Periodontal Therapy

Who is at Risk for Gum Disease?

All of the following factors greatly increase the risk of gum disease: tobacco use, hormone fluctuations, stress, medications, bruxism, diabetes, poor nutrition, HIV, any disease resulting in immunosuppression, heredity, and poor oral hygiene. Even patients who practice good oral homecare routines can get gum disease. Gums irritated by bacteria can recede from the teeth, creating deep pockets where more bacteria hide and flourish.

Treating Gum Disease

Early on, when redness, swelling, and bleeding are the only symptoms, we can treat and reverse gum disease non-surgically. Regular checkups greatly increase the potential for early detection and conservative treatment. Generally, this includes careful, individualized instruction regarding the most effective means of brushing and flossing at home. This strategy is sometimes accompanied by professional scaling or a careful cleaning of all affected tooth surfaces, gum pocket irrigation, and even local antibiotic placement in areas of significant irritation. Often, patients experience immediate improvement. If, however, symptoms don't improve significantly, they may require surgical treatment.

Surgical Gum Disease Treatments

If gum disease progresses without intervention, a patient may need surgery to halt the disease and restore the mouth to good oral health. Typically, periodontists (gum specialists) perform four surgical treatments: pocket depth reduction, bone or tissue regeneration, crown lengthening, and/or soft tissue grafts. All of these procedures eliminate infection and improve your chances of keeping your teeth for life.

If you have further questions about gum disease and our available treatments, please contact our Lawrenceburg dental office for a consultation.