5 Top questions about gum disease treatment answered

These days consciousness for oral health is steadily on rise. Yet many are just not aware how important role the gums play to maintain our sound dental health. Unfortunately, patients who have already suffered from advanced periodontitis are painfully aware about the importance of having strong and healthy gums that are free of disease. Advanced periodontitis is a severe condition. It often results in tooth loss. In worse case scenario, you may even lose multiple teeth.

In the following section of the blog post let us explore the fundamentals of periodontal infection. According to a dentist based in London and with years of experience in gum disease treatment this discussion is not only expected to raise your level of consciousness about gum disease but will also help taking informed decisions.

Periodontal disease and gum disease – are they same and identical?

Yes, they both are the same and identical. Both the names refer to the same condition – which is inflammation and infection of the gum tissues. The problem is caused by harmful bacteria present in the mouth. Gum disease – in its initial stages has no apparent symptom. If you do not visit your dentist routinely at regular intervals chances are high that you may miss the warning signs of the problem. You will only notice the condition when it has already reached an advanced stage. Periodontal infect if left ignored and untreated it deteriorates fast. At serious levels it may result in irreversible damage in form of gum recession, tooth or teeth loss and bone loss.

Gum disease – does it have different stages?

According to dentists gum disease has two main stages – namely gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is in comparison the less severe form of the problem. A patient suffering from gingivitis is likely to experience bleeding while brushing or flossing the teeth. There could also be persistent bad breath. Even the gums may appear slightly inflamed or little darker than they are. Periodontitis – on the other hand – is the alarming stage of the problem. It usually aggravates from untreated gingivitis. At this stage – that is periodontitis – the inflamed gums will already start to pull away from your teeth. This creates tiny but deep pockets in the gum tissues. Thus harmful bacteria can easily find their way beneath the gum line. As such the supporting structure of the teeth becomes vulnerable for bacterial attack. The symptoms that you encounter in both gingivitis and periodontitis are more or less the same. However in the advanced stage of the disease few new symptoms may come up as well. One such symptom is formation of deep pocket in the gums. The pocket will collect food debris. There could be formation of pus between your teeth. Moreover your bite or the way your bite fits together may change. And there will be the problem of receding gums. Usually there is no pain involved in periodontitis. However at the most advanced stages when the teeth start getting loose you may feel some pain. Invariably at the last the problem leads to tooth loss if it is not attended to or provided with the right treatment.

What is the effective treatment for periodontitis?

At present dentistry has evolved a lot to offer a number of both surgical and non surgical treatments to resolve this problem. However there is no uniform treatment to handle these cases. Your dentist will recommend you the best alternative considering the severity of your problem. Nonsurgical treatments include scaling and root planning. Both the procedures are usually performed together. In easier words scaling involves removal of harmful bacteria from the teeth as well as beneath the gums. Root planning involves smoothing the tooth root surface so that there is no bacterial build-up in the region in the course of future. For patients suffering from advanced stages of the problem dentists rely on flap surgery. The procedure is also known as pocket reduction surgery. It involves making incisions in the gums so that the tooth roots can be cleaned more thoroughly. Irrespective of the treatment you receive, your dentist will prescribe antibiotics to arrest the infection.

Reverse periodontal disease – what is it?

Gingivitis damages the gums. Those damages can be reversed by eliminating the infection from the gums. On the other hand periodontitis is more advanced form of gingivitis. It often delivers irreversible damage to the teeth and the gums. These days, restorative dentistry has made stunning improvements. Thus with extensive treatment based on restorative dentistry it is possible to reverse much of that damage. Treatments that restorative dentistry offer include the following –

• Gum grafting to treat recession of the gums
• Pocket reduction surgery
• Bone grafting to reverse bone loss in the jaws

In addition to the treatments mentioned above, there is dental implant to encourage growth of jawbone to counter the problem of tooth loss in a reliable and realistic manner.

Protecting and healing of gum tissues – why these are so important aspects?

The gums play a major role in your mouth. They not only support the structures of the teeth but also stand as a seal for the roots. Gums provide extensive protection to the teeth from bacterial attacks or diseases that often result in decay. To cut a long story short you must have healthy gums to ensure healthy teeth. Once the treatment for periodontitis ends, it is easy to keep the problem at bay for the rest of life. However that requires a little commitment and effort on your part in a consistent manner. You have to maintain a sound oral hygiene. It is important to mention that maintaining a sound oral hygiene is by no means rocket science. All you have to do is brush the teeth properly twice a day each time for just two minutes. In addition to that you have to floss the teeth properly once a day. Moreover your dentist may recommend rinsing the mouth well with an antibacterial mouthwash once daily. In addition to the regimen mentioned above it is important that you visit your dentist routinely every six months just for a regular check-up. Usually these simple habits prove sufficient in staying safe from the dreadful conditions of gingivitis as well as periodontitis.

Now let us get to the most important question – is it possible to get the right treatments when one does not have a dental insurance?

The Smile Clinic London is a patient-centric clinic in London located at the West End Lane. Dental professionals associated with it firmly believe it is ridiculous that you cannot have the proper oral health treatments only because you do not have a dental insurance. That is why they offer customised financing plans to provide patients with greater convenience. So stop worrying and pull your socks up! The easiest way to reach out to this modern dental practice is by searching online with strings like “gum disease specialist near me” from anywhere in London.