Treatment to Cure Periodontal Disease

Periodontitis or infection of the gums affects almost one-third of Americans every year. Periodontal disease needs to be addressed in the initial stage to avoid further challenges. Most moderate to chronic gum diseases can be managed successfully by medical treatment to reduce bacterial activity and remove calculus.

What is Periodontal Disease?

The teeth constitute various parts, enamel being the outermost covering. The enamel covers the dentine. The teeth are embedded in the gums, and the hollow cavity of the teeth is filled up with delicate pulp—the pulp houses numerous nerve endings and blood vessels.

Periodontal diseases are the inflammation of the gums, mostly due to infection. Periodontal diseases affect the protective and supporting tissues around the teeth adversely. Gingivitis is the marginal tissue inflammation due to the accumulation of plaque on the teeth’s surface. Gingivitis is common among Americans, and the rate has increased as high as 90% of the overall population.

If left untreated, gingivitis might grow into periodontitis which would lead to loss of periodontal attachments. The final fate of periodontitis might be infected jawbones. Bone reabsorption and tooth loss is a common consequence of periodontal disease.

Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal examination by an experienced dentist is the first step to diagnose periodontal disease. Such dental examination is part of the regular comprehensive oral examination. The dentist might use a periodontal probe to measure the sulcus. The measurement of pockets of spaces between the teeth is a mode to diagnose periodontitis.

The dentist might also employ the following methods for the correct diagnosis of periodontal disease.

• Comprehensive oral examination to look for plaque and tartar and check for signs of gum infection.
• Reviewing the medical history to identify any pertinent factor that would lead to the symptoms of periodontal diseases as chewing of tobacco, smoking, or medication that causes dry mouth.
• The measurement of the groove between gums and teeth can determine whether you are suffering from periodontitis. The usual pocket size is 1 millimeter to 3 millimeters. Any pocket above this size can be a sign of periodontitis.

Treatment of Periodontal Disease

The treatment for periodontal disease can be performed by a dentist, a dental hygienist, or a periodontist. The primary goal of treatment for periodontal disease is a thorough cleaning of the oral cavity. A routine to maintain a hygienic oral cavity can reduce the chances of periodontal diseases. A change in lifestyle by avoiding chewing tobacco or quitting smoking can help to reduce the chances of periodontitis.

The non-surgical treatments include:

Scaling

Scaling is a process generally performed by oral hygienists to clean the oral cavity comprehensively. Poor brushing or flossing results in accumulation of a sticky thin film of plaque on the teeth’s surface. With time the plaque forms a tough layer of tartar. Oral hygienists remove the tartar during scaling to nullify bacterial activity that erodes the enamel.

Root Planing

Root planing is performed to smoothen the outer surface of the teeth to discourage further deposition of tartar. Bacterial activity thrives on tartar and leads to inflammation ad corrosion of the enamel.

Antibiotics

Oral or topical antibiotics can control bacterial infection. Dentists might prescribe the same to keep the bacterial infection in check.

Surgical Treatments

Flap surgery is the most common surgery performed by dentists to reduce pocket size. The pockets are gaps between teeth that provide a thriving place for bacterias. The periodontist makes a small insertion to lift a section of the gum tissues to reduce the gaps.

Soft tissue grafting and bone grafting are done to reinforce the jawbones and tissues of the oral cavity. These surgical processes are beneficial to cover exposed roots and reduce gum recession. The latest introduction in surgical treatment to treat periodontal disease is guided tissue regeneration. This surgical process allows the regrowth of bones and tissues that bacteria have destroyed.

The Periodontal Dentist

Susan J. Curley DDS has reputed periodontal dentists in Wall townships, NJ. With over 25 years of combined experience, Susan J. Curly Dentist provides implantology and cosmetic dentistry. We offer late hours service to accommodate dental care from your busy schedule. With experienced periodontal dentists, you can expect comprehensive dental care here. We also accept insurance. Book an appointment to know more.