The Periodontist And The Procedures That Can Save Your Gums

While there are dentists who are both experts in gum disease and run traditional

practices at the same time, a periodontist runs a strict practice, taking patients referred by family dentists. If you have gum disease, there are a variety of procedures that may be used to treat the problem. These range from simple, nonsurgical procedures to more advanced operations, depending on how advanced the problem has become.

Cleaning

Every time you go in for a traditional dental cleaning, you are being treated for problems along the gum line. The dentist (or the hygienist, in many cases) will use tools to clean the plaque away from the gum line and teeth. Having this done twice a year can go a long way towards preventing disease from taking hold. If your dentist notices signs of gum disease or an unusually high buildup of plaque or tartar in between visits, he may recommend scheduling more frequent tooth cleaning appointments.

Scaling

If enough time passes between plaque cleaning, it may begin to get up under the gumline. If this happens, you are at high risk of developing serious gum disease and your periodontist may recommend scaling and root planing. This procedure involves putting the patient under local anesthesia and scraping away the plaque from above and below the gums. The professionals will also smooth out the rough spots on the root of the tooth, getting rid of bacteria and giving the gums a chance to reattach to the tooth. This process is considered nonsurgical in nature.

Flap Surgery

Similar to scaling and root planing, flap surgery involves actually pulling the gums back from the teeth and getting the tartar underneath. The periodontist may take this opportunity to smooth out some of the rough spots on the teeth, which can give bacteria a place to hide and take root. After the cleaning is finished, the gums will be put back snugly, creating as little space as possible for any bacteria can get in and grow.

Bone Grafting

Not everyone is aware of this, but in many instances gum disease can lead to bone and enamel loss. In those cases, bone grafting may be needed to replace the bone that has been destroyed by the disease. A periodontist or dental surgeon will take bone from another area (or use synthetic bone) to replace the missing bone and promote future growth.

by: Anna Woodward

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