How Is Gum Disease Treated?
Gum disease is a common problem among most adults, with a majority of people experiencing it at some point in their lifetime. While gum inflammation or disease is reversible, without proper treatment, it can advance and affect your overall health.
The primary problem with gum disease is that it is a silent infection. This means it does not have obvious symptoms in the initial stages. By the time, you begin to experience gum recession and formation of pockets, the infection is well advanced. The best way to stay ahead of the infection is to visit a dentist in Providence, RI for assessment. The dentist can detect the gum disease early and reverse it before it advances.
Periodontal disease can cause tender, swollen, and dark red or purplish gums, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, loose teeth, and pus between the teeth.
Gum disease occurs in two stages, gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is reversible with proper hygiene and deep cleaning. However, you will need gum disease treatment in Providence, RI to treat periodontitis.
What Are the Treatment Options?
The gum disease treatment options are classified into surgical and non-surgical treatments and they include:
- Non-surgical
- Antibiotics
- Deep cleaning
- Scaling and root planing
- Surgical treatments
- Pocket reduction procedure
- Bone graft
- Tissue graft
Since gum disease is primarily caused by a bacterial infection, the dentist will first recommend antibiotics to get rid of the infection. The medication can either be topical in form of gels and creams or ingestible. Mouthwash and rinses can also be recommended to get rid of the infection and debris.
Professional deep cleaning is recommended in the early stages of gum infection. The dentist will do a deep clean to get rid of plaque accumulated in the gum line and underneath. The plaque buildup is what causes gum disease because they harden leading to the formation of tartar.
Scaling is another word for deep cleaning where the dentist removes tartar from the gums. Root planing is done when your gums have receded. The process involves cutting the gums and reattaching to the teeth.
When the gum disease is well advanced, the dentist will recommend surgical procedures to get rid of the infection.
As the gums advance, the soft tissues and ligaments are destroyed and can cause the gums to recede and form pockets. These pockets can trap calculus and bacteria that can eat away the supporting bone. The dentist may perform a pocket reduction or flap surgery.
The procedure involves lifting the gums to get rid of the tartar. The dentist will smoothen the irregular and damaged bone to limit the places where bacteria can hide. The procedure will then reattach the gums on the teeth reducing pockets.
Periodontal disease causes the teeth to deteriorate and lead to bone loss. A bone graft can be done to support new bone growth. The dentist will use fragments of your bone or synthetic bone to affected the area and stimulate new bone growth.
Damaged soft tissues cause gum recession, which exposes the root of the bone which can cause pain and teeth damage. The dentist will take a small amount of soft tissue from the palate or mouth and reattach it to the affected area and lead to new tissue growth.
What Health Problems Are Associated with Gum Disease?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention report that advanced gum disease is associated with an increased risk of other diseases like:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease and stroke
- Lung disease
- Preterm birth or low birth weight
How Can You Prevent Gum Disease?
Gum disease is preventable with these tips:
- Maintain proper dental hygiene such as brushing and flossing as well as rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash.
- Visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and deep cleaning to get rid of the plaque buildup.
- Eat balanced and nutritious foods that can help support immunity and support tooth and gum health.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Drs. Rubinstein & Ducoff if you have lingering pain, gums that are turning purple or red, receding gums, and loose teeth.