Gum Disease

Gum Disease (Periodontics) :

Keeping gums healthy is as important as keeping your teeth healthy, as they work together to sustain our oral health. There are two stages of gum disease. The first stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis, and it entails swelling of gums, bleeding, and redness caused by dental plaque build-up along the gum line. The second stage is called Periodontitis, which is the advanced stage of Gingivitis accompanied with bone loss, when the gum line recedes and creates a pocket in between the tooth and the gum. The bacteria in the pocket would cause pain, redness, swelling, bleeding, bad breath, and bone loss which further leads to loss of tooth. Depending upon the severity of gum disease scaling/root planning/Flap surgeries/regenerative therapy might require.

With above procedures proper brushing and flossing will help relieve the proble. To prevent gum disease, regular check-ups are highly recommended.

Gum disease symptoms

It’s important to spot the early signs of gum disease and tackle them before they turn into something more serious. Here’s what to look out for:

Early signs of gum disease

• Gums that bleed when you brush
• Gums that look red and inflamed

Advanced signs of gum disease

• Bad breath and/or a nasty taste in your mouth
• Gaps between your teeth and gums
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Pain when chewing
• Gum abscesses

If you experience any of the above symptoms make an appointment to see your dentist. They aren’t always an indication of gum disease so it’s important to receive a professional diagnosis. To assess the extent of your gum disease, your dentist will carefully examine your gums and they may also need to take some X-rays to check your bone levels.

Treating gum disease

Gum disease is usually caused by a build-up of plaque, which contains bacteria that irritate your gums. For most patients, the early signs of gum disease can be treated by improving their oral hygiene routine and ensuring plaque is effectively removed daily by brushing and flossing. When plaque is left on the teeth it will eventually turn into tartar, also known as calculus. If this does happen, you’ll need to visit your dentist so it can be removed using specialist tools.

If your gum disease is more advanced, you will need more proactive treatment and we may refer you to see a specialist periodontist. A periodontist is a dental specialist who has been specially trained to treat and manage conditions affecting the gums and bone.

Treatments for more severe gum disease include:

Root planing

This involves carefully cleaning the roots of your teeth to remove plaque and tartar.

Root debridement

This is similar to root planing but more thorough. It includes cleaning the root surface as well as the pocket between your gums and teeth and the underlying tissues.

Soft tissue graft

If gums have receded, they can sometimes be ‘rebuilt’ through a gum graft, where tissue is taken from another area to replace what’s been lost.

Flap Surgery & Bone Graft

Flap surgery is today's leading method for treating and repairing periodontal pockets. After anaesthesia has taken effect, a small incision is made to separate the gums from the teeth. The outer gum tissue is gently folded back to give access to the roots and the supporting ligament and bone tissue.

Next, the inflamed gum tissue can be removed, and the tooth roots can be cleaned; if needed, the area may also be treated with antibiotics or other medications. Bone defects can be repaired with grafting material using bone from a different area of your mouth or body, or synthetic bone.

Guided tissue regeneration

This involves stimulating and guiding the growth of your bone and soft tissues using barrier membranes. These membranes keep the gum tissue and bone separate so they can regrow in the correct proportions.

Tooth Extraction

If a tooth cannot be saved it may be necessary to remove it and replace it with a bridge, dental implant or denture.

Sometimes your dentist or periodontist will prescribe antibiotics to take during your treatment. Some treatments such as root planning may also require a local anaesthetic to ensure you don’t experience any discomfort. Dental treatments carry risks. Before proceeding, you should seek an opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.