What is Periodontics: Common Periodontal Treatments & Procedures
Periodontal disease is a common oral condition affecting more than half of Americans over 50. This infection causes inflammation or infection in the gums around your teeth, which can be painful and lead to tooth loss if not treated.
What is Periodontics?
Periodontics encompasses all aspects of gum disease, including surgical procedures such as dental extractions or implants, non-surgical treatments like plaque control products, and diagnosis. The field includes both preventive and restorative care, as well as cosmetic procedures.
What are the Common Periodontal Treatments?
There are several ways to treat periodontal disease, and it is important to know them before seeking periodontics.
a) Non-Surgical Procedures
1) Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is a non-surgical procedure used to keep the gum tissue healthy and prevent the loss of teeth. Your dentist or hygienist can do periodontal maintenance. The process of periodontal maintenance includes: brushing and flossing, using an antimicrobial mouth rinse, and scaling and root planing for deep pockets.
2) Scaling and Root Planing
Our periodontal dentist in Kingwood 77339 performs scaling and root planing to remove plaque, calculus, and tartar from your gums. Scaling involves using a wire brush to remove surface tartar buildup on the gum line gently. Root planing involves cutting the gums, smoothening the teeth, and reattaching the gums.
b) Surgical Procedure
1) Gingival Flap Surgery
The first step in gingival flap surgery is to open the gums to expose the underlying bone and connective tissues. The surgeon then removes any diseased tissue and bacteria. Once clean, the surgeon will suture the gum tissue back into place.
Gingival flap surgery can be performed in a single visit to the dentist. Recovery time is typically short, and most patients experience little discomfort after the procedure.
2) Bone Grafting
Bone grafting replaces missing bone with an artificial bone to repair bones that are damaged or have been lost due to injury or disease.
Bone grafting procedures are often used in conjunction with other periodontal treatments, such as dental implants, to provide a solid foundation for the implant. In some cases, bone grafting can be used to build up the jawbone in preparation for dentures.
Several types of bone grafting procedures are available, and the type of procedure used will depend on the severity of the problem. Sometimes, a small piece of bone may be taken from another area of the patient’s body (called an autograft) and transplanted to where it is needed. In other cases, artificial bone may be used (called an allograft).
Bone grafting is a safe and effective repair of damage caused by injury or disease. The procedure can help to prevent further tooth loss.
3) Guided Tissue Regeneration
GTR is a periodontal surgery used to repair defects in the gum line so that teeth, or sets of teeth, have more support and stability. GTR uses resorbable (non-toxic) or non-resorbable membranes to keep soft tissue from sneaking into these sites.
4) Soft-tissue Grafts
Soft-tissue grafts are used to treat gum recession when the gums recede from the teeth. Our periodontist in Kingwood, TX, will remove some of your healthy gums from the roof of your mouth and place them in an area with no gum tissue. This can help improve your overall health by rebuilding bone and supporting soft tissues damaged by periodontal disease.
5) Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening involves removing the gum line and then repositioning it to create a longer, straighter smile. The procedure entails removing the excess parts of gum tissues so that teeth are more visible. Patients come in for such a procedure mostly for cosmetic reasons. Still, sometimes your periodontal dentist can do it to restore degraded areas on or below the gums, which would otherwise be blocked from view by those tissues.
6) Dental Implants
Dental implants are a type of prosthesis that replaces missing teeth. They’re made out of titanium, which is a metal used in many types of medical implants and surgical procedures.
This procedure involves placing a special surgically made part inside your jawbone where it connects to the remaining tooth roots using wires and screws. The implant will anchor itself securely by way of these connections so that once healed properly, you can use this replacement as if it were natural bone tissue (think: no pain!).
Visit a Periodontist Near You
Are you looking to get periodontal treatments in Kingwood, TX? Give us a call or contact Houston Oral Healthcare Specialists for more information about periodontics and the different procedures!