Treating Gum Disease With Surgical And Non Surgical Treatments

If you have been told you have gum disease, there is no reason to worry. In fact, half of all American adults are diagnosed with gum disease according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. There are different levels of gum disease starting a gingivitis and ending in periodontal disease. Regardless of the severity of your gum disease, you need to be treated quickly in order to avoid worse symptoms that can occur. These symptoms can often include the loss of teeth, pain, and even receding gum lines. There are several ways to treat gum disease thanks to technology. You can choose between surgical and non surgical methods depending on how severe your gum disease is. Here are some of the most popular treatment methods. 

Gum Therapy

One of the most effective ways to treat gum disease is through gum therapy. If the space between the gum and your teeth measure more than 3mm, you will likely need root planning or gum therapy. A local anesthesia is given by the endodontist in order to eliminate any pain you may feel during the process. Once this has been done, your dentist will then clean your teeth and gums down to the root. This is more detailed than your regular routine cleaning. In most cases, if the treatment is necessary, your dental insurance will cover a portion if not all of the costs for the gum therapy. 

Surgical Treatment

If the bone has been destroyed, your dentist may recommend going in and replacing part of the bone that is no longer there. This process is called tissue engineering and allows your body to heal itself by growing new bone and tissue. In some cases, it is combined with flap surgery. This process uses a piece of fabric that is inserted in between the gum and the teeth. By doing this, the connective tissue and the bone are able to regrow. 

Gum grafts are another type of surgical procedure to help with gum disease. As the gum recedes back, this exposes the tooth and gum. In order to get it back to looking right, a gum graft is performed. In most cases, the tissue is removed from the upper mouth and is placed where the missing tissue is. This helps support the tooth and gives you a more natural looking smile. The tissue is inserted with the help of stitches. The stitches typically dissolve over time for your convenience. 

For more information, contact a professional like John P Poovey DMD PC.