The sooner you can receive treatment for gum disease, the better chances you have for durable oral health. Gum disease is reversible when your dentist catches it at its early stages, but progression may cause damage to your gums and jaw bone. Why the long wait while Ueno Center Dental Specialists are ready to serve you. The facility specializes in comprehensive gum treatments to treat gum diseases before they worsen and cause dental health complications.
You also have an increased risk of physical health conditions like heart disease if you have gum disease. You can prevent complications by seeking the following procedures during your dental appointment. Read on to learn more about available gum treatments.
Scaling and Root Planing
Also known as deep cleaning, you may undergo this procedure during treatment, especially when your gum line shows signs of gum disease. During your visit, your dentist will probe your gums to check pocketing within your gums. If your pockets exceed a certain depth, your dentist may recommend scaling and root planing, eliminating plaque and tartar from your teeth and gum lines. Your dentist may use manual scaling tools and electric instruments for deep cleaning and then perform root planing to smooth out your tooth roots.
Antibiotic Therapy and Prescription Medications
Your doctor may recommend using antibiotics and other procedures to treat gum disease. Common antibiotics can include Arestin® and PerioChip®, which you can place in the space between your teeth and gums. Your dentist may also prescribe other medications if you have serious gum diseases. You can receive prescriptions for antibiotic gels, enzyme suppressants, and oral antibiotics.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
You may require surgery for severe gum disease that does not go away with antibiotics and deep cleaning. Also known as flap surgery, the procedure involves cleaning your tooth roots and repairing bone damage resulting from gum disease.
During surgery, your dentist will numb the treatment area and then pull back your gums to clean your teeth roots. Your dentist may repair the bone by smoothing and reshaping it so plaque cannot easily grow. Lastly, your dentist will sew the flap back in place and cover it with gauze to stop bleeding.
Bone Grafting
Your dentist may recommend a dental bone graft if you have bone loss. A bone graft will add volume and density to your jaw, and once your dentist places it, your body will do the repair work. As you continue healing, your bone tissue will grow, regenerate, and strengthen your jaw following gum disease.
You can also benefit from a gum graft when your gums pull away from the teeth and expose your roots. Your dentist will harvest a gum graft from another part of your mouth and place it over the exposed roots. Gum grafts reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease and decrease teeth sensitivity.
Gum treatments are various procedures your dentist can offer to eliminate gum diseases before they worsen. Left untreated, gum diseases can lead to oral health complications that may even be more difficult to treat. Gum diseases may also increase your risk for conditions like diabetes and heart disease and even distort your smile. You can make the most out of gum treatments where your dentist will review your oral health and then recommend treatment options that align with your needs. You can talk to your dentist about the different gum treatment options available.
