If you’ve recently been informed that you have periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, you’re not alone. There are many people in the U.S. that suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can range from inflamed gums to serious disease that can cause tooth loss. Whether a patient’s gum disease is stopped, slowed or gets worse ultimately depends on them and how well they care for teeth and gums.
Signs and symptoms of periodontal disease
There are many signs and symptoms that come along with periodontal disease, however, some people don’t even realize they have it, due to it being a painless disease. The following includes the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease:
- Bad taste in mouth or persistent bad breath
- Red or inflamed gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Gum recession or longer appearing teeth
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
What are the most common periodontal treatments?
The primary purpose of periodontal treatment is to control the infection. The number and type of periodontal treatments vary, depending on the how far the disease has progressed. Any type of periodontal treatment requires the patient to practice proper oral hygiene at home. Dentists may also suggest that the patient change certain habits, such as smoking, as a way to improve the overall outcome.
- Deep Cleaning- This periodontal treatment involves a dentist, periodontist or oral hygienist removing built-up plaque though a method called root planing and scaling. This gets rid of the rough spots on the patient’s teeth where germs accumulate, and also helps remove harmful bacteria that can contribute to periodontal disease. In some cases, a dental laser may be used.
- Medications- In some cases, medication may be used with treatments that include root planing and scaling, but they can’t always take the place of oral surgery. Dentists base whether or not you should have oral surgery based on how far the patient’s gum disease has progressed. More studies are still needed to see if medication can work long-term. Common medications used include antibiotic gels, oral antibiotics and prescription antimicrobial mouthwashes.
Your dentist may suggest that you have oral surgery to help control your periodontal disease. The periodontal treatments that involve oral surgery include flap surgery, which helps further rid built-up tartar in deep pockets, and bone and tissues grafts. Bone and tissue grafts help regenerate a bone and tissue that was lost due to periodontal disease.
If you’re seeking ways to treat gum disease, contact Dr. Bartz at 708-430-4440 to see which periodontal treatment best suits your needs. Or visit www.bartzandbartzdental.com for additional information regarding periodontal treatment.