On Wednesday, we recommended options for strengthening your oral health and reducing the risk of developing gum disease. Today, we’re going to focus on your options once you develop periodontal disease. Unlike gingivitis, which can be reversed, there is no cure for periodontal disease. However, we have an array of treatment options that allow our team to successfully manage the disease, protecting your smile from serious complications that can include adult tooth loss. There are a number of common treatments for keeping your smile whole and treating gum disease.
Common Treatment Options for Gum Disease
- Antibiotic Treatments: Using antibiotics, we can target the harmful bacteria that infiltrates the pockets at the gum line, allowing gum inflammation to progress into gum disease. Administering these in a timely manner helps prevent the disease from worsening and leading to the onset of periodontitis, an advanced stage responsible for tooth loss.
- Antimicrobial Mouth Rinse: This mouth rinse also helps destroy harmful bacteria and limit the disease from reaching the more advanced stages. However, you should always continue to see your dentist so your oral health can be monitored.
- Scaling and Root Planing: Also known as a deep cleaning, we often recommend this to prevent gingivitis from becoming gum disease. Simply put, this treatment allows the doctor to remove plaque buildup (a major cause of inflammation) from the teeth and from below the gum line, reducing inflammation.
- Laser Treatment: In the more advanced stages of the disease, we can use lasers to remove infected tissue and plaque buildup, allowing healthy gums to reattach to the teeth. The lasers can provide precise and accurate treatment. In addition, they rarely require the use of anesthetics and patients avoid infection or bleeding during the healing process.
ABOUT YOUR PALATINE, IL, COSMETIC DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and our highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including: Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.
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