Treating Gum

Problems

Keeping your teeth healthy depends

on the actions you take every day.

Regular brushing and flossing can

help to reduce dental cavities and

prevent gum disease that can

endanger your teeth.

Scheduling regular visits to family

dentists can help individuals prevent

tooth loss caused by gum disease

and help preserve their healthy

smiles.

Importance of Healthy Gums

Most people don’t think about the

health of their gums until a problem

arises, but healthy gums are critical

to maintaining your teeth as the

years pass.

A healthy diet, regular brushing

and flossing and periodic dental

checkups can help to prevent

gingivitis and other gum

problems.

Cosmetic dentists may call their

patients' attention to gum disease,

which can affect their ability to correct

dental problems and provide the

aesthetic effect that people desire.

Treating the gum disease can help to

ensure that you keep the beautiful

smile you work so hard to attain.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Gum disease can often be resolved

with nonsurgical methods, such as:

· Dental cleaning – Your dentist may

advise more frequent cleanings to

remove plaque and tartar that normally

develop on teeth.

· Scaling and root cleaning – Deep

cleaning under local anesthesia can help

to remove additional plaque and tartar

below the gum line.

· Antibiotic treatment – Your dentist may

prescribe a course of antibiotics to reduce the

amount of bacteria in the gums that is causing

inflammation. Doxycycline, tetracycline and

minocycline are used for this purpose.

· Prescription mouth rinse –

Chlorhexidine is a liquid anti-

microbial medication that can be

used as a mouth rinse to treat gum

disease.

· Special toothpastes – You can

purchase special, non-

prescription toothpastes that

contain fluoride and triclosan to

help treat gum disease.

Surgical Treatments

A number of surgical treatments can

help resolve problems from gum

disease:

· Pocket reduction/flap surgery –

In this method, the pockets around

the base of the teeth are pulled back

and tartar is removed.

The bone around the tooth may be

smoothed and the gum re-positioned to

reduce the open spaces so that it fits

more tightly around the tooth.

· Bone grafts – Fragments of your

own bone, or synthetic bone, can

be used to replace bone lost from

gum disease.

The graft then serves as a base

for your own normal bone

growth.

· Soft tissue grafts – Tissue from the

roof of the mouth can be removed and

re-positioned on gums to add tissue to

support the teeth.

· Guided tissue regeneration – This

is a process that stimulates the growth

of bone tissue and soft tissue.

It uses a mesh-like fabric onto which

cells can grow. The new tissue then

helps to support teeth.

· Bone surgery – This type of

surgery is used to decrease the

depth of craters that develop in

advanced bone loss.

The reshaped bone makes it harder

for bacteria to grow in the spaces.

With regular exams and daily

care, you can prevent gum

disease and ensure that your

teeth have the support they need

to last a lifetime.

Talk to your dentist about gum

health to get the best advice about

taking care of your smile.

If you are seeking professional

dental advice, it's time to call

Shumway Dental Care.

Their Chandler dentists will ask you

questions, examine you, and

determine exactly what needs to be

done to get you back to normal.

Call today for an appointment.

Visit

www.shumwaydental.com

3150 S Gilbert Rd Suite 1

Chandler, AZ 85286

(480) 659-7800