Establishing and maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for the overall health of your gums and teeth. Neglecting oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay and gum disease caused by harmful oral bacteria. If left untreated, gum disease can progress from gingivitis to advanced gum disease, known as periodontitis.
The Prevalence of Periodontitis
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of all American adults over the age of 30 suffer from periodontitis. Shockingly, only a small percentage of these individuals receive the necessary treatment. However, it’s important to note that you can prevent periodontitis through proper oral hygiene practices, and dental professionals can effectively treat it to prevent tooth loss.
How to Resolve Periodontitis
Gum disease occurs when harmful oral bacteria persist in the mouth due to inadequate or improper oral care. Individuals with gum disease often experience symptoms such as red, swollen, and bleeding gums. However, you can alleviate these symptoms and cure gum disease by establishing and maintaining proper oral hygiene habits, which include:
- 1. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day.
- 2. Flossing daily to remove plaque and bacteria from between your teeth.
- 3. Visiting your dentist’s office for professional examinations and cleanings twice a year.
The Consequences of Untreated Gum Disease
When you leave gum disease untreated, the bacteria continue to accumulate, leading to a more severe condition called periodontitis. At this stage, the bacteria affect not only the gum tissue but also the bone and ligaments supporting your teeth. This can result in tooth loss. However, dental professionals can still treat periodontitis effectively, even in advanced cases.
Conventional Periodontal Treatment Options
- 1. Non-surgical treatment with tooth scaling and root planing:
- Your dentist uses special dental tools to scrape away plaque and tartar from your tooth and root surfaces.
- Dental professionals then smooth the surfaces to discourage bacterial reattachment.
- The number of visits for this treatment may vary depending on the extent of periodontitis.
- Local anesthetic is used to ensure your comfort throughout the process.
- 2. Surgical treatment with pocket reduction:
- If tooth scaling and root planing are not sufficient to resolve periodontitis, your dentist may recommend pocket reduction surgery.
- During this procedure, dental professionals fold back the gum tissue to access and remove infectious bacteria.
- Damaged bone areas are also smoothed to promote healing and gum tissue reattachment.
- 3. Surgical treatment with gum grafts:
- When gum recession exposes tooth roots, gum grafts may be necessary.
- Gum tissue is taken from your palate or another source and used to cover the exposed roots.
- This reduces sensitivity, protects roots from decay, and prevents further gum recession.
- 4. Surgical treatment with regenerative procedures:
- In cases where periodontitis has caused bone loss, your dentist may perform a bone grafting procedure.
- Natural or synthetic bone material, along with tissue-stimulating proteins, is placed in the affected area.
- This encourages your body to regrow bone and tissue, restoring the health of your gums.
Maintaining Oral Health After Periodontal Treatment
After undergoing any form of periodontal treatment, it is crucial to maintain strict oral hygiene habits to prevent a recurrence of periodontitis. Your dentist will provide guidance on improving your oral hygiene practices and may recommend specific products to reduce the quantity of harmful oral bacteria.
For more information about periodontal treatments, Contact Dentist in Bowie.