Did you know that gum disease is one of the most common reasons for tooth loss in adults? Because it’s usually painless , many people do not know they have it until it’s too late.
There are two types of gum disease. You are probably more familiar with gingivitis, right? This condition is often associated with redness, swelling, and bleeding. This is often caused by inadequate brushing and flossing.
If left untreated, gingivitis will progress to another type of gum disease, known as periodontitis. This is much more serious as the plaque has already spread down the gum line. As more bacteria grow, more toxins will be released. Your body will constantly fight off toxins through chronic inflammation. This will break down gum tissue and create “pockets,” which can be infected. Over time, both gum tissue and bones are damaged, causing tooth loss.
As soon as gum disease sets in, regular cleaning will no longer be effective, especially in stopping an infection. Most dentists will perform scaling and root planing as the first line of treatment. It’s non-surgical and minimally invasive.
Scaling is more extensive than regular cleaning and more time consuming. It involves the use of a special handheld instrument to remove the plaque and tartar that are causing the infection below the gum line.
Cleaning of the root’s surfaces, also known as root planing, is also very important to allow for faster healing and re-attachment of the gums to the tooth.
Along with scaling and root planing treatment, your dentist may also apply Arestin to the pockets between your gum and tooth. This powder antibiotic can help prevent your periodontal disease from getting worse. It’s composed of hundreds of thousands of tiny microspheres that will release antibiotics over time, even long after your visit is over. It’s completely painless!
As periodontal disease advances, the supporting tissues and bones are also destroyed. “Pockets” are formed around the teeth that become bigger and deeper over time, which makes them more difficult to clean. To avoid more bacteria from thriving in these pockets, surgery may be required.
During a pocket reduction surgery, your dentist will fold back your gum tissue to get rid of the bacteria. Once cleaned, the gums are secured back into place.
Gingival recession is quite common, especially if you have long-standing periodontal disease. Your tooth’s roots may now be exposed. A gum graft surgery will help prevent additional recession and possible bone loss. This likewise reduces sensitivity and improves the aesthetics of your smile.
The soft tissue skin graft will come from your palate or other areas in the mouth. This can be done to one or more teeth at the same time.
If the bone supporting your teeth has already been destroyed, bone graft surgery may be necessary. The gum tissue is folded back to remove the bacteria. Your dentist will implant membranes, bone grafts, or tissue-stimulating proteins to help regenerate lost tissues and bones.
Bone grafting is often used for ridge augmentation. Losing one or more teeth will make your gums and jawbone indented. This does not only look unnatural, but it may also cause the replacement tooth to look long compared to others, creating an area that is hard to clean. Ridge augmentation will help recapture the natural contour of your gums and jaw.
Crown lengthening helps improve the aesthetic of your smile by showing more of your teeth. Your dentist will remove excess gum tissue on your upper teeth to make them appear longer. If your gum line is uneven, this procedure can also sculpt it to produce a more symmetrical and balanced smile.
If there is decay or fracture under the gum line, crown lengthening can help expose more of the tooth’s crown to support a dental filling. Usually, a follow-up appointment is necessary to check the healing process and remove stitches.
