote this post explaining the possible dental treatments for gum disease so you know there is nothing to be afraid of.
Treatments for gum disease are relatively straightforward if we get to it in time. It is also easily preventable. See our recent article entitled “Everything you need to know about preventing gum disease” to learn more.
Gum disease is caused predominantly by plaque buildup on the teeth. This plaque irritates the gums and causes them to swell. If the plaque gets under the gum line and causes what we know as gum disease. Simply removing that plaque is often enough to address the situation.
Gum disease has three main types, gingivitis, periodontitis and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG). Each condition is more serious than the preceding one and is the next step in disease progression should the situation not be addressed in time.
Gum disease is caused predominantly by plaque buildup on the teeth. This plaque irritates the gums and causes them to swell. If the plaque gets under the gum line and causes what we know as gum disease. Fortunately, as common as the situation is, there are a number of treatments we as dentists have at our disposal to address it.
Teeth cleaning
A dentist, or dental hygienist can perform a thorough clean of your teeth to remove that plaque which is the primary cause of gum disease. We can perform scaling, which removes plaque from the teeth and below the gum line. This is often enough to completely alleviate the symptoms of gum disease.
Root Planning
If the inflammation has gone further under the gum, we may have to perform root planning. This is a procedure whereby we clean the roots of the teeth to remove any plaque and rough spots where bacteria’s congregates. It is a straightforward procedure whose name is much more serious than the treatment!
Antibiotics
If the gum disease has progressed to the acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis stage, antibiotics may be necessary to control the infection. We only prescribe antibiotics if we absolutely have to and will discuss it with you at a consultation.
Periodontal surgery
In very rare cases, where the gum disease has advanced, we may have to perform periodontal surgery such as Chemical Curettage, or flap surgery to remove plaque from deep pockets, and or bone and tissue grafts to regenerate bone and tissue. These are not very common treatments and we would discuss all your options with you before undertaking any treatment.
– See more at: https://aestheticfamilydentistry.com/blog/how-dentists-effectively-treat-gum-disease/#sthash.QMfgQfgY.dpuf
