Periodontics: All About The Surgical And Non-Surgical Treatments That You Can Avail

Maintaining a good dental routine has a positive affect on our overall health, just like neglecting our teeth leads us towards the possibility of acquiring periodontal diseases. Although our number one priority is to prevent any form of tooth infection, it is good to be aware of treatment options in case we do develop some form of gum disease. Today there is an array of surgical and non-surgical treatments available to treat periodontitis before it begins to severely damage the bone and gum tissue, which is supporting our teeth.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Regular professional cleaning 

Regular visits to the dentist are important for a variety of reasons, one of them being to keep a close eye on the health of your gums. During a cleaning session, your dentist will do a physical exam of the mouth, looking for cavities or any inflammation of the gums. If deemed necessary, a gum screening will follow to identify any sensitive or swollen gums, signifying the presence of gingivitis. 

Scaling

This procedure is undertaken upon findings of excessive plaque buildup. In this type of deep cleaning, dental tools are known as a scaler and curette are used to reach below the gumline and excavate the bad bacteria from between inside and between your teeth. Additionally, an ultrasonic instrument can be used to chip away stubborn tartar from the pockets.

Root Planning

In this process, the rough spots on the roots of the teeth are smoothed out, so the supportive tissues can once again reattach themselves to the tooth surface.

Occlusal Adjustment

When there is an imperfect positioning of the teeth once the jaws are closed, it is referred to as a malocclusion. If left untreated, this can lead to bruxism, which can cause swollen gums and loss of tooth structure. Occlusal adjustment is aimed at correcting the patient’s bite and results in improving a patient’s periodontal health.

Surgical Treatments

Tissue Graft Surgery

If your gums have receded significantly, causing a severe exposure of root surfaces, your dentist will suggest tissue graft surgery to restore them to a more natural form. Performed under local anesthesia, this procedure involves removing healthy gum tissue from the roof of the mouth and gently placing it on the site where there is a recession.

Pocket Elimination Surgery

When periodontal disease has advanced, deep pockets develop between your teeth and gums destroying the necessary support tissue and bone. One option that can prevent further accumulation of bacteria and eventually tissue loss from occurring is pocket elimination surgery. In this procedure, the periodontist will smooth any irregular surfaces of the damaged bone before folding back the gum tissue to remove all the disease-causing bacteria and then securing it back in place.

Crown Lengthening Surgery

If you have one or several broken teeth or are facing severe tooth decay, a crown lengthening surgery will be recommended to adjust the level of gum and bone so more of your tooth structure is exposed and your periodontist can place crowns where necessary. While in some cases, the process will involve the removal of excess gum tissue. In others, the doctor will have to cut the gums to pull them away from the teeth.

It is important to take good care of our teeth in order to prevent any development of tooth decay and gum disease. Poor dental hygiene, combined with an insufficient diet, is the leading cause of periodontal disease. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to follow measures to stop the infection from occurring in the first place; however, there are several surgical and non-surgical treatment options which can prevent the infection from causing severe damage.