Do you have gum disease? Are you preparing to have periodontal surgery or know someone who is? Periodontal surgery is a big deal, and you need to know the facts!
Periodontal disease affects many people, and 8.52% of adults between 20 and 64 years have periodontal disease. About 5.08% having moderate to severe periodontal disease.
But you have options available, and there are gum disease treatments that can help you! Improving dental health is extremely important to good overall physical health.
If you need gum disease treatment and preparing for gum surgery continue reading. Learn all you need to know about periodontal disease and surgery.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is inflammation of your gums or gingiva, usually called gingivitis. This occurs when you have plaque or bacteria that builds up on your teeth.
Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis is a severe infection of the gums caused by bacteria that accumulate over time. Once this progresses, your teeth can become very damaged. There are stages of periodontitis which include:
Inflammation is the first sign. You may notice your gums will bleed when you brush your teeth. There also may be discoloration to your teeth. If you don’t regularly brush and floss, the bacteria in your mouth start to grow out of control.
Early periodontal disease is when your gums start to recede. When your gums recede, this means they pull away from your teeth. This forms little pockets that are a breeding ground for the bacteria already present in your mouth.
Moderate periodontal disease occurs when your periodontal disease goes untreated. Pain, bleeding, and continued gum recession are all symptoms of this stage. Teeth can also become loose as they start to lose bone support, and there is an inflammatory response in your body.
Advanced periodontal disease is when the tissues that hold your teeth in place start to wear away. There is the destruction of teeth, gums, bones, and other supportive tissues as well. You can expect severe pain, bad breath, and loss of teeth in this stage.
Risk Factors Of Periodontitis
Usually, periodontitis is caused by poor dental hygiene habits, but some conditions can put you at higher risk like:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hormonal changes like menopause
- HIV or Leukemia
- Medications that cause a dry mouth
- Poor nutrition and low vitamin D levels
- Genetics
The only thing you control is what is under your control. Find ways to improve your dental hygiene habits.
Symptoms of Periodontitis
Symptoms vary depending on what stage you are in but typically include:
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
- Bad breath
- Loose or moving teeth
- Red and swollen gums
- Receding gums
- Buildup on your teeth
- Pain with eating
- Loss of teeth
- Bad taste in your mouth
If you are still in the early stages, you may not notice any symptoms at all, but your regular dentist will be able to tell you.
Gum Disease Treatments
Before opting for surgery, there are other treatments you can try. A professional dental cleaning will remove plaque and tartar, as well as monitoring the progression of the disease.
You can also have a procedure done called scaling and root planing. This is a procedure where plaque from above and below the gum line is scraped away.
Periodontal Surgical Procedure
If gum disease is severe enough, then surgery can be an option. The goal of periodontal surgery is to treat your gum disease by:
- Getting rid of bacteria and infection
- Preventing more tooth loss
- Regrowth of bones and tissues
- Lessen gaps between gums and teeth
Surgery can be very effective in stopping the progress of gum disease and the development of more serious issues.
Types Of Gum Surgery
There are different types of surgery, depending on how severe the type of gum disease is.
Flap surgery is helpful if you have a lot of deep tarter pockets. During this procedure, your gums are lifted from your teeth to remove the tartar buildup.
Bone grafting is done when the bone surrounding the root of your tooth is damaged. This involves replacing old bone with new undamaged bone.
Gum Grafting is a surgery that replaces gum tissues in patients with severe gum recession. It is also knowing as “root coverage” and can improve the appearance of abnormally long teeth.
Benefits of Periodontal Surgery
There are big benefits to periodontal surgery. First, it gives you a deep cleaning and breaks down the bacteria that has been living in your gums.
Periodontal surgery is also very helpful in preventing more diseases from occurring.
It also restores function by restoring health. A decrease in pain while eating makes a huge difference to your overall health!
Preparing for Periodontal Surgery
Before you have surgery, your dentist will need to go through a checklist with you to make sure it is safe to proceed with surgery.
Your dentist will typically take steps like:
- Reviewing your medical history
- Examination of your jaw, mouth, and teeth
- Check for infections or abscesses
- Discuss the risks and benefits with you
On average, gum surgery takes about 2 hours, and you will be asleep or partially asleep. Sometimes only a local anesthetic is needed. Stitches are used and will stay in from 7-10 days after your surgery.
Periodontal Surgery
If you have questions about periodontal surgery, contact us today. Dr. Newhart’s team is accredited, experienced, and stays on top of the latest health trends.
We can help restore function to your mouth, and function to your life. Talk to us today if you want the facts.
Feeling comfortable and informed about your options is the very first step.
Richard Newhard, D.D.S., and his dental team will work around your busy schedule! You can contact us online, or call (304) 699-0728