WHAT IS IT ?

• Periodontal disease (gum disease) is the inflammation of gums that can progress to the bone surrounding and supporting your tooth.
• Begins with bacterial growth in the mouth, causing inflammation. These bacteria’s are present in dental plaque which are microbial biofilm that forms on teeth and gum.

REASONS FOR GUM DISEASE :

• Poor oral hygiene leads to high bacterial accumulation.
• Smoking or chewing tobacco.
• Certain medications like oral contraceptive, steroids, anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers etc. causes less production of saliva which protects teeth and gum.
• Certain medications might cause abnormal growth of gums.
• Hormonal changes such as puberty, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy etc.
• Cancer.
• HIV.
• Genetic susceptibility.
• Diabetes might also cause gum disease.
• Food impaction between teeth.

SYMPTOMS :

• Bleeding of gums while brushing.
• Receding gums (gum position is lower than where it should be present naturally).
• Teeth mobility.
• Tender, red and swollen gums.
• Pain while chewing food.
• Pus between teeth and gums.

TYPES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE :

GINGIVITIS

• First stage of gum disease.
• Inflammation of the gums and does not involve the bone surrounding and supporting teeth.

PERIODONTITIS

• Advanced stage in gum disease.
• When the inflammation involves the gum tissues and bone surrounding and supporting teeth.

TREATMENT

Depends on the stage of gum disease and also on your medical history. Treatment choices vary from non-surgical therapies and surgical therapies.

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS :

SCALING

• Done to patients with very initial stage of gum disease and to patients to maintain their oral health.

SCALING AND ROOT PLANING

• This is a deep cleaning process.
• Local anesthesia is provided for painless procedure.
• This involves cleaning above and below the gums.

FLAP SURGERY

• It is done in advanced gum disease.
• Incision is made in the gums to visualize bone and remove plaque and calculus surrounding bone.
• To remove irregular surface of bone.

BONE GRAFT, SOFT TISSUE GRAFT AND GUIDED BONE REGENERATION

• After incision, we need to evaluate the bone and if possible, we can regrow the lost bone and gum tissues (all depends on the stage and type of disease).