Periodontal Treatment For patients dealing with periodontal disease or as it is more commonly known, gum disease, it is very challenging to maintain. The root cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene when patients might skip brushing and flossing. Many patients do not consider how important routine dental exams are to their daily oral cavity health. Without regular brushing and flossing the natural bacteria found in the mouth can grow to dangerous levels if not maintained properly. If left unchecked, the bacteria can become plaque which can eventually turn into tartar. While both bacteria and plaque can be removed by brushing and flossing, tartar cannot. A professional cleaning will be necessary to remove tartar. The importance of maintaining a daily routine of oral health care cannot be stressed enough to prevent periodontal disease. Without this, patients can easily develop gum disease which is both progressive and potentially incurable. Please reach out to us today at Jerome Riddle DDS to evaluate your oral cavity and discuss available treatment options. Assessing a Patient for Gum DiseaseAs with anything, a patient's self-awareness with regard to their oral health is imperative to the early identification of problems and areas of concern. Each time you brush and floss, be sure to visually inspect your mouth. Look at your gums and teeth as well as your tongue and the inner lining of the cheeks. If you notice any difference in the coloring of your cheeks and gums, if you notice any teeth are loose, or if there is a discharge where the gums meet the teeth, be sure to contact us immediately. When our staff evaluates your oral cavity, we will also look for similar anomalies. We will utilize x-rays so we can track any potential bone loss to the upper or lower jaw. Non-Surgical Gum Disease TreatmentsWhile some patients do require surgical procedures in order to battle later stages of periodontal disease, those who only suffer from the earlier stages can benefit from non-surgical options. One of the most widely used treatments is antibiotics. Bacteria is the root cause of gum disease and antibiotics have proven quite effective in treating infections of this type. Scaling is another non-invasive procedure which entails cleaning the teeth and removing any bacteria, plaque, or tartar both above and below the gumline. Planing is used to keep the tooth's surface smooth, so bacteria do not have a chance to cling to it and grow. Surgical Treatments for Gum DiseaseWhen patients are in the most advanced stages of periodontal disease, the non-surgical options simply are not effective in treating the disease. One surgical option is a gingivectomy which removes damaged or diseased tissue from the gums. Pocket reduction surgery is used to minimize the development of pockets between the teeth and gums where infection can set in. Bone grafts can be used as well, to help improve jawbone health by increasing bone mass. If you are concerned that you may have periodontal disease, contact Jerome Riddle DDS today at 480-991-4410 to set up an appointment. |
