Gum disease
Traditional treatment
Where periodontitis is mild the most effective treatment is for proper methods of daily plaque removal and oral hygiene. These include: brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth once a day (using either dental floss or an interdental cleaner), eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and oral examinations. (Note: tobacco use has been implicated in approximately 50% of cases of periodontal disease).
Where periodontitis is mild to moderate, scaling and root planing are required to clean the tooth and remove the plaque and tartar (calculus deposits) from the gum pockets. Scaling is the process by which plaque and tartar are removed from the tooth surface (above and below the gum line) using special hand instruments, which are designed for the purpose. Scaling is usually performed without the use of local anesthetic.
Plaque and tartar deposits on the root of the tooth make the surface rough and irregular, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Root planing effectively smooths out the root surface and is usually carried alongside scaling. Once completed the gum tissue shrinks and tightens around the teeth because there is no longer anything irritating it. Most people only require one treatment to clear the teeth but in some cases two or three visits may be required. Sometimes a local anaesthetic may be applied to numb the area.
Instead of special conventional hand tools for scaling and planing some dentists use ultrasonic equipment, which uses vibration to dislodge the hard deposits and stains present on the tooth surface.
In severe cases of periodontitis it becomes necessary to remove the diseased gum pockets and bone destruction with surgery. To do this a flap is created in the gum, which is then retracted so that the underlying root and bone deformities are exposed allowing their removal. The gum tissue is then stitched and after healing the gum seals tightly around the tooth. This procedure requires local anaesthesia and will result in bleeding. The gum will be painful for several days until it heals and occasionally antibiotics will be prescribed because of the risk of infection.
Laser treatment
The main advantage of the laser for the treatment of gum disease is that procedures are largely pain-free, removing the need for local anaesthetic. They are more precise for surgical treatments and have a coagulating effect which means that they can be used to reduce or prevent bleeding altogether. In addition when used for the treatment of gum disease (including periodontic pockets) the laser energy effectively destroys the bacterial microorganisms that release the toxins responsible for periodontitis. Finally healing time and postoperative discomfort (swelling and scarring) are significantly reduced compared to traditional methods.
Combination of an Er:YAG laser with a Nd:YAG laser for soft tissue procedures inFotona's dental laser systems is the perfect choice for the treatment of gum disease.
Did you know?
Anywhere from 1,000 to 1 billion bacteria can live on each tooth surface!