What is meant by gum disease?

Gum disease, also scientifically called periodontal disease, is the affection of the tissues surrounding the teeth. In the early stages, it’s called gingivitis; the gums become swollen, red, and bleed easily when brushing. As the disease progresses, it’s called periodontitis; the gums become severely affected, bones can be lost, and the tooth may loosen or fall out.

What is meant by gum treatment?

Gum treatment refers to all the methods of treating and preventing gum infections. After a precise examination, your dentist will propose the appropriate treatment plan for your case, which may be surgical or non-surgical.

Whether you need surgical or non-surgical treatment for the gum depends on several factors:

The stage of the gum disease
Your current oral health
Your overall health conditions
Your ability to follow post-operative oral hygiene instructions

Non-surgical vs. surgical treatments for gum disease

In the early stages of gum disease, such as gingivitis or mild periodontitis, your dentist will most likely go for a non-surgical approach, such as:

Scaling and root planning, which is considered the most common type of non-surgical treatment, During this procedure, your dentist will remove plaque and tartar from your tooth surfaces and reach deep below your gumline to clean the root surfaces.

Antibiotic therapy: like many types of infections, periodontal disease can be treated effectively using antibiotics. Your dentist may use antibiotics either alone or in combination with other procedures. The most common types of drugs used include amoxicillin, metronidazole, and doxycycline.

Periodontal laser therapy: your dentist uses a device that emits a tiny laser beam to remove the inflamed gum tissue and kill the remaining bacteria under your gum. This procedure is used as an alternative to traditional gum surgery, as it doesn’t require any sutures or incisions.

As the condition progresses from moderate to severe periodontal disease, surgical intervention becomes necessary. Surgical gum treatments include:

Pocket reduction surgery or flap surgery: in this procedure, your dentist separates the gum from the tooth surface, then removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and from under your gums. Later on, the gums are sutured back and reattached firmly in the new position.

Bone grafting: a dental bone graft of your own bone or a synthetic bone is used to rebuild the areas that have been damaged by advanced gum disease. This procedure is usually done in combination with pocket-reduction surgery.

Gum grafting: Using gum graft from your mouth (usually taken from your palate) or a synthetic graft, your dentist will place the tissue graft in the areas where the gums have receded due to periodontal disease and then suture it into place.

Guided tissue regeneration is a method to repair the damage caused by periodontal disease. Unlike in bone grafting, your dentist will use materials such as membrane barriers, tissue-stimulating proteins, or growth factor gels to stimulate the regrowth of the gum tissue and jaw bone.

What are the advantages of treatment for gum disease?

➥ Reduces oral discomfort and eliminates swelling, tenderness, and bleeding of the gums.

➥ Restores the natural shape of the gums.

➥ Prevents dental complications; due to the high level of bacteria in the mouth infected by a gum disease, you’ll most likely develop tooth decay.

➥ Prevent tooth loss caused by the affection of bone and tissues surrounding the tooth.

➥ Having fresh breath is one of the most noticeable benefits for most people. Bad breath is a typical symptom of gum disease.

➥ The growth of new and healthy gum tissue that fits closely around the teeth.

➥ Reduce the risk of certain general health problems, such as cardiovascular disease.

How do I prepare for gum disease treatment?

On the day of gum treatment, your dentist will:

Perform a pre-operative overall examination of the gums, teeth, jaws, and bones.
Take a complete medical and family history
Check for any infections or lesions that could complicate the healing process.
Discuss with you the treatment plan needed for your condition.
Give you the pre-operative instructions needed according to your case and the type of treatment proposed.

How long will it take to recover from gum treatment?

It depends on the type of gum treatment you receive. If you have a mild condition that only requires scaling and root planning, most likely you won’t need any time for recovery from this simple procedure.

In cases of surgical treatment of the gum, recovery times may vary from one to four weeks, depending on your condition and overall health.

How do you care for your teeth and gums after gum disease treatment?

Gum disease treatment reduces the bacteria in your mouth immediately, with a high rate of success. However, bacteria can regrow if you don’t follow the oral hygiene instructions given to you by your dentist.

Immediately following your gum disease treatment, your dentist will give a list of instructions that vary from one case to another for the post-treatment care. But generally, you should:

Take the medications exactly as prescribed by your dentist.
Keep the treatment area clean.
Avoid smoking
Book an emergency appointment if you develop any concerning side effects, such as bleeding that won’t stop or pain that doesn’t go away with medication.

And for the long-term preservation of your periodontal health and overall oral hygiene, your dentist will give you a detailed routine on how to care for your gums and teeth. Here are some of the general instructions to follow:

Brush your teeth regularly, two to three times every day. Make sure you know how to brush your teeth correctly. Using fluoride toothpaste, hold your brush angled towards your gumline and move it gently in a round motion for 2 minutes.
Use the dental floss once daily to remove plaque and tartar from between your teeth.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash as prescribed by your dentist.
Proper nutrition and a healthy diet play a huge role in keeping your gums healthy.
Avoid smoking and alcohol.

See your dentist on a regular basis for routine dental cleanings. Based on your case, the frequency of your visits will be determined by your dentist.

How much does gum disease treatment cost?

The cost of gum treatment varies according to the severity of the disease. It’s better to consult with your dentist to evaluate your condition and know exactly the proper cost and time needed for treatment.

Why choose Al-Alem Dental Center for gum treatment?

At Al-Alem Dental Center, we use the most recent technologies and the highest quality dental materials to ensure the success of any procedure and the most satisfactory results.
The long experience of Dr. Mohamed Al-Alem, the high standards of infection control, and the highest quality of dental materials all guarantee the best results.
a proven track record of successful cases of gum disease treatment.