Gingivitis Versus Periodontitis

People suffering from mild gum disease (gingivitis) may be able to reverse it with regular dental cleanings and better oral hygiene practices. As periodontitis advances, however, it can damage ligaments and bones that hold your teeth together, potentially leading to loose or lost teeth.

Studies indicate that oral bacteria can travel to the arteries, contributing to cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, bacteria from the mouth may contribute or worsen respiratory illnesses like pneumonia.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Brushing and flossing alone cannot always prevent gum disease, however. Untreated gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, damaging both the teeth and jawbone – eventually leading to tooth loss as well as systemic health concerns such as heart disease or diabetes. Pocket reduction surgery – commonly referred to as flap or osseous surgery – reduces these depths so patients maintain healthy teeth with full smiles.

At this procedure, a periodontist numbs the area with local anesthetic before performing microincisions to gain access to the roots and bones of teeth. Once there, infected tissues, calculus deposits, bacteria, toxins are all removed as well as smoothed and reshaped surfaces of teeth to make bacteria accumulation harder and repositioned and sutured with either resorbable or non-resorbable stitches to close gaps between gum tissues and roots of teeth.

Patients should expect discomfort and swelling following this treatment, but this can usually be managed by applying a cold compress every 15 minutes or so for several days, taking over-the-counter painkillers as needed, and eating soft foods that require minimal chewing. Patients should also rinse their mouth frequently with warm water and spit to decrease risk of infection while following their dentist’s at-home care instructions.

Periodontal pocket reduction surgery is the optimal method for treating advanced gum disease, eliminating harmful bacteria that cannot be removed with less-invasive approaches and helping patients avoid serious complications like heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Gum disease treatments not only restore oral health, but they can also enhance its aesthetic appearance by eliminating brown gums, decayed teeth, and indentations caused by gum disease. By seeking treatment immediately patients can achieve fully functional yet beautiful smiles once again. A healthy diet and regular dental visits will also reduce the need for surgical intervention in the future. With early intervention techniques like scaling and root planing, such as this minimally invasive solution that removes plaque and tartar before they cause irreparable damage to teeth, gums, or bones.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing may be required when regular dental cleanings do not remove all the bacteria causing gum disease, scaling and root planing may be necessary. This deep cleaning procedure removes plaque and calculus deposits which inflame gum tissue & cause bone loss as well as smoothing tooth surfaces to help heal gum tissues & reattach to their respective teeth surfaces, while at the same time often relieving persistent bad breath due to oral bacteria.

Scaling involves using either hand or electric scalers to remove bacteria, plaque and tartar that causes inflammation from both the roots of teeth and underside of gum line using hand or electric scalers. A local anesthetic may be used to minimize discomfort; some people compare it to having an irritating splinter removed from their finger. After using scalers, your hygienist will use another tool called a curette to smooth any rough areas on tooth & root surfaces so as to prevent future adhesion of bacteria, plaque & tartar adhesion from adhesion on tooth surfaces in future appointments.

Typically, gums will need approximately 90 days to recover after receiving treatment for gum recession or periodontitis. During this time, they may become swollen, tender and bleed easily; to ensure their full healing it is important to follow all recommended home care recommendations during this time period. At their follow up appointment the doctor will re-probe the gums to assess progress towards healing; if pockets have closed up additional treatment may no longer be required.

Patients at greater risk for periodontitis (increased pockets, severe gum recession or persistent bad breath) should consider periodic maintenance scaling & root planing at least every three to four months to help combat gum disease progression and maintain good oral hygiene habits. By scheduling maintenance scaling & root planing appointments regularly and practicing good oral hygiene habits simultaneously, this will reduce the need for more extensive periodontal treatments later & ensure you maintain a healthier smile! Please keep in mind: Patients who are uncontrolled diabetic, heart condition patients or immune system disorders may experience complications during scaling & root planning procedures so consult your physician prior to receiving this procedure.

Soft Tissue Grafts

Soft tissue grafts can help repair damage done to gum tissue by periodontal disease, which exposes tooth roots. While this procedure may be slightly uncomfortable at times, pain medication can easily manage any discomfort during its implementation. When healing takes place it is essential to follow doctor instructions and avoid brushing the area of the graft as brushing could dislodge it and disrupt proper healing; several weeks post procedure soft foods like yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes or chicken can be eaten.

Root exposure is a widespread dental issue caused by various factors, including gum recession, trauma, over-brushing or genetic predisposition. When your roots are exposed they become vulnerable to tooth decay, sensitivity and bone loss; soft tissue grafts may cover these exposed roots to protect from decay while decreasing sensitivity and restoring a healthier gum line.

Soft tissue grafts involve taking gum tissue from the top of your mouth and transplanting it to areas of receding gum tissue in your mouth. There are four different kinds of soft tissue grafts. These include:

Connective Tissue Graft – To perform this graft, create a flap on the roof of your mouth and remove healthy tissue from underneath to transplant to where needed. It is the most frequently performed form of graft.

Soft Tissue Autograft – Similar to connective tissue grafts, but using human donor tissue processed under medical supervision instead of extracting tissue from the roof of the mouth for transplanting onto affected sites, free soft tissue autografts offer greater long-term success rates and are often considered more complex and expensive grafts.

Soft tissue grafts offer more than health benefits: they also enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Receding gums can make your smile appear “toothy” and uneven; soft tissue grafts can correct these problems by augmenting it to give a fuller and symmetrical look to it. Many dental insurance policies cover this procedure so be sure to speak to Stafford Oral Surgery & Specialists insurance provider to learn more.

Bone Regeneration

If periodontitis goes untreated, bacteria spread infection throughout your gums, ligaments and bones that support your teeth. Over time this damage causes pockets in your bone that fill with plaque and bacteria to form; eventually these pockets become permanent home for the bacteria and loosen teeth further as infection spreads further destroying underlying bone structures and leading to looseness or the eventual loss of the underlying tooth sockets. With severe periodontitis even ligaments and bone may be destroyed leading to irreparable tooth loss.

Bone regeneration surgery requires oral surgeons to insert graft material directly into affected jawbone areas. The material could come from someone else, an animal or be synthetically produced in a laboratory; once implanted it will become part of your gum pockets and stimulate new bone tissue formation in that location.

Regenerating bone can help your jaw support teeth and ward off further disease in an affected area, as well as provide strength when placing dental implants to replace missing ones.

Those suffering from advanced periodontitis may benefit from bone regeneration treatment as a way of saving their remaining natural teeth. This can be completed using local anesthesia for maximum comfort and without pain during the procedure.

Bone regeneration surgery can strengthen and enhance your jawbone, improving both its appearance and your oral health and well-being. Studies have revealed that those with poor dental health are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis – periodontitis has even been linked with systemic inflammation which contributes to these illnesses.

Successful surgery should involve few complications; however, complications may still arise. Your oral surgeon will discuss any risks with you prior to performing your procedure; be sure to let them know of any allergies, blood disorders or preexisting conditions that could hinder recovery; also avoid smoking and take antibiotics postoperatively to prevent infections following your surgery; you may experience swelling, bleeding or bruising post-op and will be provided painkillers or anti-inflammatories to control these symptoms; finally when bone regenerates itself it’s essential that regular brushing and flossing are done regularly as instructed so as to protect it!