Periodontal Disease Treatment in Chicago
Periodontal disease (gum disease) occurs when plaque and tartar build up on your teeth surfaces. Your gums react to the bacteria in these irritants and become red, swollen, and tender. Your gums may also bleed when you brush or floss.
Mild stages of periodontal disease are known as gingivitis. It is easy to reverse gingivitis because it hasn’t spread below the gum line. Gingivitis can be treated with nonsurgical treatments.
Moderate and advanced stages of gum disease are known as periodontitis and indicate an infection that has reached below the gum line and may have affected the bone. At this stage, treatment requires a surgical approach.
Nonsurgical vs. surgical treatments for periodontal disease
Before deciding on your treatment, your periodontist considers:
- The stage of gum disease.
- Your existing oral health.
- Your existing overall health.
- Your lifestyle.
Nonsurgical periodontal disease treatments
Nonsurgical treatments for periodontal disease include:
Antibiotic therapy
Antibiotic gels are sometimes used to control gum infections.
Professional dental cleaning
Professional dental cleanings help keep the infection from spreading further.
Scaling and root planing
Scaling and root planing is a deep dental cleaning performed under local anesthetic. It is more advanced than regular cleaning and it also removes rough edges that hide bacteria.
Laser periodontal therapy
Your periodontist uses laser technology to remove infected gum tissue.
Surgical periodontal disease treatments
Pocket reduction surgery (flap surgery)
A surgical procedure that involves moving your gums slightly away from your teeth to access and clean the root area.
Bone grafting
A surgical procedure that rebuilds damaged bone using fragments of your own bone or a donated bone.
Gum grafting
A surgical procedure that repairs gum tissue by attaching new tissue taken from the roof of your mouth.
Guided tissue regeneration
A surgical procedure that stimulates bone regeneration by inserting a membrane between your gums and teeth.
Call us to set up a consultation with a periodontist.
