Treating gum problems

Treating Gum

Problems

Keeping your teeth healthy

depends on the actions you

take every day.

Regular brushing and

flossing can help to

reduce dental cavities and

prevent gum disease that

can endanger your teeth.

Scheduling regular visits

to family dentists can

help individuals prevent

tooth loss caused by gum

disease and help preserve

their healthy smiles.

Importance of Healthy Gums

Most people don’t think

about the health of their

gums until a problem

arises, but healthy gums

are critical to

maintaining your teeth as

the years pass.

A healthy diet, regular

brushing and flossing

and periodic dental

checkups can help to

prevent gingivitis and

other gum problems.

Cosmetic dentists may call

their patients' attention

to gum disease, which can

affect their ability to

correct dental problems and

provide the aesthetic

effect that people desire.

Treating the gum disease

can help to ensure that you

keep the beautiful smile

you work so hard to attain.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Gum disease can often be

resolved with nonsurgical

methods, such as:

· Dental cleaning – Your

dentist may advise more

frequent cleanings to remove

plaque and tartar that

normally develop on teeth.

· Scaling and root cleaning –Deep cleaning under local

anesthesia can help to remove

additional plaque and tartar

below the gum line.

· Antibiotic treatment – Your

dentist may prescribe a course of

antibiotics to reduce the amount of

bacteria in the gums that is

causing inflammation. Doxycycline,

tetracycline and minocycline are

used for this purpose.

· Prescription mouth rinse –Chlorhexidine is a liquid

anti-microbial medication

that can be used as a mouth

rinse to treat gum disease.

· Special toothpastes –You can purchase

special, non-

prescription toothpastes

that contain fluoride

and triclosan to help

treat gum disease.

Surgical Treatments

A number of surgical

treatments can help resolve

problems from gum disease:

· Pocket reduction/flap surgery – In this method,

the pockets around the base

of the teeth are pulled

back and tartar is removed.

The bone around the tooth may

be smoothed and the gum re-

positioned to reduce the open

spaces so that it fits more

tightly around the tooth.

· Bone grafts – Fragments

of your own bone, or

synthetic bone, can be

used to replace bone lost

from gum disease.

The graft then serves as

a base for your own

normal bone growth.

· Soft tissue grafts –Tissue from the roof of the

mouth can be removed and re-

positioned on gums to add

tissue to support the teeth.

· Guided tissue regeneration – This is a process that

stimulates the growth of

bone tissue and soft tissue.

It uses a mesh-like fabric

onto which cells can grow.

The new tissue then helps

to support teeth.

· Bone surgery – This type

of surgery is used to

decrease the depth of

craters that develop in

advanced bone loss.

The reshaped bone makes it

harder for bacteria to grow

in the spaces.

With regular exams and

daily care, you can

prevent gum disease and

ensure that your teeth

have the support they

need to last a lifetime.

Talk to your dentist about

gum health to get the best

advice about taking care

of your smile.

If you are seeking

professional dental

advice, it's time to call

Shumway Dental Care.

Their Chandler dentists will

ask you questions, examine

you, and determine exactly

what needs to be done to get

you back to normal.

Call today for an appointment.

Visit

www.shumwaydental.com

3150 S Gilbert Rd Suite 1

Chandler, AZ 85286

(480) 659-7800