A Comprehensive Guide to Gum Disease Treatment

Your general dentist will choose the right gum disease treatment for your situation. A full assessment will determine if you need surgical or non-surgical solutions. Understanding the processes is a good way to prepare for your appointment. Here is a comprehensive guide to your possible gum disease treatment.

Non-surgical treatments

Studies show that most patients prefer a non-surgical gum disease treatment. The recovery time is little to non-existent. Pain is not that much of an issue, either. Below are the most effective procedures to consider for gum disease treatment.

Laser gum tissue therapy uses a small laser to kill bacteria and infected tissue. This treatment is a popular, non-intrusive method. The general dentist will not cut into the gums. A laser will do all the work. The heat will reduce pain and discomfort. It can also quicken the treatment and healing.

Better oral care is always the most recommended non-invasive gum disease treatment general dentists suggest. Using fluoride toothpaste when brushing the teeth two times a day is ideal. Flossing before bed and regular dental cleaning appointments are also necessary to keep the gums healthy. Seeing the dentist regularly can keep one’s smile healthy and prevent periodontal disease.

Scaling and root planing reaches deep underneath the gumline. The general dentist will get rid of tartar and plaque from the dental roots. Smoothing the rough areas is necessary. This step prevents bacteria from reattaching to the dental structures. This type of dental cleaning can prevent gum disease from progressing.

Surgical treatments

Studies show that gum disease can worsen quickly without proper intervention. Severe cases will need more complex solutions. Invasive treatments are necessary to bring back the gum’s health. The following are surgical techniques for gum disease treatment.

Guided tissue regeneration is for patients whose gum disease has reached the bone and dental roots. The general dentist will place a membrane in the diseased area. Doing so will prevent gun tissue from growing where the bone should. The body will then send nutrients to this section of the mouth to regrow the deteriorated bone surrounding the tooth.

Flap surgery creates flaps of gum tissue. The goal is to remove the gum tissue away from the tooth as the dentist removes tartar and plaque from the dental roots. The surgeon will use sutures to put the gum tissue back. This type of gum tissue cleaning is invasive but very effective.

Gum and bone grafting use healthy gum or bone tissue to restore damaged areas. The added tissue serves as scaffolding to stay in place as new tissue regenerates. This gum disease treatment aims to bring back the structural integrity of the bone and gum tissue.

The ideal gum disease treatment

Patients will receive gum disease treatment that matches the severity of the infection. Mild gum disease can go away with non-surgical means. Serious cases will need more targeted procedures. The length of the gum disease treatment will depend on the severity of the condition. Invasive procedures will need at least one surgery and longer healing periods.