There are many number of treatments for gum disease based on the disease stage, overall health and response to the earlier treatments. Treatments range from surgery that restore supportive tissues to non surgical therapies that control bacterial growth.
Surgical treatments for gum disease
- Bone grafting: This procedure involves using synthetic bone or fragments of your own bone to replace the bone that is destroyed by gum disease. These grafts are the best alternatives to regrow the bone which restores the teeth stability. This type of tissue engineering encourages the human body to regenerate tissue and bone very fast.
- Pocket reduction surgery/flap surgery: In this procedure the gums are pulled back and the tarter is taken out. In some cases, bumpy surfaces of the damaged bone are made even to limit areas where disease causing bacteria can hide. The gums are then set so that the tissue fits well around the tooth. This method lessens the gap between tooth and the gum, hence decreasing the growth of harmful bacteria and the chances of serious health issues that are related to periodontal disease.
- Guided tissue regeneration: This procedure is performed when the bone giving support to the teeth has been ruined and it stimulates the growth of gum and bone tissue. This is done in along with flap surgery, which is a small mesh-like fabric inserted between the gum and bone tissue. This acts as a partition and prevents the gum tissue from entering into the bone area thus allowing the connective tissue and bone to regrow for a better teeth support.
- Soft tissue grafting: This method strengthens thin gums or fills in the receded gums. Grafted tissues taken from the mouth’s roof are stitched in place, thus adding tissue to the affected area.
- Bone surgery: This procedure smoothens the shallow craters in the bone due to advanced or moderate bone loss. After the flap surgery the bone around the tooth is modified to decrease the cavities.
Non surgical treatments
- Root planning and scaling: This is a non surgical deep cleaning method which done under anesthetic conditions. In this procedure the plaque and tartar from below and above the gum line are removed away and the rough spots on the tooth’s root are made smooth. Smoothing the surface removes bacteria and provides a clean surface to reattach to the teeth. Root planning and scaling is done if the dental practitioner finds that there is plaque and tartar attached to the gums which needs to be removed.
- Professional dental cleaning: During a checkup, your dental hygienist or dentist will remove tartar and plaque from below and above the gum line of the teeth. If you have signs of gum disease, your dentist may recommend teeth cleaning at least twice in a year.
In some patients, non surgical treatments of root planning and scaling is all that is needed to treat the gum disease. Surgical treatments are required only when the surrounding teeth tissue is in unhealthy condition and cannot be fixed with non surgical options.