Survey Finds Smile Is ‘Most Attractive’ Physical Feature

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Gum disease or periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and surrounding tissue. Gum disease is the most common cause of adult tooth loss in most industrialized countries. Studies have shown that patients with periodontal disease are at greater risk for heart disease, lung disease and other systemic disorders. The primary cause of gum disease is the bacterial plaque that constantly forms on the teeth. Plaque should be removed each day by brushing and flossing, otherwise it hardens into a rough, porous substance called tartar. This causes the breakdown of the fibers that hold the gums tightly to the teeth, creating periodontal pockets, which fill with even more toxins and bacteria. As the disease progresses, pockets extend deeper and the bacteria moves down until the bone that holds the tooth in place is destroyed. The tooth eventually will fall out or require extraction Types of Gum Disease Treatment   Gum disease treatment can be done in several different ways. Gum disease treatment depends on the stage of disease and range from non-surgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive tissues. Non-Surgical Cleaning of Teeth : In this gum disease treatment the plaque and tartar are removed from above and below the gum line of all the teeth Teeth Scaling : Scaling is a procedure to remove calculus, a mixture of tartar and plaque contaminated by bacterial toxins, micro-organisms, and other organic residue from around and below the gum line. Removing this calculus leaves a root surface that is that is rough and irregular. Root Planing : Scraping and smoothing the root surfaces of the teeth with thin curettes is done in this gum disease treatment just after scaling, so that the gum tissue can more firmly reattach to roots that are clean and smooth to prevent tooth loss and sensitivity problems. Surgical Flap Surgery : A type of surgical gum disease treatment is flap surgery. In advanced gum disease, when scaling and root planing have been unsuccessful in stopping the disease, or when there has been bone loss that needs to be surgically corrected, then the dentist may elect to perform periodontal flap surgery. In flap surgery, under local anesthesia, small incisions are made in the gum, so that it can be lifted back to expose the tooth and bone. After cleaning and disinfecting, the flaps are then reattached to the adjacent gums with stitches. Bone grafts : This gum disease treatment involves using fragments of bone, synthetic bone, or donated bone to replace bone destroyed by gum disease. The grafts serve as a platform for the regrowth of bone, which restores stability to teeth. New technology, called tissue engineering, encourages your own body to regenerate bone and tissue at an accelerated rate.  Soft tissue grafts : Periodontal surgery procedures involving the soft tissue include gingivectomy, gingivoplasty, periodontal flap, and soft tissue graft procedures. Surgery of the hard tissue includes osseous surgery, metallic implants, root amputations, hemisections, and bicuspidization.  Guided tissue regeneration : This gum treatment is done when the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed. Guided tissue regeneration procedure stimulates bone and gum tissue growth (see also bone grafts above).  Bone surgery : Smoothes shallow craters in the bone due to moderate and advanced bone loss. Following flap surgery, the bone around the tooth is reshaped to decrease the craters. This makes it harder for bacteria to collect and grow.  In some patients, the non-surgical gum disease treatment like scaling and root planing is all that is needed. Surgery is needed when the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired with non-surgical options. Gum disease treatment by medication Gum disease treatment by medication such as antibiotics can be used either in addition to surgery or alone, to reduce bacteria associated with periodontal disease.