Periodontal treatments

Periodontal Treatment- Specialized treatments are available for the treatment of mild to advanced gum disease.

Preventing dental disease is a fundamental part of our work here at Dentoblanc, Thiruvalla. Our aim is to help you achieve and maintain optimal dental health through regular hygienist visits.

Understanding gum disease

There are three main types of gum disease:

1. Gingivitis- The main cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. When brushing and flossing techniques are not carried out effectively, this allows plaque to build up along the gum line. Plaque contains harmful bacteria resulting in the infection and inflammation of your gingivae or "gums". This condition is known as gingivitis and nearly all adults suffer from this to some degree. Bleeding on brushing or flossing your teeth is one of the earliest signs of gingivitis. Regular visits to the hygienist will help you return to and maintain gingival health.

2. Periodontal Disease left untreated, gum disease may progress to a more severe condition known as periodontitis . Here the bacterial infection progresses to the deeper supporting tissues of the teeth known as the periodontal tissues which includes the bone. As the disease progresses, the bone supporting the teeth is lost. The teeth become loosened, abscesses can form and teeth may eventually be lost.

Root Planing & Scaling - Halitosis, Bleeding & Swollen Gums

There are three broad classes of periodontal (gum) therapy for treatment of gum disease:

1. Dental cleaning

2. Root planing & scaling

3. Periodontal (gum) surgery

A dental cleaning is what one typically receives at a six-month check-up. It is appropriate for those who maintain excellent home oral hygiene and have minimal gum pocket depths around their teeth. Patients should be aware that calling to schedule a 'check-up' doesn't necessarily mean that one desires a cleaning. A check-up could mean just x-rays and exam.

Root planing & scaling is usually recommended when one needs more work than a typical cleaning. This may be due to lack of adequate home oral hygiene, high sugar diet, deeper gum pocket depths around teeth or more extensive dental work that might inhibit access for a regular cleaning. Root planing & scaling is usually divided into two to four office visits. Novocain is frequently used since this cleaning will attempt to get to the full depth of the deeper gum pockets. This procedure usually involves minimal pain and one should expect to resume social and professional activities later that same night and certainly the next day.

Three to six months after completing the RP&S the periodontist would perform a reevaluation examination and would usually recommend one of the following:

• Go back to regular cleanings but at a frequency of every three, not every six months

• Repeat the root planing & scaling

• Periodontal surgery is indicated for either the whole mouth or just refractory sections.

Gingivectomy is a relatively minor type of periodontal surgery that involves the removal of a small amount of gum tissue around a tooth or several teeth. A gingivectomy might be necessary to remove diseased tissue, allow a filling or crown to be placed below the gum line or to improve esthetics.

Periodontal surgery is similar to that performed during root planing & scaling except that the periodontist actually cuts the gum and moves it out of the way during the procedure. This allows him or her direct vision to really see the problem and direct mechanical access to attempt to clean and repair the diseased tissue