Tips & Advice
What steps can be taken to prevent periodontal disease?
To prevent periodontal disease, it's important to brush your teeth after meals, since this prevents food debris from getting lodged between your teeth and gums and causing plaque. Daily flossing should also be a key part of your oral health regimen, since this removes food particles and plaque that a toothbrush may not be able to reach. Smoking increases the risk of gum disease, so avoid this habit if you want to maintain healthy gums.
Is periodontal treatment painful?
Certain periodontal treatments are completely painless and gentle enough to be administered without anesthesia. Treatments such as deep scaling, root planing, and those involving surgery are performed with the help of a local anesthetic or a sedative.
What are the most common types of treatments provided by periodontists?
One of the most common types of treatments performed by periodontists is gum grafting. This is a surgical procedure that grafts your gum tissue to reverse gum recession, and it can prevent further recession and bone loss. Periodontists also perform laser treatment for gum disease, dental implant installation, pocket reduction procedures, and dental crown lengthening.
What type of sedation is used during a periodontal treatment?
In periodontal treatment that involves surgery, many periodontists use a local anesthetic that works to completely numb the area being treated. Oral or IV sedation can also be used, and with this approach, you'll either be completely asleep, or drift in and out of sleep while the procedure is being performed.
Can gum disease be treated?
Gum disease can be treated with the help of a dentist or periodontist. If gum disease is in its early stages, a professional cleaning will remove tartar before it leads to infection that can cause a more serious condition. With advanced cases of gum disease, infected gums can be treated with scaling and root planing.
The earliest stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis. With gingivitis, the gums are swollen and inflamed, and they bleed when the teeth are being brushed or flossed. Gingivitis can also cause gums to recede and pull away from the teeth, leaving the teeth with an elongated appearance.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around your teeth, including the gums, bone, and periodontal ligament. Periodontal disease often causes the gums to bleed when teeth are brushed or flossed, and it's triggered by bacteria present in dental plaque. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, and it's been linked to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
What is periodontal therapy?
Periodontal therapy is the treatment of periodontal disease. The first step in periodontal therapy is diagnosis, and this involves an examination to determine the state of your gums. The second step is treatment, and this will depend on the severity of your condition. Maintenance is the third step, and it involves cleaning your teeth at home each day to keep plaque and tartar at bay.
What is the difference between a dentist and a periodontist?
Both dentists and periodontists are focused on oral health, but while dentists mainly care for teeth, periodontists are focused on gum health and the health of the bones in the jaw. A periodontist performs such treatments as like bone grafting, deep pocket cleanings, and soft tissue removal. A dentist would handle tasks like filling cavities, extracting teeth, and performing root canals.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the care and treatment of the soft tissue and bones that support your teeth. Periodontists work with patients to prevent, diagnose, and treat gum disease, and they can also place dental implants in your jaw to replace missing teeth.
