ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Non Surgical Gum Treatment

Gum Surgery many times can be avoided.  In recent years a number of innovations have helped our patients avoid going to the gum specialist.  These innovations are in the form of therapies that are taken in pill form or can be applied directly to area of infection.  Yes, infection.  Gum disease is a gum infection.  When plaque (a mix of food and bacteria) sits in the space between your tooth and gum (kind of like the space between your fingernail and your finger) for long enough it enters your gums.  When the gum becomes infected it swells and bleeds, this is called Gingivitis.  If the gums are infected with Gingivitis for long enough, the infection spreads to the bone which holds teeth in place and forms a deep "pocket."  The bone begins to dissolve away and if enough has dissolved away, your tooth will just fall out.  Most people never experience any pain.


The secret to a successful cure of gum disease is to remove the bacteria and keep it away.  Our body has an amazing ability to heal itself if the bacteria is kept away.  The first step to successful treatment is to remove the bacteria from the pocket.  This is done by having your teeth professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist.  If the bacteria have been in the pocket for a long time, the minerals in our saliva harden it and this is called "tartar" or "calculus" and can only be properly removed professionally.  Cleanings can vary in scope from the "prophy" to the "root planing" for deep and complicated pockets.  To keep bacteria from creating or migrating into these deep pockets brush and floss and floss at least twice a day.  The more often the better to keep the bacteria away.


Brushing is not just limited to your teeth because bacteria are all over our mouths.  In fact most of the bacteria in our mouth are on our tongues between our taste buds.  So it is essential to brush your mouth.  Brush your teeth.  Brush your gums.  Brush your Tongue.


Flossing is the best way to keep bacteria out of between your teeth.  Most people have gum disease where they don't floss.  You should be able to floss your whole mouth in less than a minute.


No matter how well you brush or floss you cannot clean a deep pocket.  The only ways to keep the deep pocket is to eliminate the pocket by cutting it away (gum surgery) or to apply an anti bacterial.  There are several type of antibacterials available including Arestin, Periostat, Peridex, Peroxyl, that we use.

The combination of great home care by the patient, professional cleanings and the use of the proper antibacterial therapies has improved the gum health and in many cases cured the gum disease that was present.