PeriodonticsTucson, AZ

Treating gum diseases

There are multiple periodontics treatments, depending on the patient and the extent of the condition. The dentist will recommend appropriate treatment after checking the teeth and gums to determine the cause of the problem. Patients are advised to look for initial signs of gum disease and book an appointment immediately so the dentist can treat the problem with minimally invasive procedures. Once the disease has reached an advanced stage, healing may require extensive procedures.

This basic step in treating gum disease is to perform deep cleaning. This entails removing plaque and tartar deposits from the teeth and gums. After cleaning the bacteria, the gums will start to heal naturally. If the plaque deposit is only on the edge of the gumline, regular teeth cleaning is enough. However, if plaques are trapped between the gums and teeth, scaling and root planing will be necessary. This means the dentist will scrape the plaque from the teeth under the gums.

After a diagnosis, periodontics treatment is crucial to oral health and overall wellbeing. In the case of advanced gum recession, conventional periodontal treatment usually entails extensive and invasive surgery, stitches and supervised aftercare. The alternative is the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP). This laser procedure has many advantages over traditional procedures and even allows patients on a strict prescription routine to undergo periodontics treatment without stopping their medications.

Gum surgery

With traditional gum surgery, the dentist will make incisions in the gums and use a scalpel to fold the gums backward. This will expose the tooth roots and the jawbone. Then, the dentist will clean tartar and debris from the tooth roots and examine the bone supporting the teeth. If a bone defect is present, they will reshape the bone or place bone graft material. Finally, they will suture the gums to their original state.

Dentists may reduce gum tissue surgically to maintain a periodontal pocket that is 3mm or less to allow effective cleaning. For instance, if the patient has 6mm pocket reading, the dentist will remove 3mm of gum tissue to form a 3mm pocket. Restoring the gums sometimes require gum grafting. This works by transferring tissue from the mouth roof or other areas to the gums to begin regeneration. If bone loss occurs, the dentist may perform a bone graft to restore and hold the tooth.

LANAP

In LANAP gum therapy, no scalpels and sutures are needed. The dentist will place the laser fiber (PerioLase MVP-7) through the teeth and gums to reach the periodontal pocket. The laser then gets rid of infected tissues in the gum pockets and kills the bacteria. Using an ultrasonic device, the dentist will clean the tooth roots. This forms a clot seal that promotes natural healing. The major difference is that LANAP encourages tissue regeneration to reduce gum pocket depths, while conventional surgery removes infected tissues to achieve a healthy gum pocket depth.

The same PerioLase used in LANAP can be applied when treating dental implants affected by inflammation. The inflammation usually destroys the soft tissues and the bone and may lead to implant failure. Treating the affected area with PerioLase also kills the bacteria responsible for inflammation and promotes regeneration of the bone structure supporting the teeth. The same method applies for treating loose teeth caused by periodontal disease.

LANAP can cause fewer side effects like pain, swelling, sensitivity and bleeding. Patients can also experience less downtime, and the results of the procedure tend to last a long time.

Keeping the gums healthy

Patients can prevent periodontitis by maintaining a healthy oral hygiene routine. Recommended practices include:

• Brushing and flossing daily, especially after meals and before bedtime
• Rinsing the mouth daily with an antiseptic mouthwash to remove bacteria and sugar
• Consuming a healthy diet with low sugar content
• Visiting the dentist twice yearly for professional cleaning and dental checkup.