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Several Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by admin on 16-06-2011
Periodontal disease is a gum disease affecting the periodontal tissues including the alveolar bone, cementum, periodontal ligament, and gum line. It is classified into two categories which is gingivitis, the milder form and periodontitis, which is the more advanced type of gum disease. These are common diseases affecting a large number of people throughout the country. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the bone supporting the teeth and can cause destruction of the tissues. In severe case, the teeth will need to be extracted.
There are several treatment options for periodontal disease including regenerative and surgical procedures. Surgery is the last option used when the regenerative procedures will not anymore work. The periodontal disease treatment is utilized to remove bacteria causing the infection. Early stages of the disease can be effectively treated with the use of antibiotics. While the treatment is ongoing, it is important to practice proper oral hygiene. Maintaining good oral hygiene should have been enough had the disease been detected earlier.
The two most common procedures for treating periodontal disease are root planing and scaling. Scaling is done to take away the layer of plaque on the surface of the teeth by mechanical scraping. Ultrasonic instruments are used to remove the hardened plaque layer. Root planing is then followed to make the surface of the teeth smoother to avoid plaque buildup.
Depending on the severity of the disease, the treatment procedure for the gum disease will vary. Moderate periodontal disease will require scaling and root planing with the addition of medications such as antibiotics. For severe infections, more visits are required where the average visit to be completed is about 4 times. For extreme cases of periodontal disease, loss of bony tissue can be seen due to the spread of infection. When there is extensive damage of bone tissue, bone grafting may be done.
Cures for periodontal disease include maintenance of proper oral hygiene. This is the most essential part of the treatment procedure as it involves routine habits of cleaning the teeth and gums. Regular brushing of the teeth must be done at least twice or three times daily. Flossing follows after brushing but must be done once daily preferably before bedtime to take away hard to remove food particles lodged in the crevices between the teeth. Regular visits to the dentist must also be done once every six months. If there are symptoms of the disease, going to the dentist once in three months must be completed for re-evaluation. Scheduled professional cleaning of the teeth is accomplished to prevent re-growing of bacteria and make the different treatment options more successful.

