Surgical Treatment Options The start of periodontal disease, which is known better as gum disease, can typically be traced back to poor oral hygiene. Whether by skipping brushing, flossing, or not going in for exams and professional cleanings, all of these things can lead to gum disease. Brushing and flossing both keep dangerous bacteria off of teeth and surrounding gum tissue.When the bacteria are left on teeth and gums, it can become plaque over time. While this can be cleaned with brushing and flossing, if left in place it will turn into tartar which cannot. It has to be removed during a professional cleaning. If the patient forgoes all of these, they will likely develop gum disease. Before this could happen to you, contact us at Mission Hills Periodontics? Gum Disease AssessmentPatients should be performing their own assessments at home. They should be looking at their mouths while flossing and looking for odd-colored gums, loose teeth, a strange discharge where the teeth meet the gum and/or if their bite has changed because their teeth have shifted. Our staff will look for these things as well as take X-rays to determine if there has been significant bone loss. They will go over the risk factor checklist before making a determination as to the appropriate treatment protocol. Non-Surgical TreatmentMost people think immediately of surgical options but there are nonsurgical options as well. The most simple treatment option is that of an antibiotic prescription. This could be a topical cream or in pill form. Scaling is another non-surgical option that involves using either a handheld scaling device or a more sophisticated laser. One more option is planing of the tooth roots. This scrapes the root clean of all tartar or bacteria, both above and below the gumline. It keeps the surface of the root smooth enough so bacteria growth cannot find a place to latch on. Gum Disease Surgical TreatmentThere are a few different surgical options available to treat and help slow the progression of gum disease. Some of them are gingivectomy, pocket reduction surgery, and bone grafting. A gingivectomy involves the removal of a section of gum tissue between or around the teeth. This can be done by using a scalpel or by utilizing a soft tissue laser. The diseased section of gum tissue is removed before reattaching the healthy gums to the teeth and gums. Pocket reduction surgery is used when gum and jawbone tissue has deteriorated to the point that small pockets form around the base of the teeth. Without a supportive structure, teeth can become loose or even fall out. This procedure folds the gum tissue back allowing for a deeper clean than traditional cleaning. This removes all the bacteria before securing the gum tissue back into place. There are a variety of bone grafting procedures. They all have one goal in mind and that is to replace the deteriorated bone so the patient's remaining natural teeth will have the proper supportive framework. If you have any of the symptoms please do not hesitate to contact us at Mission Hills Periodontics. You can also call us at (619) 356-5989. |
