Eliminating Gum Disease

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Eliminating Gum Disease
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Your dentist may have informed you that you have
some form of periodontal disease you're not
alone - millions of adults in the U.S. currently
suffer from some type of this disease.
Periodontitis ranges from mild gum irritation to
a much more severe form which
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can potentially cause the permanent loss of bone
tissue, and eventually, the teeth themselves. The
care that you give to your teeth and gums has a
critical impact on whether gum disease will
worsen, slow, or be stopped altogether.
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Unlike other dental problems which are often
identified with pain, many patients do not
exhibit symptoms of periodontal disease until
they are well past their 30th birthday! However,
teenagers can sometimes get the milder form of
gum disease, which is called gingivitis.
Infection control is usually the primary focus of
treatment, which
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varies by type and the amount required, depending
on severity. The ultimate success of any
treatment option depends squarely on how well the
patient is maintaining proper home-based care. To
that end, your friendly dentist, Dr. Vanama, may
offer advice about certain lifestyle changes,
such as quitting smoking, to ensure the patient
understands
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the steps of how to get rid of gum
disease.Here's a few of the many treatments
available here at Discovery DentalDeep Cleaning
(Scaling and Root Planing)Scaling root planing
is a procedure where your dentist, periodontist,
or dental hygienist
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removes embedded plaque and tartar from your
teeth both above and below the gum line, while
root planing smooths over gritty spots on the
roots of teeth, which give refuge to harmful
bacteria. Occasionally, a Laser treatment is used
instead of traditional hardware, thereby reducing
discomfort and inflammation after treatment.
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MedicationsUsed alongside scaling and root
planing, medications can help improve the
likelihood of treatment success. The degree of
severity of the disease may still require a
surgical treatment option. Some of the more
common medications and their uses are listed
below
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Prescription oral rinse This is used similar
to the mouthwash you have at home, and it's an
antimicrobial rinse containing chlorhexidine. It
controls the spread of bacteria following a gum
surgery and for the treatment of
gingivitis. Oral antibiotics Usually in
capsule form, these are taken for a brief period
to treat stubborn periodontal infections.
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Antiseptic chip A tiny slice of gelatin
containing a time-released dose of the
antibacterial salve chlorhexidine is inserted
into the pockets following a scaling and root
planing treatment. This helps to slow or stop the
spread of disease-causing bacteria, and help
periodontal pockets to heal slightly over an
extended period of time.
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Microspheres (Arestin) Scores of miniscule
pellets containing minocycline hydrochloride,
which feature a gradual time-release of
antibiotics to control infection. They are
inserted into the pockets which have formed
between the teeth and gums following a scaling
and root planing procedure.
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Dental Surgeries Flap Surgery Your dentist or
periodontist may determine that the severity of
infection made medications and deep cleaning
ineffective. This type of surgery involves
peeling back the
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gum tissue from the teeth to alter the
periodontal pockets next to the teeth and/or
eliminate deep-seated tartar. Afterward, sutures
are used to get the gums to fit securely around
the teeth, and as the gums heal, they'll return
to a tight fit around the tooth.
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Bone and Tissue Graft Gum and bone tissue
which has been permanently lost will be restored
through an advanced procedure, usually
accompanying a flap surgery. Your dentist, may
use synthetic or natural bone to fill in damaged
areas,
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which may help promote regrowth. Guided tissue
regeneration is a procedure where your dentist
will sandwich a tiny slice of mesh between the
gums and bone structure, preventing gum tissue
from expanding into the places where bone is
being replaced.http//discoverydentalwa.com/