Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. Root planning removes the bacterial products produced by inflammation, smooths the root surfaces, discouraging further buildup of tartar and bacteria, and allows proper healing.
Gum Disease is Curable
Besides improving your oral hygiene, your dentist will also create a personalized strategy to stop the infection, which may include: Scaling and Root Planing: A special dental instrument removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line.
Treatment usually includes deep cleanings, antibiotics, and oral surgeries to restore your gums and teeth, along with good at-home oral hygiene.
However, if you receive gum disease treatment early, you can preserve your natural teeth and prevent the need to search for replacement options. Periodontal and systemic diseases are associated, and research is ongoing to establish the reasons for the association.
Dentists will always try to save a tooth when it's possible, but teeth that are too badly damaged may need to be removed to maintain your oral health. If you notice a problem with any of your teeth, it's important to see a dentist as soon as possible.
Thankfully, it is never too late to get treatment for gum disease. Your specialized hygienic can complete a full diagnosis to help you determine what stage your gum disease has advanced to. Several treatment solutions may be offered depending on the severity of your condition.
Stage 2: Periodontitis
At this stage, the supporting bones and fibers that hold your teeth in place have been irreversibly damaged. Your gums begin to form “pockets,” deep hollow areas around the teeth that trap food, plaque, and bacteria. Your gums will recede and form gaps between your teeth.
If most or all of your teeth are impacted the repair process will be much more difficult. If certain teeth are worse off than others it may mean that some of them are too far gone and some of them can be saved. Keep in mind that certain types of damage are only visible with the help of imaging or a trained eye.
Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue; it isn't an infection of the teeth. Therefore, it is important to understand that removing your teeth will not actually treat or cure your gum disease. However, extractions can be an important part of your overall treatment plan to get your oral health back on track.
They may experience receding gums, loosening teeth, or tooth loss when it progresses into severe periodontal disease. If you wonder if you can live with this disease, the answer is yes. In general, periodontal disease does not cause pain, which is one of the reasons it develops into a severe condition.
Average Periodontal Treatment Costs
Regular dental cleaning: $50 – $75. Scaling and root planing: $140 – $210. Gum grafting: $250 and up. Periodontal maintenance after therapy: $115 on average.
If you have advanced periodontitis, you may need dental surgery, such as: Flap surgery, also called pocket reduction surgery. Your periodontist makes cuts in your gums to carefully fold back the tissue. This exposes the tooth roots for more effective scaling and root planing.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
Although deep tooth decay often leads to extraction, it is not the only solution. Several options, such as dental crowns, fillings, inlays, and onlays, can restore the tooth's structure, appearance, and integrity once the decay has been removed.
A poor diet, namely one high in sugars and starches, is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. Bacteria found in the mouth have a sweet tooth of their own and they happily chow down on the simple carbohydrates found in these foods.
Changes in tooth position are a lifelong and naturally occurring phenomenon, and to maintain the result created by your orthodontic treatment, retainers must be worn. While small changes after treatment concludes are normal, retainers prevent teeth from going back to their original positions.
Stage 4: Progressive Periodontitis
This stage involves teeth looseness, shifting teeth, red, swollen and painful gums, often forming an abscess. The end result — eating and even smiling is hard and painful, and you may lose most of your teeth.
The final stage is advanced periodontal disease. It occurs when the infection deepens even further. Advanced periodontal disease causes red, swollen gums that ooze pus, cold sensitivity, further loosening of teeth, severe bone loss, painful chewing, and severe halitosis (bad breath).
Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
Acidic items like soda, apple cider vinegar, and limes can irritate the inflamed gums and contribute to more gum recession and irritation. Highly acidic things also erode the tooth's enamel, exposing it to tooth decay. It's best to avoid or limit acidic items.
Sensodyne Toothpaste
The top toothpaste available on the market that helps reduce sensitivity caused by receding gums is Sensodyne.
If you aggressively brush your teeth, it can cause enamel to wear away, which can lead to gum recession too. Proper oral hygiene helps ensure your oral health stays at its best at all times.
Will Treatment Hurt? You can expect some discomfort from periodontal treatment, but it will probably be much less than you fear.
We're often asked, “can gingivitis be cured?” or “can gum disease be cured?” and the answer is yes – as long as you can spot the signs early and get the necessary treatment. Signs of gingivitis include: Red, swollen gums. Bad breath.