Straight Teeth in Less Time
3 Gum-Disease Treatments Explained
Lois Murray
Gum disease is a common condition that can eventually lead to tooth loss, but gum disease is also very treatable. Here is an explanation of three methods that dentists use to treat gum disease in different stages of the condition.
Antibiotics
The gum recession caused by gum disease can eventually expose the roots of your teeth as well as the dental sockets. These areas are very sensitive to the acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, so your dentist may provide antibiotics to fight the bacteria.
Antibiotic mouthwash for daily use is the most common solution for preventing infection related to gum disease. In more serious cases, antibiotic gelatin chips are sometimes placed into the dental pockets to constantly kill bacteria in the pocket and on the roots of teeth.
Scaling and Planing
If plaque is left on the teeth for too long, it will eventually harden into a substance known as tartar. Tartar contains a high amount of cavity-causing bacteria, and it cannot be removed by normal brushing. Visiting your dentist for tartar removal is an effective treatment for early stages of gum disease before serious damage has occurred to the teeth.
Dentists remove tartar using a process called scaling and planing. After numbing the teeth and gums, your dentist will use a small metal scraper to remove tartar from the teeth above the gums. Another tool called a root planer is then inserted between the teeth and gums to scrape away tartar that has built up below the gum line.
Pocket Reduction
In advanced stages of gum disease, scaling and planing alone may not be enough to remove all tartar and slow the progression of the disease. In these cases, pocket-reduction surgery is usually necessary. An oral surgeon will first pull the gums away from the teeth to expose the roots and dental pockets. This makes it easier to scrape all of the tartar off of the roots of the teeth.
After the roots are cleaned, the gums are sutured and positioned closer to the roots of the teeth. This process of shrinking the dental pocket reduces the amount of space between the teeth and gums, making it more difficult for tartar to build up in the dental pocket.
If you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease such as swollen gums, pain while chewing, or loose teeth, visit your dentist to get the treatment you need and to restore your healthy smile.
To find a dentist, visit sites such as http://www.pikedentistry.com.
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I had braces when I was a kid. Back then, you had to wear those metal wires and rubber bands for what seemed like forever. When I saw that my child’s teeth were going to be crooked like mine, I was dreading the years of braces and orthodontist appointments and limited diets that I saw stretching ahead of us. I was pleased to find out that braces today are very different from braces when I was a kid. They don’t need to be worn for nearly as long, and they aren’t as intrusive, either. My daughter got braces that can barely be seen, and she can remove them when she eats, so she doesn’t have to give up her favorite foods. I was so impressed that I started a blog to talk about modern day tooth straightening techniques. Braces have come a long way.