Gum Disease - Treatments
Untreated, gum disease can have serious health consequences that go far beyond the teeth and gums. The good news is that when caught in its early stages, gum disease - more accurately known as periodontitis - is highly treatable.
The most effective treatment for periodontitis is of course prevention. Conscientiously following a regiment of oral hygiene that includes brushing (at least twice daily, and preferably after every meal), flossing and use of anti-plaque dental rinse will go a long way towards preventing gum disease from developing in the first place.
This said, the most common treatment of periodontitis is root planing and curettage. Because peritonitis is caused by bacteria and the resulting build-up of plaque, the best first step is to simply remove the bacteria. Curettage is a fancy term for cleaning the teeth underneath the gum line. The periodontist (a dentist with specialized training in this area) uses a device called a curette to remove the bacteria and the plaque that is responsible for the inflammation. If this treatment is successful, the disease will be gone and the gum tissue will heal, reattaching itself to the tooth enamel.
If the disease has progressed and there are deep pockets left after the plaque has been cleaned out, a surgical procedure called gingivectomy, or removal of the damaged gum tissues. Gingivoplasty is another procedure used to reconstruct gums that are beyond healing. This may involve borrowing some tissue from the palate and is quite an involved procedure.
In a flap procedure, the gum tissue is actually lifted away from the surface of the tooth. This is performed for cases in which gum disease has affected the actual bone tissues underlying the gums. Once the gum tissue has been lifted, all plaque and infected tissue is removed and the bone actually reconstructed to look and function as it once did. Afterwards, the gum tissue is replaced and sutures are applied. Healing can take up to three weeks, and the patient should expect some pain and discomfort. Beyond this however, complications associated with this type of surgery are rare.
Patients who have been treated for gum disease may have antibiotics prescribed as well. Such antibiotic drugs should be used sparingly, however as bacteria is infamous for its ability to adapt, thus causing the antibiotic to lose its effectiveness; it is not a substitute for treatment and prevention.
