A Treatment for Gum Disease

The truth is that dental care for gum disease starts at home. A thorough dental hygiene routine includes both regular brushing and flossing. Dentists recommend that we brush our teeth after every meal and floss at least once a day.

Gum disease occurs in two stages. The first stage, known as gingivitis, is undetectable to us but it is also reversible with adequate care from the dentist. The second stage of gum disease is more serious and can require more serious treatment.

The first stage of treatment for advanced stages of gum disease is non-surgical cleaning. This process involves a specialist dentist cleaning under the gums to rid the mouth of plaque lurking at the root of the tooth.

This treatment usually takes place in two sessions, with the dentist cleaning one side of the mouth, then the other. He will use a special tool that allows him to scrape plaque and tartar from the root of the tooth. This will go some way to restoring the tooth’s health.

This treatment is however pointless unless the patient makes the effort to maintain the health of the teeth after treatment. Regular brushing and flossing becomes even more important.

For more advanced stages of gum disease there are other forms of treatment available. When the disease does not respond to non-surgical treatment, the dentist may recommend surgical treatment.

There are two kinds of surgical treatment. The first is known as flap surgery and it involves pulling back the gums so that the tartar can be cleaned away and then the gums are re-stitched in place, firmly around the teeth.

The other surgical option is where bone and tissue grafts are used to replace damaged gums and roots. New tissue grows up to meet the tissue grafts, repairing the damage done by the gum disease.

It is also possible to opt for laser treatment. In this instance laser is used for cosmetic reshaping to the gum. It is sometimes preferred to surgical treatment as it is not as painful as surgical treatment and the recovery time with laser therapy is much faster.

Laser therapy works by pointing a thermal laser beam at the infected area of the gum and tooth. The laser removes traces of bacteria from the infected area and also seals the wound. Because of this there is little bleeding and little pain. Laser treatment can, however, cost a lot more than traditional treatments for gum disease.