Everyone experiences gum problems
at some point , from time to time and some people experience
these problems on a daily bases gums can bleed , become
irritated , inflamed and infected , conditions known as
gingivitis and periodontitis . it is caused by toxins
secreted by bacteria in “ plaque” that accumulate
over time along or below the gum line. This plaque is
a mixture of food saliva and bacteria . as this plaque
hardens / calcifies with time if not removed it is converted
into calculus.
Am i Suffering form Gum
disease?
- Do your gum bleed when you brush your teeth?
- Are your gums red , swollen or tender?
- Do you have bad breath?
- Do you see pus between your teeth and gums?
- Do you have loose teeth?
- Frequent changes in the fit of partial denture ?
- Achange in the way your teeth fit together when you
bite?
- Teeth appears longer than before?
If your answer
is yes to anyone of the above question then schedule an
appointment immediately.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Early
symptoms of gum disease include gum bleeding without pain
. but as the disease progresses there is separation of
the teeth from the gums ( pocket formation) with the resultant
loss of attachment of the tooth from the bone beneath
the gum line where the teeth are held on place by structures
known as periodontal ligament , leading to pai9n and loosening
of the teeth.
How is Gum Disease Treated?
Treatment
of early gum disease involves oral hygiene and scaling
. scaling is the removal of calculus ( commonly called
tartar ) and plaque that attach to the tooth surfaces.
Moderate to advanced gum disease usually requires a through
cleaning of the teeth and teeth roots called ‘ root
planning’ and “sub gingival curettage”
. root planning is the removal of plaque and tartar (
hardened plaque ) from exposed teeth roots while sub gingival
curettage refers to the removal of the surface of the
inflamed layer of gum tissue . both of these procedures
are usually performed under local anesthesia and may be
accompanied by the use of oral antibiotics to overcome
gum infection or abscess. Follow up treatment may include
various type of gum surgeries . in advanced gum disease
with significant bone destruction and loosening of teeth,
teeth splinting or teeth extractions may be necessary.
Non Surgical Therapy
Scaling and root planning - manually
removing the plaque and tartar from the root surfaces
of your teeth below the gum line
A antibiotics - antibiotics can
be prescribed as pills or as an antibiotic fiber as
bacteria causes periodontitis . the films are used
in conjuction with scaling and root planning . they
are placed directly into the pockets and are removed
within 7 – 10 days later. Antibacterial mouth
rinses may also be recommended to help plaque control.
Bite correction – an imbalanced
bite may accelerate bone destruction . teeth may be
grinded for proper and better function. A bite –
guard ( removable retainer fitting over teeth ) may
be required
Splinting - splinting involves
bending a group of teeth together so that the biting
forces are shared by a large number of teeth instead
of being born by the affected tooth.
Surgical therapy – in this
procedure the gums are separated from the teeth creating
a ‘ flap’ and access to the infected pocket.
It aims to reduce pocket depth and increase the ability
to maintain the remnant pockets clean
Gingivectomy - this procedure
is performed when excess amounts of gum growth around
the teeth have occured . this results in false pocket
formation and the inability to keep them clean
Gingivoplasty – it is the
surgical reshaping of gum tissue around teeth with
healthy gum . this procedure can be used to correct
malformed or asymmetrical gums caused by genetics
disease or trauma.
Osseous ( bone ) surgery - this
procedure is done to smooth shallow craters and defects
in the bone due to mild or moderate bone loss
Bone grafts - tiny fragments of
the patients bone ,synthetic bone or bone obtained
from a bone bank are used to fill a bony defect around
the teeth. These grafts act as a scafflold on or around
which patients own bone is conducted or induced to
grow
Soft tissue graft – in cases
of gum recession a graft is usually taken from the
palate and transplanted onto the receding area to
re – surface the tin gum and to inhibit further
gum recession
Maintenance Therapy
Periodontal
disease ( gum disease is a chronic ( long lasting ) problem
and can return without regular dental care and careful
attention to oral hygiene at home. Therefore, one of the
keys to successful non surgical or surgical.
Maintenance therapy appointments are usually one visit
with your dentist. these visits can be scheduled between
two and four times a year depending on the severity of
your periodontal condition.
A typical maintenance
visit will include
A periodontal examination.
An evaluation of the amount of plaque on your teeth
and your oral hygiene a review of the proper techniques
for brushing, flossing or other cleaning techniques
, when needed
Cleaning and polishing of your teeth , including
the removal of plaque, calculus ( tartar ) and stains
X – rays if needed
Treatment to manage tooth sensitivity , if needed.
Fibre Splinting
If two or more teeth become
loose due to accident or gum disease they can be joined
to the surrounding , stable teeth . splinting is a process
where the teeth are joined together to increase the strength.
This procedure allows eating to become more comfortable
again. However , splinting makes oral hygiene procedures
difficult. Therefore to ensure the longevity of the connected
teeth, special attention must be given to oral hygiene.
Extremely then fiber-glass band to be used with
fiber- bond or any light cured bonding agents. The
band is 4 mm wide , which gives 30% more adhesion
power to the interdental area. Strength with a certain
degree of flexibility ‘tooth hugging’
quality combine for an overall esthetic and functional
result. Minimum tooth preparation . high patient acceptance.
Early
symptoms of gum disease include gum bleeding without pain
. but as the disease progresses there is separation of
the teeth from the gums ( pocket formation) with the resultant
loss of attachment of the tooth from the bone beneath
the gum line where the teeth are held on place by structures
known as periodontal ligament , leading to pai9n and loosening
of the teeth.
Treatment
of early gum disease involves oral hygiene and scaling
. scaling is the removal of calculus ( commonly called
tartar ) and plaque that attach to the tooth surfaces.
Moderate to advanced gum disease usually requires a through
cleaning of the teeth and teeth roots called ‘ root
planning’ and “sub gingival curettage”
. root planning is the removal of plaque and tartar (
hardened plaque ) from exposed teeth roots while sub gingival
curettage refers to the removal of the surface of the
inflamed layer of gum tissue . both of these procedures
are usually performed under local anesthesia and may be
accompanied by the use of oral antibiotics to overcome
gum infection or abscess. Follow up treatment may include
various type of gum surgeries . in advanced gum disease
with significant bone destruction and loosening of teeth,
teeth splinting or teeth extractions may be necessary.
Periodontal
disease ( gum disease is a chronic ( long lasting ) problem
and can return without regular dental care and careful
attention to oral hygiene at home. Therefore, one of the
keys to successful non surgical or surgical.
