What is Gum Disease?
(Gingivitis and Periodontitis)
Gum disease presents as gum inflammation in the form of gingivitis, or as a more advanced disease, periodontitis, where there is loss of bone supporting teeth.
Many adults in the United States have some form of gum disease. While gum disease in its earliest stages causes few to no adverse affects, advanced gum disease can have a serious effect on your oral health. Tenderness and pain from diseased gums may make it difficult to eat, and as the gums recede teeth may become loose and even fall out. Fortunately, our Bucks County periodontist located in Langhorne, offers a variety of treatment options.
Good Oral Hygiene
One of the best treatments for gum disease in its early stages is regular brushing and flossing. Practicing good oral hygiene keeps your mouth free of the bacteria that causes gum disease. In addition to brushing at least twice a day and flossing once, you may want to use an antibacterial mouthwash to help kill some germs. Also, don’t forget to visit your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups.
Medications
There are several medications that can help control gum disease. These medicines cannot reverse the damage gum disease has already done, so they are not always a replacement for surgery. Often, medications are used in conjunction with surgical and other invasive treatments. Antibiotics used to treat gum disease come in gel, capsule or mouthwash forms.
Pocket Reduction
Pocket reduction is a surgical technique in which the space between the gum and the bone surrounding the root of the tooth is reduced so that the gum is tightened around the tooth and positioned in close proximity to the bone. This can help repair loose teeth and prevent teeth from falling out. Damaged gum tissue and bone is often removed at the same time so that teeth have a chance to reattach to healthy tissue.
Gum Grafts
In some cases, gum tissue is damaged by periodontal disease creating defects and leaving the roots of teeth exposed to the mouth. This is called gingival (gum) recession. In these cases, gum tissue is taken from a healthy part of the mouth or donor source, and grafted onto the diseased area. The gum graft attaches to the existing bone and gum tissue and becomes healthy gum This surgical procedure can help reduce root sensitivity, protect the roots of teeth from decay and prevent future recession.
Bone Regeneration
In the most serious cases, gum disease can attack the bones in the mouth. In these cases, it is is often possible to graft healthy bone onto the damaged area so that it can regenerate. This minor surgical procedure is performed to restore support to the teeth where the bone was damaged by infection. After eliminating bacteria from the diseased site, the periodontist surgeon uses natural or synthetic bone to repair damaged areas.
BEST PERIODONTIST SERVING BUCKS COUNTY, Located in LANGHORNE, Close proximity to NEWTOWN, YARDLEY, LEVITTOWN, BENSALEM, HOLLAND & SURROUNDING
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