Gum diseases, if not painful, as they mostly are, tend to be neglected in many cases. I have come across patients whose gums are often exhibiting a lot of issues like redness and inflammation, a pus formation in them, yet they do not seem to be much bothered! This is hugely risky as gum diseases don’t go away on their own. In fact, gingivitis (swelling of the gums) can progress to a periodontist or an advanced periodontist.
Stages of Gum Diseases :
It is important, especially for the ones who tend to neglect symptoms of gum disease, to know what are outcomes of the different stages of gum disease!
Gingivitis:
This is the earliest stage of gum disease and consists of simply a plaque attack. Therefore this can easily be treated. Professional cleaning along with regular brushing and flossing is sufficient to cure gingivitis.
Periodontitis:
This is the advanced stage of gum disease and affects the bones underlying the gum area. Obviously more invasive techniques are required. Scaling, deep cleaning the chewing surfaces of your teeth, removing germs and plaques from beneath the gum line, etc. are some of the steps taken.
Advanced Periodontists:
This is the worst stage of gum disease. Periodontists when they further develop to affect the tissues and cause bone loss from the jaws, it is known as Advanced Periodontists. In such serious instances, treatments involve bone and tissue regenerating techniques used by your periodontist.
How are your gums treated?
A gum treatment may be inclusive of the following three, depending upon the condition of your gums and a dental history of yours:
1. Professional Cleaning.
2. Deep Cleaning consisting of Scaling and Root Planing.
3. Periodontal Surgery.
Professional Cleaning :
A good professional cleaning can be availed from your nearby dental office. This requires you to choose your nearest dental office that offers a perfect professional cleaning. Many offices mostly offer discounts and also free professional cleanings on things like first enrollment in their own savings plan and so on. You need to contact the dental office near you or as per your other conveniences and get in touch with them to avail their offers. You can even inquire that what are the steps included in their professional cleaning procedure and then decide for yourself whether to go for that particular dentistry!
Deep Cleaning :
The process of deep cleaning in order to treat gum disease mainly consists of two things:
1. Scaling and.
2. Root Planning.
Scaling :
Scaling is the process through which your dentist is able to reach below the gum line to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar in the region. A healthy gum area supports teeth up to a depth of 1 to 3 millimeters. If the pockets become deeper, that is more than 4 millimeters, scaling is resorted to, in order to remove the plaque from beneath the gum line.
Scaling essentially involves using a metallic tool like a dental scaler or a curette to scrap off the plaque from beneath the gum line. However, these are hand-held tools and aid the dentist in reaching areas that your toothbrush is not able to reach. The other way is using an ultrasonic instrument. It consists of a vibrating metal tip along with a spray of cool water. As the instrument is applied, the tartar gets cleared off and added to it, and the gush of water flushes out the pocket.
Dental scaling is generally followed by a procedure known as root planing. Root planing reaches deeper to address the surface of the tooth’s root. This is done in the same manner as scaling. Root planing smooths the surface of the root so the gums can reattach properly.
Root planing :
This process usually follows the procedure of scaling, its purpose being, smoothing out the surface of the roots so that the gum tissue can heal and attach with the teeth easily. Therefore the entire process of scaling and planning takes more than just a few dental visits. It however depends entirely on the condition of your gums and whether a portion of it or the entire gum region is affected!
What Follows A Deep Cleaning Process?
After the process of scaling and root planing, one might be faced with the following consequences:
1. Swelling in the gums for a few days.
2. Bleeding or susceptibility to gum bleeding for the next few days.
3. Sensitivity in the teeth for a short while.
Therefore, a deep cleaning process should be followed by the proper use of a toothbrush, a d-sensitizing toothpaste and a prescribed mouthwash even.
A Periodontal Surgery :
Sometimes, scaling and root planing isn’t sufficient treatment procedure on its own. The pockets might not heal even after scaling and root planing. Here arises the situation where gum surgery is needed. Surgery allows the dental expert to remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas. Later on, your gums are stitched tightly into place to cling to your teeth. Surgery also aids to shrink the pocket depth of the infected gums and thus makes it easier for you to keep the teeth clean.
Post-treatment maintenance of your gums!
Once the disease is under control, a regular oral care regime automatically becomes a must. Periodic cleanings which are usually deeper than the normal cleanings become a part of that regime too. These are all to ensure that plaque build-up is lower and controlled than before. Finally, staying away from tobacco would further aid in restricting the development of tartar on your teeth and affecting your gums.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert team member for further queries.
