Periodontal treatment involves various procedures to combat gum disease, depending on its severity.
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
- Dental Hygiene Visit: Routine check-ups to remove plaque and tartar from above the gum margins.
- Professional Mechanical Plaque Removal (PMPR): A “deep cleaning” to eliminate tartar, bacteria from below the gum margin with application of numbing shots, and creating smooth tooth roots surface for better gum attachment.
- Medications: After deep cleaning, you may receive mouthwashes or systemic/ local antimicrobials to clear remaining bacteria and minimize periodontal pockets.
- Pocket Reduction: Treats gum “pockets” by cleaning them and reattaching the gum snugly around the tooth.
- Gum Grafts: For severely receded gums, tissue is taken from elsewhere in the mouth or a donor and grafted to the receding areas.
- Bone Treatments: For bone loss around tooth roots, procedures regenerate lost bone and tissue.
- Maintenance: Post-treatment, regular 3–4-month visits ensure continued gum and tooth health.
- Home Care & Lifestyle: Good oral habits at home and choices like quitting smoking enhance treatment success.
In essence, periodontal treatment involves cleaning away harmful bacteria, ensuring the gums are tightly sealed around the teeth, possibly rebuilding lost bone and tissue, and then maintaining that health with regular visits and good home care.