Periodontal Treatments: What Are They and Who Needs Them?
Your gums and jawbone are essential to your overall oral health, yet they often go unnoticed until problems arise. Unfortunately, many people in Massachusetts struggle with bad gums and jawbone-related problems.
Luckily, an experienced and skilled periodontist in Dedham, MA, can diagnose and treat your jawbone-related problems and gum diseases, allowing you to once again enjoy an improved quality of life with a healthy mouth.
What is periodontics, and who needs it?
Periodontics is the combination of two Greek words, “peri” and “odont,” which literally means “around tooth.” So, periodontics is the field of dentistry that involves treating various conditions like gum diseases, gum recession, bone loss, and other conditions that may impact tissues around your teeth.
You may need periodontal treatment if you experience one or more of the following symptoms.
- Tender, red, or swollen gums
- Bleeding from gums while brushing or flossing
- Consistent bad breath
- High sensitivity to hot or cold temperature
- Loosen teeth
- Receding gum line
- Red or white patches on gums
- Experiencing pain while chewing
Common periodontics procedures and treatments
Following are some common periodontal procedures that intend to help several gums and jawbone-related problems.
Periodontal maintenance
The periodontal maintenance procedure involves cleaning the teeth. Periodontal maintenance is similar to regular dental cleaning, but along with cleaning your teeth, it also involves checking gum health and measurement of pockets around teeth.
SRP (Scaling and Root Planing)
Scaling and root planing is a form of deep dental cleaning that requires the use of anesthesia to numb the gums. It enables the periodontist to clean underneath the gum line and remove harmful bacteria to avoid plaque buildup. It is best suited for mild (early-stage) gum diseases.
Periodontal surgeries
Following are some of the most common periodontal surgeries and their purpose.
- Gingival flap surgery: Gingival flap surgery, also known as pocket reduction surgery, treats periodontitis. The periodontist makes an incision and moves the gum away from the tooth to clean teeth roots and get rid of infection. After everything’s done, the periodontist will reposition your gums and stitch them in place.
- Gum grafts: Gum grafts are helpful for those facing gum recession. The periodontist adds tissues taken from the roof of your mouth around thin gums to promote healthy gums around your teeth.
- Tooth Extraction: A periodontist can remove the tooth that has broken off at the gum line and is hard to remove.
- Dental grafts: Periodontal infections can sometimes reach deep to the jaw bone that provides support to your teeth. To treat such infections, your dentist can place a bone graft to regenerate the deteriorated bone using the bone graft material.
- Smile lift: Excess gums that cover the parts of your teeth can ruin your smile. Smile lift is a procedure where a periodontist removes excess gum and a small amount of excess bone to elevate your smile.
- Frenectomy: The human mouth has two types of frena or connective tissues that connect lips to gums and tongue to gums. Some people have a very tight frenum that can lead to conditions like gum recession or tongue tie. A periodontist can free the frenum through a surgical process and help you get rid of the discomfort.
How to take care of your teeth after a periodontal treatment
Here’s how to take care of your teeth after a periodontal treatment for long-lasting results.
- Use a soft bristle toothbrush and moisten it with warm water before using.
- You may experience minor bleeding for a couple of days; you can put pressure on the area or use a gauze or moistened tea bag for relief.
- Avoid foods like chips and popcorn that can hurt your gums for about a week.
- Avoid flossing for at least 10 days
- Avoid smoking as it can further lead to gum problems
- Drink plenty of fluids, get a nutritional diet, and rest as much as possible.
However, if you experience a recurring infection, immediately contact your periodontist. It is also pertinent to mention that you should carefully select your periodontist for effective and permanent results.