When Do Dentists Suggest Periodontal Treatment?

Periodontal means related to the gums, and periodontists specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases and infections in the soft tissues surrounding our teeth and the jawbone anchoring our teeth. 

Periodontists receive an additional three years of training beyond the regular dental school education. These specialists are adept with the most advanced techniques required to treat diseases of gums and even place dental implants. Periodontists can also perform a variety of cosmetic procedures to improve your smile. Due to their multifaceted skills, people are still determining when to see a dentist and when to see a periodontist.

Gum disease starts when the toxins in the plaque attack the soft or gingival tissue surrounding our teeth. These bacteria embed themselves inside the gums and breed rapidly, giving rise to bacterial infection. If your gum disease has reached a severity that could result in tooth loss, you would be advised periodontal treatment by your dentist.

As you read this article, you will learn about periodontitis, how it spreads, and when you know you need gum treatment.

What is Periodontitis And Its Symptoms?

More than forty-seven percent of adults over thirty suffer from periodontitis, and the number jumps to over seventy percent in people above sixty-five years of age.

• Periodontitis is a severe gum disease, and a bacterial infection begins by swelling the soft tissue around your teeth.
• If it is not treated, it erodes the bone that supports your tooth, resulting in mobility and, eventually, tooth loss.
• If you have periodontitis, you will experience the following symptoms:
  • Red or swollen gums
  • Gums that bleed easily
  • Loose teeth.
  • Tender gums
  • Pain while chewing
  • Pus or infection around the gum line
  • Bad breath
  • Spaces or gaps between your teeth start appearing which were not there before
  • The way your teeth come together changes
  • Your teeth appear longer as your gums are pulling away from your teeth

When Will Your Dentist Recommend Periodontal Treatment?

Your dentist would suspect you need special treatment for your dental issues when they find one or more of the below conditions:

• Bleeding or inflamed gums- If your gums ache or bleed, you probably have gum disease. There should be no bleeding in healthy gums when you brush or floss. With plaque buildup, the healthy structure of teeth is under attack, which can destroy the fiber which holds the teeth and gum tissue together. It would cause inflammation and bleeding of the gums. It is the first stage of periodontal disease called gingivitis, and if not treated at this stage, it would result in more severe periodontitis.
• Sensitivity in teeth- If you feel pain when exposed to extreme temperatures like very hot or cold beverages, your tooth roots might be exposed, and the tooth enamel has thinned down. Teeth could also get over-sensitive due to gum recession or pocketing. Our gums protect the roots of our teeth, where the enamel is not there to protect them. Exposing these roots can be very painful since the teeth have small holes that pass information to the nerves in your teeth. You must seek periodontal treatment if this is happening to you.
• You have a localized gum recession- Often, gum disease starts in one area of the mouth. So if gum recession exists in one area, it needs to be treated as soon as possible so that the gum disease does not spread to the rest of the mouth. Gum recession could occur for many reasons, such as bruxism (teeth grinding), brushing too hard, or improper positioning of teeth. Periodontal treatment must be done as soon as gum recession is obvious.
• Your bone has started deteriorating, and there is bone loss- When gum disease advances far enough, it results in bone loss and loosening of teeth. It is a serious issue, and you must address it immediately. Your periodontist is most likely to recommend deep teeth cleaning, which is called planing and scaling. If the tooth is badly diseased, s/he suggests tooth extraction of heavily impacted teeth so that infection can be controlled and not spread to other areas.

What Are the Different Periodontal Treatments?

The treatment for your gum disease depends on the stage it is in. If the gum problem has not advanced too far, it can be treated non-surgically:

• Non-surgical treatments
  • Scaling- Scaling is done using a laser, scalpel, or an ultrasonic device to remove bacteria and tartar from your gum line.
  • Antibiotics- Bacterial infection can be controlled using oral or topical antibiotics. Your dentist might suggest antibiotic mouth rinses or applying antibiotic gel in gum pockets. At times oral antibiotics can also be prescribed to remove the bacterial infection.
  • Root planning- This procedure smooths the surface of the roots, aids in attaching your gum back to your teeth, and prevents further bacteria and tartar buildup.

• Surgical treatments:
  • Pocket reduction or flap surgery- In this procedure, cuts are made into your gum to fold back the tissue and remove bacteria. The doctor would then suture the gum back in place.
  • Bone grafting- If periodontitis has destroyed the bone surrounding the root of your teeth, bone grafting is suggested. Bone grafts could be made from your bone, artificial material, or donated bones. Bone graft prevents tooth loss by holding your teeth in place and stimulates the growth of natural bone.

Lastly, your oral health and well-being depend significantly on the health of your gums. Regular checkups and good oral hygiene can prevent gum disease. If you suffer from periodontitis, periodontal treatments can prevent further damage and tooth loss.