How is Gum Disease Treated?
Wilmington, DE
 How you get treated for gum disease largely depends on what stage of the disease you are in. While the first stage is reversible with good oral hygiene and proper treatment, the latter stages are much harder to treat. However, you do have several options depending on how severe your periodontitis treatment needs to be. Our team at Delaware Periodontics will walk you through your options and help you get the right treatment.
What Treatment Does to You
Every type of gum disease treatment is designed to do two things. First, it needs to clean the bacterial build up from your teeth and roots. Once the roots are clean, depending on the stage of your gum disease, the pockets could be anywhere from one to three millimeters deep to over half an inch deep.
Once the bacteria pockets are cleaned, then we want to focus on the surrounding bone and gumline. Gum disease, especially in the advanced stages, can really destroy the support structures for your teeth. We want to preserve as much as possible, while also stopping the spread of bacteria to the rest of your mouth.
Types of Nonsurgical Treatments
If you have less advanced gum disease, around stages one and two, we tend to focus on noninvasive surgical procedures. Non surgical treatment consists of scaling and root planing and home care instruction.
Scaling and root planing, also known as “deep” cleaning, is usually the first and most common treatment for periodontal disease. While similar to regular cleaning, there are a few minor differences.
Much like regular cleaning, the procedure is designed to eliminate plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth. However, deep cleaning is also designed to smooth out the surfaces of your roots. This ensures that plaque, tartar, and bacteria will not re-adhere below the gumline (with the proper periodontal maintenance).
These treatments are designed to remove tartar buildup and plaque, stop further buildup of bacteria from occurring, and control and eliminate the bacteria that cause infection. The treatments are all done in our offices, and once they are complete, then you can go back to normal. However, during scheduled dental checkups by our team, you might have to have your teeth maintained to prevent another large buildup of bacteria.
Surgical Treatments
For people with more advanced gum disease, surgical treatments are used to prevent further bone loss and damage to your mouth and health. Surgeries are focused on removal of bacterial deposits on the roots, reducing pocket depth, and rebuilding lost bone.
Surgical procedures can include LANAP, Flap surgery with or without tissue regeneration, and soft tissue grafts.
Home Treatments
Be sure to brush twice a day, floss once a day, use a mouth rinse, and have regular dental visits, at least twice a year. Keeping your teeth clean and keeping on top of your oral hygiene will prevent the growth of the bacteria that causes gum diseases. Proper home care is essential to managing the disease. As part of your treatment we will teach you the proper techniques to use to best maintain your mouth.
If you need treatment for any stage of gum disease, then be sure to call Delaware Periodontics at 302-551-3553 to walk through all your options for gum disease treatment. Our team would be happy to help you out and get your mouth healthy again. |
