Periodontitis is the inflammation of the tissue around the teeth. What kind of tissue is present around our teeth? The answer is simply our gums and jawbones. Inflammation of the gums and jawbones can have disastrous consequences on our oral health. At New Leaf Dental in Brooklyn, NY, we put a lot of emphasis on the importance of diagnosing and treating periodontitis in its early stages.
Adequate treatment is chosen based on the severity of the condition. Treatment can be as simple as an antimicrobial mouth rinse, or as serious as bone grafts.
Early on, inflammation is mild and doesn’t need serious forms of intervention. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing can prevent and treat mild periodontitis. At New Leaf Dental in Brooklyn, NY, we recommend mechanical toothbrushes for those who have problems with dexterity.
Visiting the dentist’s office every six months also plays a role in prevention and treatment. At your regular dental visits, plaque and tartar are removed from your teeth. Removing these reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth and leads to healthier teeth and gums.
Moderate periodontitis won’t respond to simple cleaning and brushing. Medications and appliances will be needed. Antimicrobial chlorhexidine mouthwash is often used to control bacterial growth. It’s used just like regular mouthwash.
Antibiotic gel and microsphere are other options. These are placed into pockets and contain antibiotics. They gradually release antibiotics over a long time, so their effects are long-lasting. Antiseptic chips work the same way. The difference between them is in their form.
Oral antibiotics are used in acute cases or when an infection isn’t responding to local treatments. Failure to respond to all of the aforementioned treatments will take us to surgery. The most commonly used procedures are flap surgery and bone or tissue grafts.
In flap surgery, the gums are lifted so we can clean and remove the tartar present beneath them, then we suture them back closely to teeth. Grafts are done when the natural bone and tissue are destroyed and need to be replaced.
Periodontal disease is very mild at the beginning but can be destructive when it progresses. It’s always better to catch and treat it as early as possible.
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