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Active Gum Infection Therapy

Being diagnosed with an active gum infection requires either non-surgical or surgical treatment options depending on the severity of your dental situation.

Below are our treatment options for active gum infection therapy.

Non-Surgical Treatment

A non-surgical treatment option of active gum disease is a procedure called scaling and root planing. This treatment consists of an ultrasonic device removing plaque and tartar from difficult to reach places in your oral cavity including beneath the gum line, the surface of the tooth, as well as around the tooth’s root. After that initial process has taken place, the tooth’s rough surface and the root is planed or smoothed out encouraging reattachment of gum tissue to the tooth.

Surgical Treatment Options for Active Gum Infection

When non-surgical treatment isn’t enough and the gum tissue and bones around your teeth are damaged, there are several surgical procedures that are available for you to prevent current damage from worsening. Restore your smile and obtain healthy teeth with these three common surgical options:

Pocket Depth Reduction (Flap Surgery)

During pocket depth reduction (flap surgery), dentists will fold back the infected gum tissue and remove the bacteria, hardened plaque, and tartar hiding beneath it. Any severely damaged tissue is also removed as healthy tissue is sewn in to replace it. After the procedure, the tooth and root will be clean and free of infection, bacteria, plaque, and tartar, which will allow the gums to naturally reattach themselves to the tooth.

Regeneration

Severe gum disease has the potential to cause the supporting bone and tissue of your teeth to decay. If this occurs, you may need to receive a regeneration procedure to halt this damage and extract the bacteria harboring in your gums. The regeneration procedure starts off with your dentist gently folding back your gum tissue and removing any bacteria, plaque, and tartar present. Depending on how severe your gum disease is, our team may try to stimulate new bone growth in a procedure called a bone graft. Your dentist may also incorporate a tissue growth stimulant to further repair the severely damaged or destroyed areas caused by the active gum disease.

Soft Tissue Graft

If you have gum disease, gum recession (gingival recession) may also occur as it is another common symptom that’s experienced. This may be more apparent when the gums have begun to recede and the roots of your teeth are visible, which can cause your teeth to appear much longer and influence a tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks. Once this occurs, your tooth’s surface and root will be more prone to receive damage from gum disease, bacteria, plaque, and tartar.

A soft-tissue graft procedure repurposes tissue from the top of your mouth, or another healthy and uninfected area, and is sewn to the exposed tooth roots restoring the gum lining to a healthier location. While a soft-tissue graft is commonly performed for restorative reasons, it may also be for cosmetic dental purposes as well.

Not sure if you have gum disease? Schedule an appointment with a dentist today and contact Smile Reston Heights!

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