When the teeth become neglected and not taken care of properly, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This is characterized by the bone and soft tissue in the mouth getting destroyed. Over time, this condition can cause severe damage to the tooth and even lead to tooth loss. But periodontitis can affect more than just the teeth. In the worst of cases, it can actually increase the risks for strokes and heart disease. However, there are several ways that this disease can be cured.
Removal
A big reason for periodontitis is a build up of bacteria and tartar in the teeth and gums. If this bacteria was not there, then the disease cannot take place. A way to cure it, when it does happen, is through a process called scaling. In this procedure, the area beneath the gums and the teeth themselves, get the built up tartar and plaque removed. Root planing is another is often used. In this procedure, the roots get planed down and become smooth. This will help to avoid any future build-up of tartar and plaque.
Antibiotics
Whenever there is a germ present in the body that causes an infection, antibiotics are used to stop it. This is also the case when it comes to periodontitis as there is an infection in the gums. Some examples of antibiotics used to treat it include doxycycline, minocycline and moxifloxacin. There are also some antibiotics that are administered to the gums through topical application. Some of these include actisite, atridox, elyzol and aresin.
Surgery
There is a surgical procedure that is also done to cure periodontitis. It is called pocket reduction or flap surgery. In this procedure, there are small incisions made in the sides of the gums. The skin over top of the gums then gets lifted up which will make the roots more accessible for cleaning of plaque and bacteria. Being that the bones in the gums often times get decayed as well, they are recontoured while they are still exposed.
Grafting
When the bones under the gums get to a point where they are badly decayed, the teeth can end up falling out. A way to stop or reverse this from happening, is a process called bone grafting. When this is done, small fragments of bone are collected either from a donor or from your own body and they are grafted into your mouth under the teeth. They then act as a platform to hold existing teeth in place and they also help promote growth of new bone.
Gum Replacement
When periodontitis takes hold, the gums end up receding up the length of the teeth, which causes them to look long. When this happens, existing tissue can be one place in the mouth and transplanted to the sight where there are receding gums. This tissue is usually taken from the palate which is the top of the mouth and it is also sometimes a donor. After the procedure is done, the teeth have a more normal appearance and sensitivity to the affected areas is reduced.
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