Gum Treatment
Recognizing signs of unhealthy periodontum, and treatment options.
The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for ones teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium include:
- gums that are red and bleed easily
- persistent bad breath
- gums that are pulled away from the tooth
- loose teeth
- changes in the position or bite of the teeth.
Any of these may be a sign of problem. With proper gum treatments, however, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state.
If you’re having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to have it treated at the first sign of a problem.
Root Planing
Research shows that for patients with chronic periodontitis (gum disease that has advanced past gingivitis), root planing can be beneficial. Root planing is the process of smoothing out teeth roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth. It is often performed in combination with scaling, which is the removal of plaque and tartar above and below the gum line.
After root planing, your teeth my be sensitive for a day or two.
