Periodontal Disease

What Is Gum Disease & How Do You Treat It?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a major threat to your health and wellbeing. Your best bet when it comes to treating gum disease is to act as soon as you can and begin addressing the problem. The sooner your dental team can determine what is causing your gum and teeth issues, the sooner they can work out a treatment plan that is right for you. The most common course of action for treating periodontal disease is a process known as dental scaling and root planing.

If caught early, periodontal disease and its effects can be drastically decreased with proper gum disease treatment and continued maintenance. If left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth and bone loss. Gingivitis can be one of the first signs of infection and gum disease. The build-up of bacteria that is causing the inflammation of your gums comes from plaque. If the plaque is not brushed away properly, it hardens into tartar/calculus, which cannot be removed with normal brushing.

The bacteria in the hardened plaque starts to eat away at the connective tissue between your teeth and gums. This causes the creation of “pockets”. At this stage, the effects of periodontal disease are still often reversible. In some patients, their gum disease is diagnosed early enough to where they can avoid needing gum surgery. Instead, their gum disease can be treated with a special deep dental cleaning called scaling and root planing.

WHAT IS LANAP?

LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), also called laser gum therapy, is a new approach to periodontal treatment that's both more comfortable and convenient than traditional approaches. Normally, advanced periodontal disease is treated through a procedure called osseous surgery. This involves cutting open gum tissues to access the tooth roots, then using ultrasonic scalers to remove tartar from below the gumline.

LANAP uses high-grade medical lasers to achieve the same results without the need for cutting or stitching of the gum tissue. These lasers eliminate diseased gum tissue while protecting healthy tissue since the laser immediately cauterizes the tissue. This process also widens the pocket between the gum and tooth, providing access to the tooth roots. This means, our periodontist, Dr. Anuj Singh Parihar can use an ultrasonic scaler to clear away plaque and tartar buildup on the root.

Laser gum therapy can offer a more comfortable, convenient option for patients in need of gum treatment. If you'd like to find out if it's right for you, we'd be thrilled to help. Contact us today to learn more about the procedure or simply request your appointment online to get started. We can't wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile.

Am I a Good Candidate For LANAP?

Anyone who needs periodontal treatment can be a candidate for laser assisted gum therapy. If you notice symptoms like redness, swelling, bleeding, or tenderness of the gums, you may have periodontal disease – and that means laser gum therapy may be right for you.

Periodontal Pocket Reduction

As a result of severe periodontal disease, pockets can develop between the teeth and gums over time. These pockets are often filled with plaque and unwanted bacteria. Over time, these pockets become deeper, providing a larger space for bacteria to live. As bacteria develop around the teeth, they can accumulate and advance under the gum tissue. These deep pockets collect even more bacteria, resulting in further bone and tissue loss. Eventually, if too much bone is lost, the teeth will need to be extracted.

By reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria we can prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and help you maintain a healthy smile. However, eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult for you and your dental care professional to clean, so it's important to have them reduced. These procedures can be combined with regenerative procedures in order to spur the development of new bone tissue as well. Reduced pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance increase your chances of keeping your natural teeth and decrease the chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease.

Gum Graft Surgery

WHAT IS GUM RECESSION?

Gum recession is a periodontal condition which occurs when a patient’s gum tissue wears away over time – exposing not only more of your teeth, but the tooth’s root as well. Root surfaces exposed by gum recession can become sensitive to temperature and pressure changes, and can also decay or wear away over time. If this condition is left untreated, and continues to progress it can often worsen to the point of severe damage or tooth loss. Whether it be for cosmetic reasons or to prevent damage to your exposed teeth, it is critical for patients suffering from gum recession to seek treatment. Gum grafts may be used to treat a variety of conditions, including: periodontal disease, gum recession, poor dental hygiene, jawbone loss, missing teeth, aesthetic issues with the shape of the gums, and gum problems around dental implants.

WHAT IS GUM GRAFTING?

Gum grafting, also known as periodontal plastic surgery or gingival grafts, refers to any periodontal procedure aimed at grafting gingival tissue onto the gums to build up the gums and cover exposed tooth root surface. While there are several approaches to gum grafting, all of them aim to improve the appearance of your smile, alleviate teeth sensitivity, and prevent periodontal recession. Our Atlanta Chief Periodontist, Dr. Anuj Singh Parihar, perform a variety of gum grafting procedures in our office.

Gum grafting is a simple, effective way to reverse periodontal recession and promote healthy, functional gums and teeth, and if you're interested in seeing how it may benefit you, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about gum grafts or to schedule a consultation for dental treatment at Dental Paradise Clinic. We can't wait to hear from you and help you achieve a smile you’re proud of!