What Are Your Best Options For Gum Disease Treatment
One of the most common oral health problems is periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. Encompassing a variety of dental problems, it has many causes. For adults, it can be caused by bad diet, lack of oral care, or most commonly, smoking. Between 90% to 95% of the global population will encounter gum disease at some point, and the number of afflicted people climbs everyday.
Beyond being a superficial problem, gum disease can be an indirect cause of serious health issues when untreated. It has even been suspected of being a key cause of many cardiovascular problems. With that in mind, the treatment of gum disease is critical to prevent the occurrence of serious medical problems as you age. Depending on the type and condition of gum disease, there are different options available for treatment.
Dental surgery:
Pocket reductions are the most common form of surgery performed to reduce gum disease. This involves cleaning the pockets that have been formed by too much tartar build-up on the gums. A periodontist will peel away the folds of gum tissue to remove the bacteria, and then seal the holes with existing gum tissue. In extreme cases of gum disease, patients have gone as far as having cosmetic work done to treat the problem.
Non-surgical gum disease treatment:
In some cases, those suffering from gum disease had tooth implants to replace missing teeth. Such patients can opt for the scaling and root planing treatment. The process scrapes off bacteria and foreign contaminants from the surface of the teeth. Some clinics have begun pairing the procedure with a new form of laser surgery used for gum treatment. In a survey of Texas-based dentists, the combination of scaling and root planing with laser treatment yielded better results than just using one procedure.
Cosmetic treatments:
Patients wishing to avail of cosmetic treatments have two options. The first is to maximize the tooth crown. This prevents tartar from building up and forming pockets, causing gum disease. The second option is called grafting. This involves harvesting soft tissue from healthy areas of the gum line and grafting the samples to the roots of affected teeth. This blocks tartar formation at the base of individual teeth. Grafting is the preferred option for people with oral hypersensitivity, since it lessens discomfort when eating or drinking.
As with any disease, prevention is always better than reactive treatment. Though almost everyone will encounter some form of gum disease once in their life, diligence can lessen those odds. Precautionary steps include cutting back on smoking and having good dietary habits. Finally, observing proper dental care, such as daily brushing of the teeth and periodic dental visits, will go a long way in preventing tartar buildup in the gum line, especially for chain smokers.
Would you like to learn more about the best Gum Disease Treatment options? visit Dr. Juan Montoya’s site to get all the facts on Periodontal Disease.