Gum Therapy Options

Gum (Periodontal) therapy is a field of dentistry that deals with the gum and bone surrounding your teeth. Often when we treat the gums that cover our teeth , we also have to deal with the bone structure underneath.  The gum will often follow the bone pattern underneath, meaning that if the gums are infected or the bone is shrinking then both can affect each other.  Healthy gums depends on the health of your bones and vice versa.

Our mouth is naturally filled with many areas of bacteria. There are different methods of cleaning the jaw and gums that support our teeth.

gum therapy bowmanville

Many problems in our gums start with a substance called calculus that can build up under the gums.

Calculus is basically hardened plaque.  Since the plaque surface is rough, it attracts further plaque and bacteria on your teeth and gum tissues.  Plaque can be removed with a toothbrush, calculus is very difficult to remove with a toothbrush.

The only method to get rid of calculus is a professional cleaning.  Our Bowmanville dental office is equipped with special tools that use sonic vibrations that can ‘shake’ or clear the calculus off the teeth.

If the calculus levels on the teeth stays for too long, it can cause the gums to detach or pull away from the teeth.  This creates a space for bacteria to grow down the side of the roots. This can be corrected by a process known as root planing.  Using a topical anesthetic and local anesthetic, calculus is removed from the root surfaces so that the rough surface becomes smooth again. Healthy gums like a clean smooth surface and this allows for the gums to reattach back to the teeth.

 

Gingivectomy is the process of removal of extra gum tissue or infected gum tissue.  Removal of this extra tissue allows the gums to be more firmly attached to the teeth without a chance for bacteria and food to get trapped.  Gingivectomy can be done with dental lasers.

In cases of aggressive tooth brushing, bruxism(grinding of teeth), gum tissue that normally covers the roots of teeth can get exposed.  Gum grafts can be taken from the roof the mouth (best option) or from donor sources however the results are not as favorable.

If the bone is too far gone for regeneration, it can be replaced by grafts from donors, synthetic sources, or your own body.

At our office, our team of dentists in Bowmanville are trained in the use of PRF ( Platelet Rich Fibrin ) to accelerate healing during surgical procedures such as for dental implant placement and bone/gum grafts.

To better assess your oral health condition, it is recommended to consult with your dentist to see if therapy can be performed non surgically or surgically.

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