Fighting Threats with Gum Disease Treatment

A specific gum disease treatment can ward off oral and general health threats. The general dentist will suggest the right one following a comprehensive assessment. The visit or visits will target the symptoms and restore your smile. Here are the details on how gum disease treatment can fight threats.

For the receding gum threat

Studies show that gum disease results in the slow degradation of soft tissue. Receding gums are a threat because they remove the natural dental root protection. This causes tooth sensitivity. It can also make teeth look longer because of the exposed dental roots. The lack of dental root protection increases one’s risk of periodontitis.

Gum disease treatment can correct gum recession and restore the patient’s oral health. The general dentist can suggest different techniques to treat gum recession. One is a pinhole surgical technique that improves the appearance of the gums by restoring the lost tissue. The other one is gum grafting. This procedure places healthy gum tissue on the area to restore oral health.

For the damaged gum tissue threat

The general dentist can perform laser therapy on damaged gum tissue. Studies reveal that this gum disease treatment can remove harmful bacteria from diseased gums. It can also encourage tissue healing and reduce gum pain. The energy from the laser stimulates gum regeneration. Little to no recovery period makes laser therapy an attractive alternative to traditional gum surgery.

For the gum bleeding threat

Research shows that gum bleeding is a sign of periodontal disease. The gums may sometimes bleed during flossing or brushing, but persistent bleeding needs urgent attention. This sign may point toward a more serious oral condition. It could mean the presence of an underlying infection or tissue swelling. The general dentist can provide the right gum disease treatment, beginning with more frequent professional dental cleaning.

The types of gum disease treatment

Gum disease treatment can be non-surgical or surgical. The general dentist will assess the patient’s mouth first. Only then will the dentist suggest the right restorative procedure. The general dentist can perform non-surgical gum disease treatment. Referring the patient to another dentist who focuses on gum issues will follow if the patient’s gum problems are severe.

Non-surgical gum disease treatment

This treatment is for mild to moderate cases of gum disease. Topical or oral antibiotics can help battle gum infection. The general dentist can apply topical antibiotics to the gum pockets to kill the thriving bacteria there. Scaling removes tartar and plaque covered by gum tissue. Root planing smooths out the rough areas of the dental roots. Smoother dental roots prevent bacteria from sticking and allow the gum tissue to attach to the dental roots again.

Surgical gum disease treatment

Severe gum infection will need more attention from a dentist who works with gum problems all the time. This dental professional will provide a more invasive solution to gum infection. Recovery time from these invasive procedures will take longer than non-surgical treatments. The following are the surgical gum treatments to consider:

• Bone grafting
• Pocket reduction surgery
• Soft tissue grafts
• Laser-assisted osseous surgery
• Tissue-stimulating proteins
• Guided tissue regeneration