Katy Dental Experts

Treatments of Periodontal Disease

Treatments of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal or gum disease is common, affecting both children and adults alike. This inflammatory gum disease damages the soft tissues and also affects the supporting bone.

Surprisingly, gum disease is caused by poor hygiene. When you fail to brush and floss your teeth required, plaques begin to build above the gum line. Eventually, they harden and form tartar or calculus. This gives room for bacteria to attack the gums, causing inflammation.

In advanced stages, the inflammation causes the gums to detach from the teeth forming pockets that trap food and bacteria. As the gum disease progresses, the gingivae begin to recede, exposing the root of the teeth. This increases the risk of decay and causes the alveolar bone to deteriorate, which weakens the teeth.

The periodontal disease develops in stages:

        • Gum inflammation or gingivitis

Gingivitis often goes unnoticed because it has no symptoms. However, as the inflammation begins to spread, you may notice bleeding of the gums, bad breath, bright, swollen, and tender gums.

        • Periodontitis

It is the advanced stage of gum inflammation, and it causes receding of gums, loose teeth, pain when chewing, and accumulation of pus between the teeth and gums. Your teeth may also start to abnormally fit together as you bite something.

Without proper treatment, periodontitis can cause the loss of teeth.

What are the Forms of Periodontal Treatment Available?

Several periodontal treatments in Katy are available and are recommended based on the gum disease stage, the state of your health, and previous treatments that have been used. The treatments can either be non-surgical or surgical.

    1. Non-surgical treatments

The primary goal of the non-surgical treatments is to control bacterial growth, and they include:

          • Professional dental cleaning.

Our dentist in Katy, TX, performs this procedure during your routine dental checkup. Professional cleaning involves removing the plaque buildup from the gum line and underneath the teeth. If you have suffered from gum disease before or are at risk, the dentist may recommend professional cleaning more than the standard two times a year. But, remember, a professional dental cleaning is not a treatment for active periodontal disease.

          • Scaling and root planing

This is a deep cleaning procedure done under local anesthesia. The dentist will remove the tartar buildup from above and below the gums. Next, the gum pockets are cleaned, the rough spots on the teeth smoothened, and the gums reattached. 

2. Surgical treatments

The surgical treatments are done to restore the connective tissues, and they include:

          • Pocket reduction surgery

During the flap surgery procedure, the dentist will remove the tartar and smoothen the damaged bone’s irregular surfaces. The dentist then attaches the gums to the teeth. This helps to limit the spaces where the bacteria can hide.

          • Soft tissue grafts

The loss of soft tissue causes the gums to recede. To fix the situation, the dentist performs a soft tissue graft to remove a tissue matter from the mouth, mostly the palate, and attach it to the site. This will support new tissue growth, prevent gum recession, and cover the exposed roots.

          • Bone grafts

Advanced periodontal disease can damage the surrounding bone causing it to deteriorate. The bone graft procedure is done to promote new bone growth. The dentist will get bone fragments from your body or cadaver and place them in the affected area. The graft will serve as a platform for new bone growth, strengthening the jaw and stabilizing the teeth.

          • Guided Tissue Generation

The guided tissue generation procedure is performed when the supporting bone has been destroyed. The dentist uses a mesh-like fabric that acts as a membrane to stimulate bone and gum tissue growth. The membrane also keeps the gum tissue from overgrowing in spaces where the bone should be.

How to Prevent Gum Disease?

Since poor hygiene is the primary cause of periodontal disease, establishing good dental practices is the first step to preventing gum inflammation. Brush using a soft brush, floss, and rinse the mouth with antibacterial mouth wash. Don’t forget to visit the dentist for your routine dental checkups and cleaning.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Katy Dental Experts for more information on periodontal treatment in 77450.

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