Gum Disease Treatment
There are a number of conditions that can result from poor oral hygiene including gum disease. Unfortunately, gum disease is very common, and it’s thought that around 90% of the population will suffer from it, in some form or another during their lifetime. That’s the bad news….
The good news is that when it comes to gum disease treatment, patients have several non-surgical and surgical options open to them, depending upon the degree of the problem.
Gum disease types:
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis
- Acute Necrotising Ulcerative Gingivitis (Or ANUG for short)
Gingivitis and gum disease treatment
Gingivitis is the least serious and most common of all gum disease problems and occurs when plaque is allowed to build up. This, in turn, can lead to inflammation and bleeding gums (typically noticeable when brushing). Gingivitis treatment is pretty straightforward and involves the removal of all plaque in and around the teeth.
This is done using a scaling and polishing technique. Patients may also be given some antibiotics to stop any further inflammation and normally you would expect to see improved results within 10-14 days.
Gum disease treatment for periodontitis
When gingivitis is left untreated, inflammation can spread to the bones and ligaments surrounding the teeth. This is known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. During this stage of the disease, gums may begin to pull away from the teeth creating pockets. Plaque then forms in the pockets which are hard to reach with a toothbrush. The plaque may harden into tartar which can irritate gums further.
To combat this, periodontal treatment can consist of several treatments. These include:
Non-surgical Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
Scaling first removes any tartar build-up from teeth and root surfaces then planing is carried out to smooth away any rough surfaces on the tooth root where bacteria may otherwise hide. Treatment can take more than one visit and is often carried out chairside under a local anaesthetic.
Laser therapy
Surgical treatments
As a surgical option, the team at Advanced Dental Care can also utilise gum grafts and regenerative bone procedures to replace gums and bone that have been destroyed by advanced periodontal disease. However, these techniques are normally used as a last resort.
Acute Necrotising Gum Disease (ANUG)
This is the final stage of gum disease and can develop suddenly. It is also commonly known as trench mouth and can cause severe swelling, ulcers, and pain. This would usually involve specialist treatment and people with this condition are strongly advised to see a dentist right away.
