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TREATMENTS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE
These following factors are important to understand in the treatment of periodontitis. The goal is to control the current active infection and then closely monitor for signs of disease activity on a regular basis. Once susceptible to this disease it must be monitored for the rest of the patient's life. The ultimate goal is to prevent further bone loss and keep the teeth involved for as long as possible.Chronic- Periodontitis is typically a slow moving condition, taking many months or even years to develop. Once the disease develops and is diagnosed, it is never really cured. Instead it is managed, much like other chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Insidious- Periodontitis is usually silent until its later stages. Patients typically have no symptoms until the disease has progressed very far. It must be diagnosed through a thorough periodontal exam. Symptoms which do occur late in the disease are bleeding gums, sore or itchy gums, loose teeth, change in bite, bad breath, and acute gum abscesses. Episodic- The actual disease activity of infection causing bone loss does not occur at all times in all places in the mouth. Instead, the active stages occur in an on/off fashion at various locations in the mouth. This can only be determined by accurate exams initially and at recall. Treatment regimens are determined on an individualized basis. Most traditional treatments follow the same basic pattern Non-Surgical Treatments
First the infection is disrupted by thorough cleaning below the gumline by the hygienist through a process called "scaling. " This is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque, calculus, and bacterial toxins from deep periodontal pockets. The procedure is usually done in sections or “quadrants” at a time, and may take one to four or more appointments. Local anesthesia is sometimes used for patient comfort, but is usually not necessary. The goal is to remove the tartar and bacteria from the root surfaces to allow healing and reattachment of the gums. Patients are often given oral medicaments (i.e., Rx Periostat Doxycycline) and mouthrinse (i.e, Perioguard with Chlorhexidine) to aid in the reduction of periodontal pockets.After scaling, many patients do not require any further active treatment, including surgical therapy provided pocket depths and bleeding points are reduced. However, the majority of patients will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain health for the rest of their life!! Non-surgical therapy does have its limitations, however, and when it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be indicated to restore periodontal anatomy damaged by periodontal diseases and to facilitate oral hygiene practices. The gums are given time to heal once scaling is done (6 weeks) and the mouth is reexamined to evaluate the success of the treatment and determine the need for further care. Laser Periodontal Therapy
Research suggests that the use of lasers as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) may improve the effectiveness of this procedure. Laser treatments of pockets kills many of the offending bacteria, removes diseased tissue, and encourages gum reattachment to the teeth. This can often be done without scalpels, sutures, or the discomfort associated with traditional periodontal surgery treatments.
During this procedure, the gum tissue is folded back in an effort to remove the disease-causing plaque, bacteria, and calculus before securing the tissue into place. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gum tissue to better reattach to healthy bone. What are the benefits of this procedure? Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are important to prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to help you maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult for you and your dental care professional to clean, so it's important for you to reduce them. Reduced pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care increase your chances of keeping your natural teeth – and decrease the chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease. Regeneration Your periodontist may recommend a regenerative procedure when the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed. These procedures can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone and tissue. During this procedure, your periodontist folds back the gum tissue and removes the disease-causing bacteria. Membranes (filters), bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins can be used to encourage your body's natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue. There are many options to enhance support for your teeth and to restore your bone to a healthy level. What are the benefits of this procedure? Eliminating existing bacteria and regenerating bone and tissue helps to reduce pocket depth and repair damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease. With a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care, you'll increase the chances of keeping your natural teeth – and decrease the chances of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease.Periodontal procedures are available to lay the groundwork for restorative and cosmetic dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line. Soft tissue graft Periodontal procedures are available to stop further dental problems and gum recession, and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line. Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. Perhaps you wish to enhance your smile by covering one or more of these roots that make your teeth appear too long. Or, maybe you're not bothered by the appearance of these areas, but you cringe because the exposed roots are sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids. Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing or periodontal disease. You may not be in control of what caused the recession, but prior to treatment your periodontist can help you identify the factors contributing to the problem. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure will repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss. Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During this procedure, the dentist takes gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity. What are the benefits of this procedure? A soft tissue graft can reduce further recession and bone loss. In some cases, it can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay. This may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve esthetics of your smile. Traditional Periodontal Surgery |
One of the more exciting applications of dental lasers is in their application in periodontal disease. For years now dentists on the leading edge of periodontal care have been devising ways to incorporate these excellent tools into their patient's care. Our office has been using lasers as an adjunct to our periodontal program since 2007. The recent addition of the Odyssey Laser has added an exciting new dimension to our perio
dontal care. Lasers are characterized by their wavelength; each type of laser having certain clinical advantages and disadvantages. Laser periodontal protocols take advantage of each machines characteristics, and uses wavelengths popular in treating gum disease, allowing us to take advantage of all the abilities of each device without the limitations of a single wavelength. We combine this with modern technology with genetic (DNA) testing that results in a thorough & effective protocol.
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Allentown & Dublin Dental Centers, PC |
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Periodontal Treatment and Implant Dentistry |
610-797-2420 AND 215-249-0520 |
