Table of Contents
Dental problems can be tough to beat if you already see advanced symptoms. However, that problem doesn’t mean you can’t treat any symptoms and relieve your teeth and gums forever. You may learn more at SNK Dental clinic in St Marys what to do when advanced gum disease happens. Special dentistry providers use root planing and tooth scaling as a standard oral care treatment. But, you may have to rely on further advanced surgeries like laser technology or medication. What should patients do when gingivitis becomes moderate to progressive gum disease? Here are our tips and detailed information that may help stop the side – effects.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Bacteria stays stagnant on the mouth and can affect your bite. Repeatedly eating sugar and carbohydrates without brushing and flossing can cause gum disease. Dentists say that bacteria feed off from sugar and food debris stuck in the mouth. Moreover, gum disease may also be caused by accidents or injuries. A sports mouthguard may stop damages on your teeth or gums from trauma. Other causes like congenital deformities or rare disease must have further advice from a professional and certified doctor.
As you read along with this article, you may see the intensity and need to have high-quality dentistry care soon.
Stages Of Gum Disease
Teeth and gum problems don’t start destroying the mouth months or years after neglected dental care. Yet, periodontal disease symptoms can deteriorate the mouth’s condition once other risk factors speed up the process. Gingivitis may even occur during cavities since tartar and plaque build – up from the food we eat.
Don’t skip going to a general dentist to manage your advanced gum disease. These gum disease stages may also show you can prevent gingivitis as early as possible.
Gingivitis
Gum inflammation or gingivitis is a sign that bacteria have spread from your tooth down under your gums. Most symptoms of gingivitis start as redness, tenderness, and darker colored gums. You may distinguish healthy gums once the pink and almost soft colored tissue starts to decay. In any
Mild Periodontal Disease
Aggressive periodontal disease can affect the whole mouth; you may notice that your tooth chips away faster. More instances of a broken tooth or bleeding occur even without flossing teeth day or night. Once gingivitis reaches stage two or slight periodontal disease, the side – effects aren’t reversible. But, you can manage the cavities and deposits with a tooth scaling and root planing procedure.
Advanced Gum Disease (Periodontitis)
Oral health care awareness is through millions of advertisements on the screen, social media, and billboards. What makes periodontitis dangerous? Advanced gum disease may lead to tooth decay. Eventually, if the person doesn’t have early treatment for gum recession, it can cause tooth loss. Moreover, bad breath (halitosis) indicates that bacteria may have infected your respiratory and gut or digestive system.
If you want to secure your dental health, don’t hesitate to call a periodontal specialist to remove the bacteria before it’s too late.
Advanced Periodontitis
At least 47.2% of adults over 30 in the United States suffer from chronic periodontitis. This final stage of advanced gum disease may also lead to other adverse health problems. Namely, heart disease starts from microbial invasion from the mouth down to the bloodstream. Also, there are studies of advanced gum disease with connections to brain disorders and respiratory diseases. Apart from the side effects mentioned previously, you have a higher percent chance of bone loss. Dental implants may not be advised for a patient with advanced gum disease so in that case a customized denture might be the only soloution. So, treating periodontal diseases from the starting stage has a significant impact on your oral care’s future.
Treatments For Advanced Gum Disease
If you want to stop advanced gum disease, visit your periodontal specialist. A periodontist is a certified and trained dental care provider that offers treatments and heal your gums completely.
Tooth Scaling and Root Planing
Root planing and scaling involve deep cleaning your teeth and gum tissues from tartar or plaque build-up. The next step involves smoothening rough spots on your tooth’s roots to prevent bacteria from entering it again. Tooth scaling and root planing usually involve anesthesia to avoid toothaches and sensitivity. You may also rely on endodontic treatments to prevent
Doxycycline Gel
What is doxycycline? It is an antibiotic that shrinks periodontal pockets along the gum line. Dental abscess may also happen during advanced gum disease. So a gel that contains doxycycline may gradually prevent bacteria from swelling or bleeding gums again.
Flap Surgery
Flap surgery may be advisable for patients whose previous tooth scaling and root planing didn’t work out. After a deep cleaning, gum inflammation and pockets with infected teeth may persist. Hence, flap surgery from a periodontist can remove tartar by incisions and cuts on the affected gum tissue. After deep removal, stitches are needed so gums can attach to the bones again. Several dental technologies can reduce this invasive procedure. You may ask more about gum flap surgery from your local dental clinic.
Minocycline Microspheres
Adult periodontitis affects the roots and gum tissues. A periodontal dental program may use minocycline microsphere products to prevent further reinfection. Minocycline microspheres are antibiotics placed in tissue pockets when a periodontist removes bacteria after scaling and root planing.
Gum Grafts
Gingivitis can destroy soft tissues and bones that may further complicate your oral care routines. In this matter, gum grafts involve guided tissue regeneration to support dentin, enamel, and soft – tissue growth. The process may need a piece of dental mesh to allow the bones and gums to regrow. Often, dentists may also provide
Doxycycline Pill
Aside from using doxycycline as a gel, there are also forms of pills to treat periodontitis. After tooth scaling and root planing, a low dosage prevents overactive enzymes that break down gum tissue after treatment.
Laser (LANAP) Surgery
Modern dentistry technology uses a laser to treat several moderate to advanced gum disease. LANAP or Laser-assisted new attachment procedure works as a surgical treatment for periodontitis. Rather than resection, it helps the gum tissue regenerate faster. Currently, the Food And Drugs Administration or FDA of the US has clearance on LANAP protocol. Since it is scientific-based, patients feel safer with the outcome of laser technology.
Advanced gum disease laser treatment focuses on these points:
- Less painful
- No gum and tooth sensitivity
- Prevents gum recession or gum loss
- Less downtime for recovery and healing than traditional osseous surgery
Since LANAP periodontal surgery is done for two sessions, this full – mouth procedure may allow patients to resume work or other activities.
How Do You Prevent Gum Disease From Advancing Into Periodontitis?
Together with the treatments mentioned previously, gum disease is still preventable. From childhood to seniors, regular dental hygiene can fight off early gingivitis.
Although studies may say that age can’t slow down gum recession, preparing ahead won’t hurt. You may find more tips to protect you and your family members by visiting a dentist with a specialty focusing on gum health.
- Brush lightly (not aggressively) with a 45-degree angle
- Use fluoride if needed for a toothpaste
- Floss with wax as it can go through gaps in between your mouth
- Prevent overeating sugar or carbohydrates mainly when pregnant
- Always have a check-up with your local dental office
- Make sure you go to a dentist for any further signs of advanced gum disease