How is Periodontal Disease Treated?

It is an unfortunate fact that many of our patients have some form of periodontal disease and do not know it. Because the disease has few distinguishing symptoms and builds slowly over time, an experienced periodontist must diagnose and treat the problem to prevent tooth loss.

Our periodontist in San Francisco is one of the group of dentists who focus on treating and preventing dental problems affecting the supporting structures of the teeth.

Gum disease ranges from minor plaque build-up to gingivitis to full-blown periodontitis. For this reason, the treatments for periodontal disease vary according to the severity of the condition.

Although individual circumstances are unique, the general guidelines for treating the levels of periodontal disease are as follows.

• In its earliest stages, a thorough professional cleaning is an effective treatment for gum disease. It is important for you to continue to maintain good oral hygiene including brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups.

• For patients with gingivitis, the plaque has hardened below the gumline and formed tartar. A dental professional will perform what is known as scaling and root planning to remove the hard substance. This involves using special instruments to slide below your gum line to remove the tartar. Fortunately, this is a highly successful procedure. In the majority of cases, the tooth roots and gums reattach once there are no impediments.

• Periodontitis has different stages; all require significant intervention if the tooth, or teeth, are to be saved.

ü Early stage periodontitis often responds well to gum flap surgery. This procedure involves the dentist pulling back the gums and cleaning away the built-up tartar and plaque.

ü Advance cases of periodontitis often require bone surgery or bone grafts. Bone surgery often takes place following gum flap surgery. Before reattaching the gum, the dentist reshapes the bone to remove pits or crevasses where bacteria collect. Bone grafts involve the dentist attaching pieces of healthy jaw bone to the afflicted area of the jaw. The goal is to encourage new healthy bone growth.

Gum health is critical to overall good dental health. If you would like to learn more, please contact our office. 

Signs of Periodontal Disease

We live in a busy world and in this business, many people believe that they are taking good care of their teeth. However, a once-over with a toothbrush and a little floss often is not enough to maintain good oral hygiene. Inattention to your dental health can lead to periodontal disease (also known as gum disease) which causes a variety of problems. Our staff can help diagnose and treat gum disease and help prevent future complications.

Periodontal disease comes from a build-up of bacteria in the plaque that coats your teeth and gums. If the bacteria are allowed to grow unchecked, you risk losing teeth and even bone. While gum disease often occurs without dramatically noticeable symptoms, if you are aware of the subtle changes associated with it, you can seek treatment as soon as possible. Here are some of the most common signs of periodontal disease.

• Bleeding gums, especially while flossing or brushing your teeth. Blood, while you are doing routine oral care, is a sure sign that something is going wrong in your mouth. You may also experience bleeding when eating hard foods like apples.

• Red or swollen gums. It is not normal to have gums which are excessively puffy or bright red.

• Constant bad breath. If you have halitosis despite your best efforts to keep your mouth fresh and clean, gum disease is a likely culprit.

• Receding Gums. Elongated teeth and gums that are pulling away from your teeth, both signal potential periodontal disease. Consult with our periodontistin Torrance as soon as you can.

• Loose teeth. Unless you are a young child with baby teeth, your teeth should not wiggle or move. Also look for small gaps between teeth that you have not previously noticed. Gaps may not always be visible, so notice if your dental floss suddenly seems to get trapped between teeth.

• Pus gathered between your teeth and gums. The presence of pus or any kind of sore in your mouth is a signal to call our dental office right away.

The good news about periodontal disease is that diligent oral care can prevent it.

Gum Disease Causing Other Systemic Diseases

Dental infections have been linked to several systemic diseases. Although there is not yet enough research to demonstrate oral infection as a causal factor in these conditions, there is substantial evidence that allows researchers to determine that oral health and overall health are inextricably linked. Our periodontist in Los Angeles recommends good dental habits not just to maintain a healthy smile but also a healthy body.

According to the NIH, oral infections can affect your body systemically several ways. The infection can spread as bacteria enter the bloodstream, and the immune system can become damaged by the oral toxins, which trigger an immune response. Periodontitis, or gum disease, is one of the primary dental problems that has been linked to systemic problems, and it is associated with:

·         Atherosclerosis

·         Heart attack

·         Stroke

·         Infective carditis

·         Bacterial pneumonia

·         Low birth weight and other pregnancy complications

·         Diabetes mellitus

Gum disease is caused by oral bacteria. They grow in a biofilm called plaque, which is constantly growing on teeth. Brushing is needed to remove the plaque and the bacteria. With good brushing habits, you can keep plaque under control and reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth. You also need to clean between your teeth using floss or an interdental cleaner and schedule routine professional cleanings. Call our office today to learn more about periodontitis prevention in Los Angeles. 

Surgical and Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatments

Gum disease has two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. The former, an early stage, can be treated with improved at-home dental hygiene, such as attentive brushing, flossing, and recommended mouth wash. If this is not successful, or gingivitis is not identified in time, conditions can develop into periodontitis, or severe gum disease.

There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments for periodontitis. Our dentist in San Fernando Valley will most often begin treatment with a non-invasive method, called a scaling and root planing. This involves using a sharp tool to remove plaque and tartar from just at and just below the gum line. This may be enough to reverse the effects of periodontal disease.

If it is not successful, there are several surgical methods that can be used. A pocket reduction is much like a scaling and root planing, but reaches the root surfaces to eliminate more harmful substances. Gum flap surgery takes this a step further by lifting up the gum tissue to access more of the root surfaces. The gum tissue is then stitched back into place.

If the gums or jaw bone has diminished due to the disease, our dentist will perform a graft to replace the missing tissue. This material can come from another area of the mouth or body, from another person, or simply synthetic material. 

How are Periodontal Pockets Treated?

Periodontal pockets form when the gum tissue pulls away from teeth in response to the inflammation and swelling that occurs as a result of plaque and tartar buildup. The pockets between the teeth and gum tissue can become quite deep and offer bacteria the perfect environment to breed. More plaque and tartar develop in these hard-to-clean pockets, and eventually, the bone around your teeth will be at risk. Our periodontist in Los Angeles will recommend a personalized treatment program for you.

The first step in treating these pockets is cleaning them thoroughly. This usually requires a procedure called scaling and root planing, or SRP. SRP is a deep-cleaning procedure designed to clean the pockets around the teeth and remove all of that plaque and tartar buildup. After the teeth have been scaled, the roots will be planed, which means that they will be smoothed. This makes it easier for the gum tissue to heal and reattach.

In early stages of periodontitis, SRP may be enough to control the infection and allow the gums to heal. In later stages, surgery may be needed. Pocket reduction surgery is a procedure used to tighten the gum tissue around the teeth. Gum grafts and bone grafts can also be helpful. Call our office today to learn more about your gum treatment options or to schedule a consultation with our expert in treating periodontal pockets in Los Angeles.

When Do You Need a Gum Graft?

Gum grafts can help restore lost gum tissue, protect exposed roots, and create a more cosmetically appealing smile. Although a gum graft might sound like a major operation, it is a commonly performed treatment in periodontics.

If you have lost gum tissue due to gum recession, periodontal disease, or age-related changes, you might be a candidate for a gum graft. Your teeth might look longer than normal, or you may notice a darker line near the gums because the dentin is more visible on the roots. Covering the roots with a gum graft can help protect them against root decay and sensitivity, and improve the look and health of your smile.

The procedure can be done using your own tissues or donor tissues. The treatment site is numbed, and the grafted tissue is gently positioned and sutured into place. Once the graft is complete, your body’s own natural healing process will begin, and new blood vessels will start to grow, nurturing the grafted material and creating a healthy new gumline.

After your gum graft, good dental hygiene is vital. You might need to take precautions to reduce the risk of disrupting the healing tissues. Good brushing and flossing habits will reduce the risk of oral bacteria contaminating or infecting the grafting site. Call us to find out more or to schedule your appointment with our gum graft surgeon in Los Angeles.

Non Surgical Options for Treating Gum Disease

Gum disease ranges in severity from mild to advanced. While advanced periodontitis can require surgery to resolve, early gingivitis often responds to non-surgical treatments. The following options are examples of non-surgical solutions our Los Angeles periodontists may recommend for gum disease.

Improved Oral Hygiene

Very early in the course of gum disease, simply improving oral hygiene practices can stop and reverse the problem. This includes more frequent brushing and flossing, and a focus on foods that are good for the teeth and gums. 

Deep Cleaning

Also known as scaling and root planing, this treatment involves pulling back the gums from the teeth to clean underneath. The goal is to remove accumulated plaque and bacteria from the tooth roots and prevent periodontal pockets from enlarging further.

Antibiotics

Anti-bacterial measures used to treat gum disease include antiseptic mouthwash and antibiotic medications. Whereas antiseptic mouthwash often helps treat early gingivitis, prescription antibiotics are usually only used for stopping acute infections in severe periodontitis.

Gum disease treatment is simplest when the condition is in its early stages. With prompt care, oral and systemic complications are also less likely to develop. Patients can schedule a consultation with our expert in non surgicalperiodontal treatments in Los Angeles to learn more about the non-surgical methods of gum disease treatment.

What Causes Swollen Gums and What are the Treatment Options

Gingivitis is the most common cause of swollen gums. Gingivitis is caused by improper oral hygiene. Proper oral hygiene consists of brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. In addition to your at-home oral care regimen, it is important to visit the dentist every six months for a professional exam and cleaning.

A failure to practice proper oral hygiene results in a buildup of plaque and bacteria. When the bacteria feed on the sugars in the foods that we eat, they create a harmful acid byproduct as a result. This acid is what causes tooth decay. When plaque is allowed to accumulate, it turns into tartar. When plaque and tartar build up along the gumline, it causes the gums to swell. This swelling of the gums, or gingivitis, is the first stage of gum disease. Luckily, gingivitis is highly treatable and reversible. Improving your oral hygiene is the best swollen gums treatment. Failure to effectively treat gingivitis will lead to it developing into periodontitis, a much more serious stage of gum disease. In cases in which improving oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings are not enough to clear up the gingivitis, our Los Angeles periodontist may suggest a procedure called scaling and root planing. In this procedure, the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline is scraped away, and the hard bacterial deposits at the root of the teeth are removed.

Do Children Develop Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease can affect anyone at any age, and unfortunately, this also includes children. Periodontal disease in children tends to take the form of chronic gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis, or generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Chronic gingivitis is relatively common and is usually caused because of poor oral hygiene. Red, swollen gums that tend to bleed easily are hallmark signs of chronic gingivitis in children. Regular brushing and flossing, along with biannual visits to the dentist for a professional exam and cleaning are important ways to treat and prevent this condition.

Aggressive periodontitis affects children who are otherwise healthy. It is characterized by severe bone loss, and strangely, these patients form very little plaque and tartar. Generalized aggressive periodontitis tends to begin around puberty, as there is an increase in blood flow to the gums. Gums are inflamed, with there being heavy accumulation of plaque and tartar.

It is important to establish firm foundations of oral health in your children at a very young age. You can start using toothpaste by the time they are one year old, and flossing should begin as soon as their teeth start to close. In some cases, periodontal disease may develop as a result of a systemic disease. If you notice any changes in the oral health of your child, contact our expert in periodontics in Los Angeles to schedule a consultation.