DEFINITION:

Gum diseases can be treated in many different ways, depending on the severity of the disease, and the way the patient has responds to treatments. An example of gum disease is gingivitis is an infection and an inflammation of the gums in the beginning stage. Symptoms include bleeding gums, but without reaching the bone that supports the teeth. A more advance case of gum disease is periodontitis, which manifests itself not only with bleeding gums, but also with teeth that move slightly or severely, bad breath, and periodontal pockets (i.e. deep space between the tooth and the gum).

APPLICATIONS:

Treatment of gum diseases depend on the severity of the disease.

Gingivitis can be treated by:

•Rigorous oral hygiene at home, including brushing regularly and flossing at least once a day. It is also recommended to rinse with salt water or a disinfectant solution (i.e. Chlorhexidine, Listerine, etc.).

•A dental cleaning, including tartar removal every six months to eliminate the plaque and tartar.

•It can be recommend to brush with a mixture of baking soda and peroxide. The resulting paste is abrasive, therefore it is recommended to not put excessive force on the gums and the teeth.

Periodontitis can be treated by:

•Scaling and root planning, a non-surgical procedure of tartar removal and deep cleaning done under local anesthesia. The scaling allows removing all the tartar located over and under the gum line. The root planning smoothens the tooth and eliminates bacterial debris and diseased tissues.

•Soft periodontics is similar to scaling, though it first necessitates a disinfection period of the gums by using an antibiotic cream or mouthwash. After the antibiotic gums therapy, it is easier to detect and remove tartar . The scaling therefore becomes less invasive.

•Open scaling is a surgical procedure, recommended in advanced cases of periodontitis, that requires opening of the gum before the scalling, followed by closing it with stitches and dressings. Antibacterial agent can be placed during the recovery period.

•Bone grafts require the use of bone fragments from the patient himself, a donor, or synthetic bone to replace the one that was destroyed by periodontitis. The graft serves as a platform for the bone to regenerate itself.

•Gum graft reinforces a thin gum and can also replace the gum around teeth  with receded gums. In most cases, gum from the palate is used and sutured into the grafted site.

•Guided regeneration is a surgical procedure that helps the bone supporting the teeth to be reformed. A dressing is inserted between the gum and the bone, following an open scaling. This dressing avoids the gum from reforming in the space where the bone should be formed.

SOURCES:     Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org).

                            WebMD, better information, better health (www.webmd.com).