Gum Disease Treatment
Periodontal diseases are infections of the gums, which gradually destroy the support of your natural teeth. There are numerous disease entities requiring different treatment approaches. Dental plaque is the primary cause of gum disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Daily brushing and flossing will prevent most periodontal conditions. Unfortunately, even with the most diligent home dental care, people still can develop some form of periodontal disease. Once this disease starts, professional intervention is necessary to prevent its progress.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. Bacteria found in plaque produces toxins or poisons that irritate the gums, which may cause them to turn red, swell and bleed easily. If this irritation is prolonged, the gums separate from the teeth, causing pockets (spaces) to form. As periodontal diseases progress, the supporting gum tissue and bone that holds teeth in place deteriorate. If left untreated, this leads to tooth loss.
Other important factors affecting the health of your gums include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Clenching and grinding teeth
- Medication
- Poor nutrition
Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is caused by bacteria (plaque). In some individuals, plaque can lead to the loss of soft tissue and bony attachment of the tooth to the jaws causing the eventual loss of the tooth. Risk factors such as smoking and diabetes can progress the rate of destruction at alarming rates.
The base of any treatment is combining professional removal of soft (plaque) and hard (tartar) deposits from below the gum line and ensuring that a patient can perform adequate oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) at home. Without good home care, professional treatment will not work in the long term!
Once affected areas have been professionally cleaned and a patient is able to perform adequate home care with brushing and flossing, we can correct any significant bone or gum loss around the teeth.