Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is the leading cause of adult tooth loss and is often treated with invasive, painful surgery. However, dentist treatment guidelines say that periodontal health should be achieved with the least invasive and most cost-effective procedures possible. There are non-surgical options for treating gum disease that can work for many people.
Scaling and Root Planing
The most well-known alternative to surgery is scaling and root planing. The procedure involves cleaning the root surfaces in order to remove plaque and tartar from the gum pockets, then smoothing out the root in order to remove bacteria. Since the dentist has to work with tooth roots, underneath the gums, scaling and root planing can be a lengthy and painful procedure. However, after treatment, many patients do not need surgery, which is much more expensive and painful to recover from.
The newest advancement in scaling and root planing is the use of lasers to clean under the gums. This makes the procedure more precise, which reduces the time it takes to complete the procedure and the pain some patients feel afterward.
Perioprotect
The newest alternative to periodontal surgery is a device called Perioprotect. It is a tray you put in your mouth that delivers medication to your gum pockets. This means gum disease can now be treated at home, for just a few minutes each day.
The medication in the tray kills bacteria in your gums, and for some patients, once the bacteria is killed, gums begin to heal. Once your gums get better, dentists modify the dose or strength of the medicine in the trays. Most patients need to use the trays even after they are completely healed in order to prevent the recurrence of disease. If Perioprotect heals your gum disease, you will not need surgery.
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