The main goal for the treatment of gum disease is to remove the bacteria and control the infection. The number and types of treatment will vary, depending on the extent of the gum disease. Any type of treatment requires that the patient keep up good daily care at home. Caring at home starts with cleaning twice a day with a tooth brush, dental floss and additional appliances or rinses.
Once every 3-6 months we advise to have the teeth examined by the dentist. In our consultation Dr. Kaufman will demonstrate the areas where bacteria may deposit and suggests the appropriate appliances to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Following the examination Dr. Kaufman will clean the teeth to provide you with a fresh start. At times there may be a need for scaling and root planning. Scaling means scraping off the tartar from above and below the gum line. Root planning gets rid of rough spots on the tooth root where the germs gather, and helps remove bacteria that contribute to the disease. This procedure can result in a reduction in the inflammation, less bleeding, swelling of the gums less bad mouth odor, Halitosis. Following the professional cleaning the infection can resolve.
Dr. Kaufman may also suggest modifications to cleaning habits or other factors, like to quit smoking, as a way to improve treatment outcome.
In severe cases, additional treatments may be required, deep scaling and cleaning and Root Planning.
All treatments are conducted under local anesthesia to reduce the discomfort and provide a relaxing atmosphere.
Medications may be used with treatment that includes scaling and root planning, but they cannot always take the place of the professional cleaning. Depending on how far the disease has progressed, Dr. Kaufman may still suggest a surgical treatment under local anaesthetic for advanced conditions. Long-term studies are needed to find out if using medications reduces the need for surgery and whether they are effective over a long period of time. Here are some medications that are currently used:
A mouth rinse containing an antimicrobial called chlorhexidine. The reason to use a mouth rinse to control bacteria when treating gingivitis and after gum surgery is to prevent from the bacteria to re-establish themselves, while the tissues are healing and susceptible to reinfections.
Antibiotic tablets or capsules are used for short term treatment of an acute or locally persistent periodontal infection. They aid the body to overcome an acute condition, where potent bacteria, which the immune system finds difficult to kill, have managed to multiply. Oral tablets are prescribed in conjunction with professional cleaning, since they are not a long term solution.
Our philosophy is that you are in control of your oral health and we are here to support you in your choices and point out the advantages and disadvantages of proposed treatments.