The signs of severe periodontal disease are hard to ignore: red and tender gums, bleeding when you brush and floss, exposed tooth roots, bad breath, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and perhaps even teeth that feel loose in their sockets. If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, it’s essential that you schedule an appointment with a dentist right away. Although gum disease isn’t reversible at this late stage, a dental professional may be able to alleviate some of your symptoms and halt the disease’s progression. Scroll down to learn how advanced gum disease treatment works.
How We Treat Advanced Periodontal Disease
Advanced gum disease treatment, also known as periodontal therapy, aims to relieve inflammation, reduce gingival pocket depths, and eliminate detectable plaque, returning the gums to a condition associated with periodontal health. Ideally, the progression of the disease will be halted. Typically, this will start with a non-surgical therapy program consisting of two to four visits. A thorough at-home oral care routine and more frequent dental cleanings are also necessary to stabilize the disease.
So, what happens during advanced gum disease treatment? Let’s explore some of the common methods dentists and dental hygienists use to care for patients with severe periodontal disease.
Local Anesthetic
Your dental team will use a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. If you experience any pain, let your dentist know.
Dental Scaling
Scaling is an essential component of deep dental cleaning. It removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the teeth and gum line. If the pockets between your gums and teeth are deep, dental scaling is necessary to clean out the plaque and tartar trapped in the pockets.
Your dental team will likely use an ultrasonic scaler for tissue debridement. The tool’s vibrating metal tip fractures tartar and chips it off. The scaler’s water spray then washes away the tartar and flushes plaque from the dental pockets. Hand instruments, including periodontal scalers and curettes, are used to remove any remaining tartar.
Root Planing
Root planing, another essential component of deep dental cleaning, is performed after scaling. During this step of the procedure, your dentist will gently push aside your gum tissue and remove tartar from the roots of your teeth, below your gum line. They will also smooth out your tooth roots to encourage your gums to reattach to your teeth. During this step, your dentist may also use an antimicrobial agent, Chlorhexidine, to irrigate the pockets, kill bacteria, and promote quicker healing.
Fluoride
Finally, your dental team will apply fluoride to your teeth surfaces to decrease sensitivity.
What to Expect After Treatment
After advanced gum disease treatment, your mouth won’t immediately feel better. You may experience swelling, tenderness, bleeding, and sensitivity for up to a week. Follow the instructions provided by your dental team to reduce discomfort and ensure your mouth heals properly. Typically, this will include over-the-counter painkillers, mouth rinses, and gentle brushing and flossing. You should also avoid eating hard, crunchy, and spicy foods, which can be irritating and painful after scaling and root planing. To learn more about how you should care for your teeth and gums after a deep dental cleaning, review our blog post Home Care Following Gum Disease Treatment.
You will also need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your dentist so they can check how your gums are healing and measure the depth of your gingival pockets. If your pockets don’t show progress over time, your dentist may recommend periodontal surgery, which could include bone grafting to replace lost bone, soft tissue grafting to replace lost gum tissue, or flap surgery to reduce gum pockets by lowering the gum line.
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Are you noticing signs of gum disease? We can help. If you’re looking for an experienced, reliable, and friendly dentist near Springfield, Missouri, contact Wilkinson Dental. Dr. Wilkinson and his team will give you the personalized treatment you deserve using state-of-the-art technology. For exceptional and comprehensive dental care, schedule your first appointment today by calling 417-708-0556 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!