Periodontitis is one of the most common yet preventable gum diseases. Essentially, it is an infection that attacks the soft tissue of the gums and even the bones that help keep all of your teeth in place. It may cause teeth to loosen, or even fall out. In short, periodontitis can certainly impact a person’s oral health and day-to-day life.
How is Periodontitis Detected?
First, it’s important to understand how this disease is diagnosed. Your dentist will start by doing a full exam of your mouth. He or she will review your medical history, measure pocket depth, and take a series of x-rays. From there, it will be easily established about whether or not you have this condition.
While there are a variety of options when it comes to treating periodontitis, the advanced stages require a more serious approach. In fact, at this stage, the typical treatment plan involves surgery. Common surgical procedures to treat advanced periodontitis include:
Tissue-stimulating proteins: This surgical method involves apply get directly to the diseased tooth root. The gel works to stimulate the growth of healthy bone and tissue.
Bone grafting: Overtime, periodontitis can impact the bone surrounding a tooth root. When this occurs, it is best to create a bone graft either from existing bone or from synthetic materials. The graft is then put in place to support existing teeth so that they don’t fall out.
Soft tissue grafting: One of the biggest issues associated with peritonitis is gum recession. If the gums recede too much, then there is no longer support for the teeth. To avoid this, patients may need soft tissue grafts in which tissue is taken from the top of the mouth, or another source, in order to restore the gum line.
Flap surgery: The dentist may make tiny incisions in the gum line so that the roots may be exposed for better access for planing and scaling. The bone underneath may be reshaped before the gumline tissue is sutured back in place. This can go a long way in restoring the bone and allow for easier cleaning.
Tissue Regeneration: Your dentist may place a special kind of fabric between your tooth and bone. This barrier allows the area to heal without any bacteria or debris to enter it. Ultimately, new bone grows back and helps people regain some of what the disease may have taken.
How to Prevent Advanced Periodontitis
Of course, the above treatments are drastic and may be overwhelming for patients. However, there are a few things you can do to avoid such options. First, you should establish a good oral hygiene routine. This means regular brushing and flossing and having regular dental check-ups. Additionally, if you start to see the early warning signs of peritonitis, you should talk to your dentist right away about a low-level treatment plan. You may be able to address the problem with some scaling and planing coupled with a round of antibiotics.
Some other tips include:
Use a soft-bristle brush
Don’t smoke
Use a mouthwash
Use additional cleaning methods such as a dental pick
Going above and beyond to ensure that you have clean teeth with going a long way in periodontitis prevention.
Overview
Periodontitis is certainly something you should have treated right away. Failure to do so could lead to a variety of dental problems, including losing teeth. If you suspect you have this condition, reach out to us right away. We are more than happy to discuss treatment options and get you on the right path toward complete dental health. Schedule your consultation today to learn more about your options!
