Your gums are an integral part of your periodontium apart from the cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. It maintains your oral vitality and integrity. Chronic bacterial infection can wreak havoc on your gums causing inflammation and disease.
Green Valley, AZ periodontal services offered by expert dental specialists help restore your gum health through advanced, and innovative treatments. This helps restore your oral form, function, and aesthetics.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease or gum disease is a common dental problem, after tooth decay. This is characterized by the progressive destruction of the periodontium. It begins as an inflammation of the gums but may spread, progressing to the jawbone. If left untreated for a long time, periodontal disease can be the leading cause of tooth loss.
Poor oral hygiene and bacterial infiltration pave the way for increased plaque accumulation, releasing harmful toxins and acids that cause infection and impair your body’s defense system. This results in an inflammatory response in your body causing symptoms like swollen, discolored, bleeding gums, receding gums, mobility, and tooth loss.
Advanced treatment options for periodontal disease
Treatment for periodontal disease depends on the stage.
- Mild to moderate forms of periodontal disease require non-surgical management, such as:
- Antibiotics
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- These are prescribed in the form of oral drugs or topical gels and mouthwash to fight infection
- Scaling and root planing
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- Dental cleanings are routine procedures that allow the dentist to eliminate plaque, calculus, and bacteria beneath the gum line.
- Deep scaling involves cleaning the tooth roots to make them smooth, preventing plaque adherence.
- Moderate to severe forms of periodontal disease require surgical intervention, such as:
- Flap surgery
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- A flap incision is raised on your gums and repositioned to the area of the gum defect with an intact blood supply.
- Bone grafting
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- This procedure helps to replace the lost bone thickness using a graft material. The graft may be your bone, donated bone, or a synthetic material.
- Gum grafting
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- Gum grafting helps treat gum recession by placing a tissue graft around the affected teeth and suturing it.
- The graft is obtained from any part of your oral cavity that covers the exposed tooth roots.
- Guided tissue regeneration
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- A special biocompatible material is placed between the bone and your tooth for a regenerative process.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
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- PRP is extracted from your blood sample and injected into the deficient areas to encourage bone growth.
Identify the warning signs and seek dental care as soon as possible. Early detection can pave the way for a successful treatment and save your natural teeth. Advanced stages may be challenging to treat due to loss of attachment, and tooth mobility.