What Are Some Gum Disease Treatments?
The gums perform an important protective role, keeping bacteria from the roots of the teeth and the underlying bone. When they are threatened by a proliferation of bacteria, they swell; this inflammation is known as gingivitis. If the bacterial threat isn’t removed, the inflammation persists, gradually pulling the gums away from the teeth, creating periodontal pockets between the gum tissue and the tooth roots. As more bacterial plaque accumulates on the teeth and settles into these periodontal pockets, more of the oral tissues are threatened; the connective ligaments that attach the teeth to the gums begin to detach, and the bone that supports the teeth begins to degrade. Left unchecked, progressive periodontitis leads to tooth loss and gradually destroys the entire oral cavity. Treatment options exist for periodontitis at varying levels of severity, from the earliest stages of gum disease to the last stages of aggressive periodontitis, with the goal of preventing further damage and restoring the health of the oral cavity. In all cases, the earlier the condition is treated, the less complex and invasive the treatment will be.
These treatment options might include:
- Scaling and root planing, also known as a “dental deep clean”
- Pocket reduction
- Laser treatment
- Gum grafts
- Bone grafts
- Guided tissue regeneration or other regenerative treatments
Periodontal treatment can also include treatment for conditions that arise because of periodontitis, like pericoronitis or dental abscess.
Whenever possible, the first course of treatment will be the most conservative one available; in this case, that treatment is scaling and root planing. Performed by a dental hygienist or general dentist, the procedure involves scraping plaque and tartar from the teeth both above and below the gum line before smoothing the tooth surfaces to help them resist bacteria and to allow the gums to reattach. Although the procedure is non-surgical, patients receive a local anesthetic to avoid discomfort. For more severe periodontitis, a surgical procedure known as pocket reduction or flap surgery might be needed for the gums to return to their protective, healthy state. In this surgery, the periodontist pulls back a flap of gum tissue to thoroughly clean beneath the gums and to reshape the underlying bone before suturing the tissue back in place.
When gum recession is severe, gum grafts might be needed to replenish destroyed tissue, using tissue from the patient’s own palate or from a donor source to repair and reshape the gums. In other cases of severe recession, periodontists opt for laser therapy, which is a developing field in gum revitalization that shows great progress for its pinpointed focus and tissue-stimulating properties. If the bone is also compromised, bone grafts may be needed; these grafts might be supported or enhanced with different tissue regeneration approaches to ensure their success, especially when they’ll be followed by dental implant restorations. Dental implants are considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, but the real gold standard is to keep the teeth from falling out in the first place. Preventing gum disease is often a lot easier than treating it, so do your part to keep your gums healthy and your teeth intact. It might require some minor behavior changes, and you may need to learn some new habits, but you should think of good oral hygiene as one small investment in your long-term health and happiness.
Related Article: What are gum disease symptoms?