If you have gum disease in Adelaide, it is important that you seek out treatment options. You want to have all the information possible so that you can make an informed decision. There are two primary options, surgical and non-surgical treatments, and your periodontist at National Periodontics will work with you to determine the best course of action.
Surgical Options
There are five primary surgical treatments available in Adelaide to help treat gum disease. These include pocket reduction or flap surgery, bone grafts, soft tissue grafts, bone surgery and guided tissue regeneration. In most cases, all surgical procedures are considered a last resort. Your periodontist will try to find another treatment to help before resorting to these.
With pocket reduction surgery, the gums are lifted back so that the tartar can be removed from deep under the gum-line. The gums may be placed back closer to the teeth to reduce the space between the gums and teeth.
Bone grafts use a fragment of bone, either from you or synthetic, to replace bones that have been destroyed by gum disease. Soft tissue grafts can reinforce the gums that have already receded. The tissue is taken from your mouth. In advanced cases, bone surgery may be required. The bones are reshaped to reduce the space that bacteria can penetrate.
Non-Surgical Treatments
There are two treatments available as a non-surgical specialty, including dental cleanings and root planing or scaling. The dental cleaning should be done twice a year or as recommended by your dentist. Likewise, a dental check-up is also performed. They can help you determine if other treatments are needed, and which are best.
With root planing and scaling, you’ll get anaesthetic first so that the tartar and plaque can be scraped away from above and below the gums. Rough spots can be smoothed down to help remove bacteria.
