What is Gum Therapy?

Gum disease is a problem that many Americans face today. Many of them do not even know that they have it, which is why it is the major cause of tooth loss. You can know whether or not you have gum disease if your gums bleed when you brush them, and if they are red and inflamed. In order to get rid of the more advanced form of gum disease, called periodontitis, you will need gum therapy.

The mild form of gum disease is called gingivitis. The good news is that you can usually get rid of it at this stage simply by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. No special treatment is needed. If it is allowed to advance, however, it becomes periodontal disease. When it reaches this stage, you have more serious problems that require the services of a periodontist.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth that are constantly forming a layer of plaque on your teeth. As the bad bacteria in the plaque feeds on sugar, it produces acid. The acid causes cavities and inflammation in your gums. The inflammation is a reaction of your immune system to the bacteria and acid, but the combination causes deterioration of your gums, of the ligaments that support your teeth, and your jawbone. If not stopped, your teeth will become loose and may even fall out.

While periodontal disease is generally painless, it does have many signs of gum disease which should be rather easy to identify. They include:

• Pockets developing on the gums around the teeth
• Spaces developing between your teeth
• Gums that are receding to expose the tooth roots
• Chronic bad breath
• Pain when chewing
• Loose teeth
• Pus at the gum line

There are several techniques used to remove the bacteria, which by now have developed colonies inside the pockets. The primary procedure that is performed in gum therapy, which is used in the early and advanced stages of periodontal disease, is called scaling and root planing (SRP).

When determining the extent of the damage caused by periodontitis, a dentist will use a probe to measure the depth of the pockets around the teeth. The deeper the pocket is, the greater the damage. A depth of 1 to 3 millimeters is healthy. An x-ray will also be taken to determine if any bone loss has occurred.

Gum therapy involves cleaning out the pockets of bacteria. Because of the depth of the pockets, it is not possible for you to do this yourself with a toothbrush or floss. Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical method of removing the bacteria. Scaling is a gum disease treatment that removes the plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth. It may be performed manually with hand instruments, with ultrasound, or with a laser.

Root planing is a process that smooths the surface of the root of the tooth. This makes it harder for the bacteria to reattach to the tooth, and it also provides a better surface for the gums to stick to when healing.

Antibiotics will also be used to further kill the bacteria in the pockets. This may be accomplished by placing an antibiotic solution directly into the pockets, and an oral antibiotic may also be prescribed.

If the damage from gum disease is more severe, you will probably need surgical methods to remove the disease. Other surgery, such as gum grafts, pocket reduction, and bone grafts may be necessary.

Because gum therapy is non-surgical, you will not need to have a long period of recovery. Instead, you are likely to have some pain for a day or two. It is also possible that your teeth might be sensitive for about a week. Your gums may bleed some, and they may be tender.

A follow-up appointment will be necessary. At this time, the periodontist will check for progress in healing and will re-measure the depth of the pockets. If they are greater than three mm, more treatments may be needed.

After successful treatment and removal of periodontitis, you will need to have regular dental cleanings and checks for a recurrence of gum disease. If it reappears, this will enable it to be caught early and stopped before further damage is done.

When gum therapy has been successful, you are the one to benefit. The benefits will include:

• A mouth free of periodontal disease
• Healthier gums
• Protection for the tooth roots
• Fewer cavities
• Fresher breath
• Prevents the loss of teeth

Once periodontal disease is successfully removed, it will be necessary to maintain good oral health habits. You will need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss in order to keep gum disease at bay.

If you have gum disease and need periodontal treatment, you can get gum therapy by seeing Kumar T. Vadivel, DDS, FDS RCS, MS. He is a board-certified periodontist who specializes in treating all aspects of periodontitis. You can get a free consultation by clicking the number on this screen, or by booking an appointment online.