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Int'lGum Treatment/Periodontics
Gum disease or Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Your gum tissue is not attached to the teeth as high as it may seem. There is a very shallow v-shaped crevice called a sulcus between the tooth and gums. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line in the sulcus, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down. As the tissues are damaged, the sulcus develops into a pocket: generally, the more severe the disease, the greater the depth of the pocket.
Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:
- Tobacco smoking or chewing
- Systemic diseases such as diabetes
- Some types of medication such as steroids, some types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
- Dental bridges that no longer fit properly
- Crooked teeth
- Dental fillings that have become defective
- Pregnancy or use of oral contraceptives
Several warning signs that can signal a gum problem:
- Gums that bleed easily
- Red, swollen, tender gums
- Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste
- Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- Any change in the fit of partial dentures
Stages of Gum Disease
Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. The two major stages are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. Left untreated, gingivitis may lead to more serious and destructive forms of periodontal disease called periodontitis.
1. Gingivitis - The first stage of a periodontal disease, gingivitis, is the mild inflammation of the gingival caused by plaque build up. Gingivitis is an inflammatory condition of the gingiva caused by factors including smoking, certain drugs and hormonal changes that occur in puberty and pregnancy. Your gingival will be red, swollen, and tender. You may also notice bleeding while you brush and floss. This stage of gingivitis is reversible.
2. Mild Periodontitis - Inflammation will spread to the supporting alveolar bone. Minor bone loss and the formation of periodontal pockets, or food traps, may occur. Periodontitis follows with the destruction of the supporting structure of the teeth and is influenced by factors including the individual's immune and inflammatory response. It is initiated by microbial plaque. Periodontitis, if left untreated, can causes tooth loss, mouth odor, bad breath or halitosis.
3. Moderate Periodontitis - In this stage, there will be increased gingival recession, moderate to deep pockets, moderate to severe bone loss, and mobility of teeth due to the bone loss.
4. Severe Periodontitis - This is the most serious stage of periodontitis. Deep pockets, increased mobility of teeth, movement of teeth out of position, and visible fistulas (boils) will be present in this stage. Pus may develop; bone loss continues, and your teeth may loosen or fall out.
Periodontal/Gum Disease Treatment
In the event you are diagnosed with gum disease, your gum dentist / periodontist may recommend non-surgical periodontal treatment. For advanced cases, gum surgery may be required. The biggest factor in the treatment options available to you will be how quickly your gum disease is detected and how rapidly it advances.
Treatment will depend upon the stage of periodontal disease or how far the condition have progressed.
Non-Surgical Treatment
A non-surgical treatment is usually applied if the patient is still in the early stages of gum disease.
Scaling or Deep Cleaning
Scaling or Deep Cleaning is a treatment procedure which involves the instrumentation of the crown and root surfaces of the teeth. Plaque, calculus, and stains will be removed from these surfaces. It is performed on patients with periodontal disease and is therapeutic, as apposed to prophylactic and may precede root planning. It is a definitive, meticulous treatment procedure aimed at the removal of cementum and/or dentin that is rough and is possibly permeated by calculus, or even contaminated with toxins or microorganisms. This procedure can be used as a definitive treatment or as part of pre-surgical therapy ("tissue preparation") depending on how far the periodontal disease has advanced.
Bone or Gingival Augmentation
This is a surgical procedure which uses a barrier membrane and or bone graft replacement material placed under the gum and over the remaining bone support (ridge or jaw bone) to aid the regeneration of new bone in an area where teeth are being extracted or have already been removed. The graft material may be taken from the patient's own body. If not, an artificial, synthetic, or natural substitute may be used. This prevents the surrounding bone from collapsing into the extraction socket after the removal of a tooth. If this procedure is not carried out, the ridge will become narrow and sharp and it will not be possible to insert an implant or a comfortable-fitting denture.
POST-OPERATIVE CARE INSTRUCTIONS
In most cases, the gums are too tender to brush post-operatively. We will provide you with an antibacterial mouth rinse called Chlorhexidine which will chemically reach those areas that the tooth brush will be too sensitive to debride. Warm salt water will help reduce gum inflammation and an antibiotic is usually prescribed to prevent infection. Analgesics (pain medication) may be used if the pain becomes severe.
