What is gum disease?

Healthy teeth begin with healthy gums. However, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 75% of adults over the age of 35 have some form of gum disease. For some, this simply means that the gums bleed easily during cleaning. If the disease progresses, tooth loss can occur. If your gums are not healthy, there are gum treatment options available. Treatments will vary based on the progression of the gum disease and the overall health of the patient.

What treatment options are available?

There are a number of options in gum treatment. Most dentists will begin with the least invasive approach and then move to other forms of gum treatment as necessary. The focus of gum treatment is to control the bacteria that cause gum disease so that gum tissue can be restored to a healthier state.

Non-Surgical Options

The first gum treatment that is usually tried is known as scaling and root planing. This procedure involves removing plaque and tartar from the area of the tooth underneath the gum line. Teeth are scaled and smoothed so that the gum can successfully reattach to the tooth's surface. The process is usually done under a local anesthetic for the comfort of the patient. In many cases, scaling and root planing is a sufficient gum treatment and no further procedures are needed.

Surgical Treatments

If scaling and planing does not successfully treat gum disease, the dentist may need to move to surgical options. Periodontal surgery may involve the following:

• Pocket Reduction Surgery - This procedure involves pulling back the flap of gum and removing plaque and bacteria from the surface of the tooth. The gum is then replaced so that it fits snugly around the tooth like it is supposed to.
• Bone Graft - Bone grafts are used when the bone supporting the tooth has been destroyed by bacteria. The area may be grafted with pieces of the patient's own bone, donated bone or a synthetic version. This procedure ensures that the bone remains sufficient to support the tooth.
• Tissue Graft - The principle of the tissue graft is the same as a bone graft, only this time it is gum tissue that is replaced. Replacement tissue is usually taken from the roof of the patient's mouth or provided by a donor.

Laser Treatments

One of the newer types of gum treatment involves using a laser to assist in the scaling and root planing process or in performing some types of periodontal surgery. Dentists are finding that the use of a laser often results in less bleeding and swelling during and after the procedure than traditional methods. The use of lasers is still fairly new and not all dentists are incorporating them at this time.

Medication

Gum treatment is sometimes combined with an antibiotic medication for best results. Sometimes dentists will try antibiotic treatment first, before resorting to other types of procedures. There are also antibiotic rinses available that target bacteria right at the source.