5 Methods for Periodontal Treatment You Might Not Have Known

Periodontists fill a special niche in the world of professional dentistry, providing treatments that often lie outside the skill sets of
general dental practitioners. But what precisely do periodontists do? Primarily, they cover two broad areas: treatment of periodontal (gum) disease and replacement of missing teeth with dental implants.

Because most patients are unfamiliar with the methods periodontists use, below are introductions to five
periodontal treatment methods:

1. Dental Implants

Dental implants often replace teeth lost due to gum disease, and
good gum health is necessary before they can be installed safely. Periodontists therefore must examine
the gums and
treat
any periodontal disease before installing the dental implants.

Dental implants have a titanium
root
placed into a socket hollowed out through the gums and jawbone. This
anchor
fuses to the bone as the jaw heals. Posts inserted alongside the implant
also help with stabilization. The crown is typically ceramic and closely mimics the contours and
coloration of your original tooth.

2. Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal disease, the infection of the gum/bone tissue that holds your teeth in place, can be treated in a number of ways. Scaling and planing is a nonsurgical
surface cleaning
used in less severe cases.

Scaling and root planing removes plaque/bacteria from tooth surfaces, gum lines, exposed roots, and deep periodontal pockets. Toxins are scraped off using a metal hand scaler and a metal curette. An
electronic
sonic scaler
is another option.
This device
s vibration frequency helps loosen plaque. The vibrations also create air bubbles inside gum tissue
to help kill off
oxygen-intolerant bacteria.

3. Gum Flap Surgery

Gum flap surgery is used when periodontal disease has reached a more critical stage than scaling and planning can treat effectively. It is sometimes referred to as a
deep clean
because the gums are surgically cut and pulled back to access and clean areas deep below the gum line. Damaged bone may also be repaired, either by grafting in missing material or by smoothing out the bone surface to eliminate tiny crevices where plaque can accumulate.

Your dentist likely will administer a local anesthetic to numb your gums before beginning, and once finished, he or she will use dental stitches to hold your gums in position. After stitching is done, gauze will be applied to keep your gums from bleeding.

4. Laser Periodontal Surgery

Scaling and planing and gum flap treatments are usually done with mechanical tools, but a high-tech laser is sometimes used instead. The laser
trims off inflamed tissue around teeth very precisely, minimizing gum loss, and it can also make gum flap incisions and smooth out the gum surface where infections have made it uneven.
No anesthetic is necessary, and this method is much better at eliminating bacteria.

5.
Gum Grafts

Gum grafting is a form of periodontal plastic surgery that is often used when gum lines recede due to periodontal disease
and expose tooth roots. Gum material is taken from the palate or elsewhere and used to cover the exposed areas. This can prevent further gum recession, future bone loss, and tooth root decay. It can also correct over sensitivity in
teeth and improve the look of one
s smile.

Whether you are considering dental implants or gum-related periodontal treatments, it is important to trust only a skilled periodontist to do the job. In the Orlando, Florida, area, Dr. Sevor of
Central Florida Periodontics & Implantology has the training and experience to handle all five treatments listed above, including dental implants and more. Feel free to contact him at
Winter Park (407-647-2295) or
Winter Springs (407-388-0800) to learn more.