Periodontitis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Periodontitis is a gum disease which is caused when the bone on which the teeth rests is damaged, a condition that also causes the soft tissue in the mouth to decay. Periodontitis is a consequence of unsound oral health. However, treatments can largely improve the situation.

There are three types of periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis mostly affect adults and is accompanied by tooth loss and gum decay. It happens due to accumulation of plaque in the teeth. Aggressive periodontitis is a rare disease that can begin during early adulthood. If not treated this condition can lead to ongoing tooth and bone decay. Necrotizing Periodontal Disease is a very rare condition that mostly affects HIV and Cancer patients and those suffering from malnutrition. It happens when depletion of blood results in the destruction of tooth ligaments, gum tissues and dental bones.

There is a range of treatments available to cure periodontitis. This includes surgical treatments and nonsurgical treatments. The nonsurgical treatments are scaling, root planing, and antibiotics medicines. The surgical treatments are Flap Surgery, Soft tissue grafts, Bone grafting, Guided tissue regeneration, Tissue-stimulating proteins.

First your dentist will evaluate your medical record, because there can be some drugs and disorders that can lead to this condition. This routine will be followed by a rigorous mouth examination where the gap between your teeth and your gums would be measured. If the depth of the gap exceeds 4 mm, it means that you have developed the dental disorder. The doctor can also perform dental X-Rays to look into things more clearly.

Based on your condition the doctor will recommend treatments. If it is detected that your periodontitis is at a progressive stage then the doctor might recommend one of these surgeries:

A flap surgery involves the lifting of your gum for better scaling and root planing.

Soft tissue grafts: Damage of gum tissue can cause your gum line to be reduced. This is a surgery whereby the damaged portion is refilled with a tissue taken from another source like the tissue at the roof of the mouth.

Bone Grafting and Guided Tissue Regeneration: Both these surgeries are aimed at redeveloping the tooth bone that has been destroyed by bacteria.

Tissue-stimulating proteins: This is a method whereby the damaged tooth root is treated using a special gel that is infused between your teeth.

In case your condition is not very severe the treatment will prove to be successful with these nonsurgical methods:

Scaling and Root planing: The former procedure removes the plaque and the bacteria that have accumulated in your mouth resulting in the development of periodontitis. The latter procedure is aimed at making the root surfaces seamless so that further plaque and bacteria cannot develop in your mouth.

Antibiotics: Your condition can also be treated using oral antibiotics in the form of oral rinses or gels containing antibiotics that are inserted between the gap of your teeth and gums.

If you are observing some of the symptoms like inflated gums, gums that feel too soft, bleeding gums, receding gum line, gaps between your teeth, and bad breath you should get yourself diagnosed, because these are all signs of periodontitis. You must see a dentist even if your gums have turned bright red recently, because, the natural color of the gums should be pink.

Bleeding gums does not always mean that you have developed periodontitis. It can develop due to various reasons like trauma and plaque formation. In such cases the treatments differ from that of periodontitis.

If you observe any dental disorder, see a dentist. He/she will be able to identify the actual source. Periodontitis is a progressive stage of dental damage which is accompanied by tooth loss. Your disorder could be something very nominal that can be easily prevented. To be at the safer side it is always an imperative to get yourself tested at the earliest stage.

The risk factors associated with periodontitis are very low. In most cases surgeries are conducted without the cropping up of complications. But in some rare cases infection can occur as a result of external probing on your gums. There are treatments to avoid such complications. Talk to your dentist regarding the risks pertaining to periodontitis treatment and how can they be prevented.

If you are someone who smokes you should avoid it after periodontitis treatment because it can worsen your dental condition and you can again develop plaques.

Your dentist might also advice you to clean your mouth using special mouthwash containing antibiotics. You cannot brush or floss your teeth thoroughly immediately after treatment. You can brush only certain areas of your mouth. You must resume all activities pertaining to the maintenance of oral hygiene only after your doctor gives you the green signal.

After treatment you will be probably asked to consume soft foods like ice-cream, yogurt, pudding etc.

After periodontitis treatment your gums might bleed and feel swollen. This is very normal. But things will turn out for the better after 14 days from surgery and then you will be able to resume normal activities.

The price for periodontitis treatment depends upon your dental condition. It can range anywhere between INR 5000 and INR 12,500.

Periodontitis treatment can improve the condition of your teeth by removing the plaque and by lifting the gum to its original position. The treatment will prevent you from developing bacteria and tartar in the future, but it cannot reverse the condition that had cropped out due to periodontitis in the first place. For example, if you have suffered tooth loss as a result of the disorder, further tooth loss will be prevented owing to the treatment, but nothing can be done regarding the loss that has been already incurred.

Therefore, the treatment is a preventive cure and does not eliminate the effect completely.

You can adapt some easy natural methods to prevent yourself from developing gum disorders. Some of the foods that help prevent the accumulation of bacteria in your mouth include fishes rich in omega 3 fatty acids, raw milk, coconut, food rich in minerals, grass-fed animal meat like mutton, vegetable and fruit juice, and apples.

You can also drink sugarless green tea and brush your teeth with clove and tea tree oil to prevent gum disorders.