“What is the treatment for periodontitis?”
My sister has been diagnosed with periodontitis, but we aren't sure of how severe her case really is. What is the course of treatment for this condition?
12 Answers
The first step to treat periodontitis is to perform a scaling and root planning procedure (deep cleaning) after that depending on the severity and particular case there are surgical options available Isabel C. Gay, DDS, MS Clinical Associate Professor Diplomate of the ABP SIU School of Dental Medicine 2800 College Ave., Alton, IL 62002 618-474-7208
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Typically treatment starts with scaling and root planing, which is a deep cleaning to the bottom of the pockets. If deep pockets remain after that then periodontal surgery is needed to reduce the pockets to a level that can be maintained with regular cleanings.
First deep cleaning and oral hygiene instruction. Some areas require surgery which is an ordinary dental procedure with little pain afterwards. Doing surgery for 50 years, that is the experience my patients have.
Typically, diagnosis begins with a comprehensive periodontal exam and a full mouth series of X-rays. From this a periodontist can determine the severity of the disease and the best course of treatment. Typically, the first phase begins with controlling the factors that led to periodontitis, like scaling and root planing, oral hygiene instructions and controlling the bite forces. If there is no improvement, surgical intervention maybe necessary to prevent further loss of supporting bone around the teeth. There are multiple options for surgical therapy which a specialist can discuss with you.
The first thing to do is to have a comprehensive periodontal evaluation to determine the course of treatment. Sometimes we start with a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) and then do another evaluation after the patient has had time to heal. Other times the patient needs to go straight to periodontal surgery.
She would need to go in for a consult. She can try to be treated with nonsurgical periodontal therapy to start if it's possible, depending on the severity.
It really depends on the type and severity of the disease. Only a full diagnosis by a periodontist can answer your question.
The treatment depends on the diagnosis of the disease. In cases such as gingivitis that will be treated with scaling and root planing which is a deeper cleaning than normal cleaning. In cases of periodontitis which is bone loss that can be treated with scaling and root planing, antimicrobial therapy, traditional gum surgery, or laser gum surgery. Gum recession can be treated with different techniques of gum grafting.
It is nearly impossible to answer that question, with out gathering a significant amount of diagnostic information, only when we have the proper diagnosis, can we know the appropriate treatment.
Periodontal disease has a number of different causes and each cause would need a different treatment. This means that different diagnoses will have different treatments.
Periodontitis is a chronic disease that is diagnosed when there is bone loss around teeth. It is a silent disease that most people don't recognize until it becomes too late. Symptoms of periodontitis include bleeding gums, halitosis (bad breath) and loose teeth. However, sometimes people don't have any symptoms until it is diagnosed by a periodontist or dentist. The best way to measure the extent of disease is by taking radiographs (X-rays) and using a round ruler to measure the gums around your teeth. Ask your dentist at your next visit to tell you if you have any signs of periodontal disease. The treatment depends on how aggressive the disease is and the extent of bone loss. Fortunately, periodontal therapy can stop the progression of irreversible bone damage caused by the disease. My team and I work to save teeth and allow people to smile and chew comfortably.
