Six Things To Know If You've Been Told That You Have Periodontal Disease
It can be scary for a patient to learn that they have been diagnosed with periodontal disease. However, periodontal disease can be treated to minimize its consequence on a patient's dental health.
Being informed can help you to minimize the stress you experience when you are experiencing periodontal disease. The following are six things to know if you've been told that you have periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease refers to an infection of the gums.
One of the first things you need to understand if you're been diagnosed with periodontal disease is what exactly periodontal disease is. Periodontal disease is an infection of the soft tissues of the gums.
Periodontal disease is caused by plaque on the teeth and inflammation in the gums. The condition develops over time as bacteria accumulate in pockets that develop between the teeth and gums.
Periodontal disease can cause severe problems if left untreated.
There are numerous stages of periodontal disease. While mild cases can be reversible and result in a full recovery, more severe cases can result in tooth loss and irreparable gum damage.
Prompt treatment can drastically reduce the consequences of periodontal disease.
It's essential to undergo recommended treatment right away if you have periodontal disease. It's also essential that you start focusing on oral hygiene and attend all schedule dental appointments to get back on track to achieving healthy gums and teeth.
There are numerous treatment options for periodontal disease.
The treatment that is recommended for a given case of periodontal disease depends on how advanced the condition is. For mild cases, scaling or root planing treatments may be recommended. Antibiotic treatments are also often recommended to treat mild cases of periodontal disease.
Dental hygiene is vital for those who have periodontal disease.
Regardless of what treatment a dentist recommends for periodontal disease, it's essential that the affected patient start adopting improved dental hygiene practices after their diagnosis.
Dental hygiene can help prevent a case of periodontal disease from getting worse. In more mild cases of periodontal disease, improved dental hygiene might be all that's necessary to recover from the condition.
Surgery may be necessary for some patients.
Surgical treatments are recommended in more advanced cases of periodontal disease. There are numerous types of surgical treatment that are used to treat the condition.
Flap surgery is a type of surgical treatment that involves making incisions in the gums to expose the roots of the teeth. This helps to protect the underlying bone from damage due to periodontal disease.
Soft tissue grafts are another form of surgical treatment. This treatment involves repairing lost gum tissue by transplanting tissue from the roof of the mouth to the gums.
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