Most of us have heard of a chronic gum infection called gum disease. Nowadays, dentistry offers a variety of services to help manage gum disease, including surgical procedures. But can gum disease be reversed without surgery? In this article, we address this question and discuss modern treatment options offered by periodontal care in DTLA.
Can Gum Disease Be Reversed Without Surgery?
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is most commonly caused by bacteria living in plaque and tartar buildup due to insufficient oral hygiene. Gum disease can be reversed without surgery, provided it is in its earliest stage, called gingivitis.
Unfortunately, once gum disease advances to the later stages, it becomes chronic and can only be managed and prevented from worsening, but not completely reversed. That is why it is essential to monitor the condition of your oral health and address the issue as soon as you notice the first signs of gingivitis, which include:
- Redness, slight swelling, and tenderness of the gum tissue
- Gums that easily bleed when you brush and floss your teeth
We recommend scheduling an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if these symptoms occur. Remember that the sooner you start treatment, the better your chances of reversing gum disease will be. Most common methods for treating gingivitis include:
- Professional dental cleanings remove plaque and tartar buildup, thereby reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth and slowing their growth.
- A deep-cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing is performed if plaque and tartar buildup are located below the gum line. This procedure also smooths the surface of the teeth’s roots and helps the gum tissue to reattach to the teeth.
- Prescribed antibacterial medications, such as topical gels or mouthwash, that help reduce inflammation of the gum tissue.
- In some cases, oral antibiotics can be prescribed to fight off inflammation.
- An improved at-home daily oral hygiene routine is also necessary, as it helps prevent plaque buildup and reduce bacterial growth in the mouth.
Treatment Methods for Advanced Gum Disease
Advanced stages of gum disease can manifest as gum bleeding and swelling, bad breath, and pus in periodontal pockets, and can even lead to loss of jawbone density and tooth loss if left untreated.
As we mentioned before, when the earliest stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, advances to periodontitis, the measures we discussed above will not be enough to manage it. However, improved daily oral hygiene, regular professional cleanings, and antibacterial medication are still among the most essential measures; other types of treatment are likely to be used in addition:
- Pocket reduction surgery (also known as flap surgery) is used to clean away plaque and tartar from the pockets between the gums and teeth, and reattach the gum tissue to the teeth.
- Gum and bone grafting is a surgical procedure during which your dentist places naturally or artificially derived grafts in the areas where the majority of damage occurs. The grafts prompt tissue regeneration.
- Guided tissue regeneration is similar to grafting. During the procedure, a membrane is placed between the bone and gum to promote regeneration.
- Laser procedures can be used to kill bacteria within gum pockets and promote disinfection.
- Pinhole technique: a cosmetic procedure that is used to reposition the gum tissue to mask gum recession after gum disease is sufficiently controlled.
Treat Gum Disease with David Kao DDS
If you notice signs of gum disease, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a leading periodontal dentist at our office. We will carefully examine your case and offer you procedures that will best accommodate your needs. We are looking forward to your visit.
