Periodontal treatment focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of gum diseases that affect the soft tissues and supporting structures around your teeth. Conditions such as gingivitis (gum inflammation) and periodontitis (advanced gum disease) can lead to issues like gum recession, tooth loss, and even affect overall health if left untreated. Periodontal treatment aims to restore gum health, protect your teeth, and prevent further complications through professional cleaning, scaling, root planing, and advanced therapies tailored to your specific needs. Regular periodontal care is essential for maintaining a healthy smile and supporting long-term oral health.
Periodontal surgery
Periodontal gum surgery treats advanced gum disease, by removing tartar below the gumline and addressing bone defects. The procedure involves gently lifting the gums to clean the tooth roots thoroughly using ultrasonic and hand tools. The cleaned roots are then disinfected with saline and a medicated mouthwash containing chlorhexidine.
If needed, bone defects are repaired using high-quality bone substitutes, promoting healing and regeneration. The treatment can be done for the whole mouth or in sections (quadrants). Patients are often prescribed antibiotics and follow a strict maintenance plan to ensure long-term success.
This procedure helps restore gum health, protect teeth, and extend their lifespan.
Duration of procedure approx: 1hour per quadrant
Diagnosis And Prevention Of Periodontal Disease
Early diagnosis in periodontal gum disease is crucial, as it begins with gingivitis, marked by redness, swelling, and bleeding. This early stage, caused by poor oral hygiene, is reversible with consistent home care and professional cleanings.
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, where gum pockets form, and bone loss begins. Periodontitis is often asymptomatic, making regular dental check-ups essential for early detection.
To prevent periodontal disease, it’s vital to remove bacterial plaque, the sticky, colourless film that forms around teeth. Additional risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, stress, hormonal changes, and genetics can increase susceptibility. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene, managing risk factors, and scheduling routine professional cleanings are the best ways to protect your gum health and prevent periodontal disease.
Treatment Of Periodontal Disease
Treatment options for periodontal disease may vary depending on the extent and severity of tissue destruction. Usually it is divided into surgical and non-surgical treatment. The main objective of periodontal therapy is to eliminate all the disease causing bacteria and regenerate the supporting structures of the affected tooth. Non-surgical pocket reduction therapy, also called scaling and root planing, is the initial procedure that reduces the signs of infection. The result of this initial phase is a noticeable improvement in the clinical condition. This includes a significant reduction in swelling and bleeding as well as reduction in pocket depth. Surgical pocket reduction therapy is indicated in more advanced cases where scaling and root planing alone are not sufficient. If it is not possible to eradicate all the bacteria colonizing the deep pockets with scaling and root planning alone, surgical access is then necessary.
Types of Surgical Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Resective Pocket Reduction Procedures
When gum disease causes the gums to separate from the tooth, pockets form where bacteria can grow, leading to further damage. As these pockets deepen, they can destroy the bone supporting the teeth, sometimes requiring tooth extraction. To treat this, the periodontist will measure the pocket depth and decide if surgery is needed. The procedure involves lifting the gum away from the tooth to clean out the bacteria and infected tissue. The gums are then stitched back into place.
Regenerative Procedures
These procedures aim to rebuild the bone and soft tissue lost due to gum disease. It involves separating the gum from the tooth, removing bacteria and infected tissue, and applying bone grafts or growth-stimulating proteins to encourage bone regeneration. The gums are then repositioned and secured with sutures.
Aesthetic Periodontal Procedures Gum Recession Treatment:
Connective Tissue Graft: Gingival recession can lead to increased sensitivity of the tooth, increased incidences of root surface caries, impairment of oral hygiene measures and an unappealing look. Individuals that get recession tend to have thinner tissues and consequently are more vulnerable to developing these recessions. In addition, periodontal disease and/or excessive trauma could contribute to the development of recession. Connective tissue graft is a gingival augmentation procedure that uses the patient’s own tissue (usually taken from the palate) to graft directly onto the recessed area. As a result, the graft will cover the denuded area, reduce further recession, and protect the tooth against decay. We can also use alternatives to the patients own palatal tissue, e.g. AlloDerm, Mucoderm and Mucograft.
Free Gingival Graft
The lack of adequate width of gingiva in conjunction with restorative procedures, orthodontic therapy, or poor oral hygiene could lead to the resorption of the gingival margin. The free gingival graft will provide an adequate zone of attached gingiva that will allow proper long-term maintenance. The tissue is usually harvested from the palate and placed onto the affected area.
Gummy Smile Treatment
Gingivectomy/Gingivoplasty
Gingivectomy/Gingivoplasty is the surgical removal and recontouring of the gingiva in cases of excessive gingival display (gummy smile) or drug induced gingival overgrowth. This procedure will provide a cosmetic enhancement of the gingiva as well as improved access for proper hygiene and maintenance.
Crown Lengthening Procedure/ Aesthetic Gum Surgery
The benefit of Crown lengthening procedure are both Functional and Aesthetic. As one of the most commonly used procedures in Periodontics, it is included when insufficient crown length prevents adequate retention of the future restoration. This procedure will adjust the bone and gingival levels to expose more tooth structure. It will improve the health and appearance of the tissue around the future prosthesis.
