The Goal of Gum Treatment
The root cause of periodontitis is bacteria, plaque and tartar (calculus) around the tooth-gum interface. The treatment should be targeted on the removal and prevention of accumulation of the bacteria, plaque and tartar (calculus).
Your gum specialist (periodontist) will perform scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) of the tooth root surfaces into the pockets, underneath the gums. This is often done under local anaesthesia to thoroughly remove the plaque and bacteria under the gum line. Your periodontist will also reinforce proper good oral hygiene practices to prevent accumulation of the plaque and bacteria. Most patients response well to this phase of treatment and do not require additional treatment.
For more severe cases where there is more advanced damage of bone and gums, your periodontist may need to perform some surgical procedures to repair and rebuild back the bone or gums that have been lost.
Flap Surgery
(Open Flap Debridement)
If there is persistent non healing deep pockets, a minor incision is done to expose and gain good access to the affected area to allow thorough cleaning of the defects. The gums are then replaced back to original position. This is a conservative and non-invasive procedure to allow further healing of the affected areas.
Bone Graft
Surgery
If there is severe bone loss, this procedure allows packing of the bone into areas that are deficient. This procedure is non-invasive and encourages your body to regenerate new bone. When there is more bone support, the support of teeth is enhanced and will last longer.
Gum Graft
Surgery
For teeth with severe recession and exposing the root surfaces, your periodontist can take a small piece of tissue from your palate and stitch to the root surfaced. This procedure will cover the exposed roots, increase support and the teeth will last longer.
Orthodontic Realignment
After Gums Stabilisation
Many times, there are a lot of unsightly gaps that may appear due to periodontitis. Orthodontic treatment will close up these gaps and realign your teeth to give you the best smile you deserve.
If you have misaligned teeth, gaps in your teeth, or an improper bite, orthodontic treatment (usually via braces) will provide aesthetic and functional improvements to your oral health and its associated functions such as speech, chewing and breathing.
As periodontal disease results in the loss of supporting structures of the teeth, orthodontic problems can sometimes arise from it, such as shifting of the teeth or misalignment.
Our orthodontist is experienced in providing effective and personalised orthodontic treatment for both children and adults alike, especially in the correction of shifted teeth caused by periodontal disease.