Gum diseases have been the leading cause of missing teeth in individuals above the age of 35. Such is the severity of gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis which have the ability to put the entire oral health in danger. This is why several advancements in the field of dentistry are aimed at finding better ways to treat gum diseases.

What Is Periodontitis?

Periodontitis is one of the most complicated oral conditions out there. It starts off as mild inflammation of the gum tissues and gradually intensifies with time. The mild gum infection turns into gingivitis, which is characterized by the decay of tissues, release of pus, pain and swelling in the gums, etc. When the microbes in the decayed tissues keep multiplying, the condition turns into periodontitis, which can have many devastating symptoms. It compromises oral health to a large extent and is known to have no cure at all.

What Causes Periodontitis?

Accumulated plaque and tartar:Plaque is the thin, invisible layer of microbes that forms on the surface of the teeth. When plaque isn’t removed on a regular basis, it turns into a hard, sticky substance called tartar or calculus. It is composed of millions of bacteria that feed off the food debris in the mouth. They are the major causes of gum diseases as they release acids that have the ability to decay the soft tissues of the mouth.

External trauma to the mouth: When the mouth sustains an external injury, it can damage the gum tissues and expose them to the microbes in the mouth. This further leads to infections and many severe conditions when left untreated.

Root canal infection: A root canal infection is a condition where the pulp of the tooth is infected due to cavities or damage. When it gets severe, the infection can spread to the gums and jawbone as well.

Apart from these, factors such as smoking, consumption of alcohol, diabetes, bruxism, etc. can also have a significant impact on gum diseases.

Treatment

When you visit our practice for gum disease treatment, we would visually examine your oral setup and perform scans to determine the severity of the condition. As an immediate relief, the accumulated plaque and tartar will be removed from the surface of the teeth and the roots as well. We do this by scaling and root planing procedures. Next, the decayed gum tissues should be removed in order to halt the spread of the infection. This is done using laser gum therapy, where a high-intensity laser is used to vaporize the tissues. It instantly seals the wound and prevents any bleeding, thereby reducing pain and discomfort to a huge extent.

We use Arestin to control the spread of the infection and to heal the wounds left by it. The powerful antibiotic will be placed in the gum pockets, on the infected tissues, and in between the gums and the tooth roots. Along with this, appropriate medication will be prescribed by the dentist to make sure the infection is kept under control.

Call Dentist Aurora IL at (630) 897-1300 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Kim to know more about gum disease treatment.