Gum Disease Treatment

Visit your local dentist regularly so they can monitor any unusual development in your gums and to provide proper gum disease treatment.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection that develops in and around teeth, supporting tissues and bones.

There are two very different types of periodontal disease. Gingivitis affects the soft tissue, or gums around teeth, where periodontitis is more serious.

This form of gum disease travels under the gum line and causes damage to the tissue and bone that support teeth.

Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment

There are two methods available to treat gum disease – one involves surgery and the other does not. Non-surgical gum disease treatment can involve a professional cleaning, or scaling and root planing. Professional dental cleaning is done during a regular checkup with either your dentist or dental hygienist performing the task. The job entails removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line of your teeth. You may need this treatment as often as twice a year as determined by your dentist.

Surgical Gum Disease Treatment

There are a number of treatments for gum disease that involve surgery. They include flap/pocket reduction surgery, soft tissue grafts, bone grafts, tissue regeneration and bone surgery. Flap surgery is when gums are lifted back allowing tartar hidden underneath to be removed. The pocket reduction procedure is when bone is smoothed to reduce the amount of surface space where gum disease bacteria can be hidden.

Bone grafts are used to replace bone damaged by gum disease. The graft, which can be a fragment of your own bone or synthetic material, is used to promote further bone growth. Soft tissue grafts are when a piece of tissue removed from the roof of your mouth is stitched to places along your gums where they have receded.

Guided tissue regeneration stimulates bone and tissue growth in places where damage has been severe. Usually performed along with flap surgery, a small piece of fabric is placed between the gum and tooth which allows for bone and connective tissue to develop where it should be. Bone surgery reshapes bone around individual teeth creating less space for bacteria to form.

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

As is the case with most dental issues, prevention is easy and you can practice it in the comfort of your home. The important thing to remember is to keep plaque build up to a minimum as that is was leads to the development of gingivitis or periodontitis. The most effective way to do this is by brushing your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Be sure to also clean between teeth by flossing and use an antiseptic mouthwash twice a day for added protection.

The final step is to schedule regular visits to Forster Dental Centre for check-ups. Call (02) 6555 5554 today for your next regular checkup or for gum disease treatment.

Sensitive Teeth as a Sign of Gum Disease

There are several symptoms of gum disease. Gingivitis can cause gums to be red, swollen and tender and in most cases, brushing and flossing may cause them to bleed easily. These symptoms may not be very painful and may not cause you much concern in their early stages of gum disease development. The symptoms of periodontitis are much easier to identify and include gums that recede from teeth, foul smelling breath, gums that ooze pus, loose teeth and changes in your bite.

To be sure, visit your local dentist regularly so they can monitor any unusual development in your gums and to provide proper gum disease treatment. Sensitive teeth should be your first clue of something happening that may require professional attention. Regardless of the type of periodontal disease you may have, the professionals at Forster Dental Centre have the gum disease treatment you will need to remedy the situation.

Forster dentist is also serving local communities in Tuncurry, Pacific Palms, Smiths Lake, Hallidays Point, Failford, Old Bar, Nabiac, Taree, Manning Valley, Bulahdelah, Harrington and Great Lakes.