If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease and are concerned about eliminating the infection as quickly as possible, you may believe that extracting your teeth can speed up the process. Unfortunately, while this procedure may be useful if they’re damaged or decayed beyond repair, it may not do much to help correct your periodontal problems. Here’s a closer look at why extractions won’t heal your oral infection, and how gum disease treatment from your dentist can!
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an oral infection caused by an overabundance of harmful bacteria that infiltrate the periodontal tissue. While the earliest stage (known as gingivitis) can usually be reversed by improving your at-home oral hygiene routine, later stages must be treated by a periodontist. Failure to do so could result in dangerous side-effects like receding gums, inflammation, jawbone deterioration, and permanent tooth loss.
Can Extracting My Teeth Eliminate Gum Disease?
Often, people wonder if extracting damaged or decayed teeth can eliminate gum disease, too. Unfortunately, however, this procedure doesn’t usually affect the gums and should only be performed if the teeth themselves cannot be repaired. To tackle periodontal problems at the source, you’ll need to visit a qualified periodontist for gum disease treatment.
How Can My Dentist Treat Gum Disease?
There are many treatments available for eliminating gum disease. The exact procedure or procedures your periodontist chooses depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of your condition and your individual symptoms. Your options may include:
- Scaling & root planing: This treatment clears harmful deposits of plaque and bacteria from above and below the gumline, allowing your gums to securely reattach to your teeth and continue holding them in place while protecting them from harm.
- Soft tissue laser dentistry: The Biolase Epic X Diode Laser vaporizes diseased periodontal tissue, eliminating infection and allowing your gums to regrow without the presence of harmful infection.
- Antibiotic therapy: Using a powdered antibiotic called Arestin, your periodontist will apply the medication directly to your gums where it will slowly dissolve over the course of two weeks, eliminating even deep deposits of dangerous oral bacteria.
- Gum graft surgery: Because destroyed periodontal tissue can’t regenerate, a gum graft can help restore it by taking your own tissue from the roof of your mouth and using it to cover tooth roots that are exposed due to receding.
- Periodontal pocket reduction: This treatment reaches deep into the periodontal pockets to clear away dangerous bacteria deposits that could be eating away at the tooth roots.
- Dental crown lengthening: If you have excess gum tissue that is prone to infection or could be making it harder to keep your smile healthy, this treatment can permanently eliminate it and has the added bonus of revealing more of your natural tooth for a bolder, brighter smile in the process!
Remember, no matter which treatment(s) your periodontist recommends for eliminating periodontal disease and protecting your teeth and gums, you can rest assured it is the best way to restore your healthy, pain-free smile while preserving the integrity of your gorgeous grin. To learn more about which options will work best for you, schedule an appointment for gum disease treatment today.
About Our Practice
At Blue Coast Dental Group, our skilled and caring dentists and periodontist Dr. Galvan are pleased to offer a variety of gum disease treatments to help eliminate oral infection and protect your teeth and gums from harmful bacteria. To learn more about these procedures and see if they can benefit your smile, visit our website or call us today at 310-483-7682.