Gum Disease Treatment
Dentist Syracuse, NY
 Gum disease, also called periodontal disease is a progressive infection of your gums that works its way under the tissue to begin attacking the structures that support your teeth. When not treated, gum disease can lead to serious issues such as gum recession, loose teeth, and tooth loss. Bacteria may even make their way into your bloodstream, which can then increase your risk of developing health complications such as heart disease and diabetes. When gum disease strikes, treatment is needed. At Janice K. Pliszczak, DDS, we offer several non-surgical periodontal therapies to help stop the progression of gum disease and allow your gums to heal.
Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis is the regular cleaning that is done on your teeth during your dental visits. This type of cleaning is typically done to prevent the development of gum disease in the first place. It can also be used for cases of mild gingivitis when you do not have a significant amount of tartar buildup under the gum line.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning of your teeth that involves cleaning all surfaces of your teeth both above and below the gum line. While non-surgical, scaling and root planing is generally done under a local anesthetic, which is meant to make you feel more comfortable.
We begin with scaling, or the scraping of the visible surfaces of your teeth, including at and just under the gum line. We effectively scrape away plaque, tartar, bacteria, and other debris, which helps to alleviate the irritation and swelling of your gums. Root planing involves using specialized tools to smooth the surfaces of your tooth roots, removing plaque, bacteria, and other toxins, and making it difficult for new bacteria to adhere to the teeth.
Periodontal Maintenance
In some cases, a single scaling and root planing treatment are all that is needed. In other cases, however, gum disease persists. If we find at your follow-up that your gums have not responded to the initial treatment, we may recommend you for periodontal maintenance. This is a series of visits, anywhere from two months to six months apart. Your teeth are examined as we assess the buildup on your teeth, check the condition of your gums, and take digital-rays. After your exam, we clean your teeth. We scrape the surfaces of your teeth, removing all buildup that has accumulated since your previous appointment.
Localized Placement of Medications
Placing an antimicrobial medication under the gums is often recommended following scaling and root planing. This particular treatment is done to kill any bacteria that may still be lingering in the periodontal pockets. While this medication is not meant to be a stand-alone treatment, we can help to determine if they will be an effective treatment for you.
In some cases, oral antimicrobial medications may be recommended. When combined with certain periodontal treatments, they can help to kill bacteria and work to heal your mouth.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is a fairly recent addition to the options for non-surgical periodontal therapy. Lasers can be used to remove infected tissue, making treatment with scaling and root planing easier and more effective. Lasers can also be used to eliminate bacterial buildup in periodontal pockets.
Non-surgical periodontal therapies are a much less invasive way to restore the health of your gums and the rest of your mouth. For more information, call Janice K. Pliszczak, DDS today at (315) 800-5020.
What Is Gum Disease? An Overview
Gum disease does not discriminate between hard and soft tissues. This disease damages both types of tissue in the oral cavity. This disease is unfortunately incurable once it progresses beyond the initial stage. Once it gets to the late stages, there is nothing to be done except treat the symptoms, because the disease cannot be cured. Some treatments can help to slow the progress of the disease and alleviate the symptoms.
Bacteria, which is a naturally occurring feature of the oral cavity, can build up to the point of being aggressive. This happens when brushing and flossing is missed and plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. This bacteria can easily destroy the gums and teeth. When this happens, it can easily turn into periodontal disease.
Early Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
Some patients may not recognize they are suffering from gum disease. Early symptoms may consist of gum inflammation, bleeding while flossing, or tooth sensitivity.
When gum disease gets more serious, the gum tissues can receed, and teeth can become loose, which could cause pain and discomfort while eating. Teeth can even fall out as a result of the gums receeding and not being able to hold the teeth firmly in place anymore.
Understanding the Stages of Gum Disease
When patients do not brush with regularity, bacteria can begin to damage the teeth and the gums by turning to plaque and then tartar. This irritates the gums and can start the first stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. It is important to note that this is the only stage in which the disease can be cured.
Periodontitis is the advanced stage of gum disease. In this stage of the disease, it can only be treated, and requires more intensive interventions. These may consist of surgical treatments like flap surgery, bone grafts, and tissue regeneration.
Why Treat Gum Disease? Health Benefits
In addition to affecting the gums and teeth, periodontal disease can cause heart issues and also can cause lung problems and other respiratory diseases. When the bacteria are in your mouth, you can easily inhale them and take them to the lungs. Also, periodontal disease makes chewing foods difficult. This means that you will not incorporate healthy foods like nuts into your diet, which will eventually affect your health.
Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatments
There are different types of treatments available; some surgical and some non-surgical in-nature. All of the treatments can alleviate some of the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Non-surgical treatments are typically reserved for patients who are in the earliest stages of the disease.
One of the most widely used forms of non-surgical treatments is the use of antibiotics. Since periodontal disease is bacterial in-nature, antibiotics can combat it effectively. It is usually coupled with another non-surgical treatment to make them even more effective.
Root scaling is another non-surgical treatment which involves the scraping of the teeth below the gum line with metal instruments. Root planing is the smoothing of the roots to make it more difficult for bacteria to cling to the teeth. |
