How is gum disease treated?
In the early stages of gum disease, treatment usually involves scaling and root planing. During scaling and root planing, soft plaque and hard calculus deposits are meticulously cleaned from above and below the gumline. At the same time, the root surfaces of your teeth are planed to remove diseased cell layers. The removal of bacteria and physical and chemical irritants helps to reduce inflammation. Usually this treatment allows the gum to adapt itself back to the tooth, as well as reduce the depth of the gum pockets. In most cases of early gum disease, “scaling”, “root planing” and proper daily cleaning are all that are required for satisfactory results.
Treatment of early gum disease involves oral hygiene and removal of bacterial plaque. Moderate to advanced gum disease usually requires a thorough cleaning of the teeth and teeth roots called “root planing” and “subgingival curettage.” Root planing is the removal of plaque and tartar hardened plaque from exposed teeth roots while subgingival curettage refers to the removal of the surface of the inflamed layer of gum tissue. Both of these procedures are usually performed under local anesthesia and may be accompanied by the use of oral antibiotics to overcome gum infection or abscess. Follow-up treatment may include various types of gum surgeries. In advanced gum disease with significant bone destruction and loosening of teeth, teeth splinting or teeth extractions may be necessary.
