Advanced Periodontitis is a serious dental condition that affects millions of American men and women. As per this study, at least 42% of Americans over 30 had periodontitis. And among them, people over 65 years of age have severe periodontitis. If left untreated, it can lead to severe damage to the teeth, gums, and jaw. You might even lose your precious teeth if you do not proceed with your periodontal disease cure. Fortunately, with proper treatment and care, periodontitis can be managed and treated.

In this blog post, we'll discuss the most important things you should know about periodontitis treatment and recovery. From understanding the symptoms and causes of periodontitis to knowing what to expect after treatment, this article will provide you with the information you need to make the best decisions for your oral health and just to let you know, we at Fortcollinsperio.com are with you at every step of this treatment.

What is periodontitis?

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory gum disease triggered by bacterial microorganisms due to poor oral hygiene.

It is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, leading to teeth loosening or tooth loss.

Although periodontitis is common, it is largely preventable with good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing at least twice a day and getting regular dental checkups.

What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

1. Gum disease can have a wide range of symptoms. depending on the stage of the disease. Generally, they include.
2. Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing;
3. Bad breath;
4. Changes in the position of your teeth or loose teeth;
5. Receding gums; red, tender, or swollen gums;
6. The buildup of dental plaque or tartar on your teeth.
7. Pain when chewing; tooth loss; foul taste in your mouth; bad breath or bad taste that won't go away.
8. Gums that have pulled away from your teeth; any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite.

What causes periodontitis?

Periodontitis is caused by a combination of factors, most notably poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, genetics, and hormonal changes.

Poor oral hygiene allows bacteria to accumulate on the teeth and gums, forming dental plaque and tartar, which can lead to inflammation in the gums and disruption of the attachment between the gums and the roots of the teeth.

Smoking weakens the body's ability to fight infection(1), while diabetes and certain conditions that cause inflammation in the body can put someone at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease.

Genetics and family history, as well as certain medications that reduce the flow of saliva and ill-fitting fillings, bridges, and dentures, can also contribute to the risk of periodontitis.

What happens with untreated periodontal disease?

If periodontal disease is left untreated, it will progress and become more severe. The gums will pull away from the teeth, leading to periodontal pockets where plaque, tartar, and bacteria become trapped.

As the disease progresses, even more bone around the teeth will be lost and the teeth may become loose and eventually fall out.

Furthermore, periodontitis can lead to an inflammatory response throughout the body and can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other health problems.

Smokers are especially at risk, as periodontitis progresses much faster and is less likely to respond to treatment in those who smoke.

Diagnosis is done at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants

At Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants, a diagnosis is done by first reviewing the patient's medical history to identify any factors that could contribute to symptoms, such as smoking or taking certain medications.

Next, the mouth is examined for plaque and tartar buildup and checked for bleeding.

The pocket depth of the gums is then measured by placing a dental probe beside the tooth beneath the gum line, usually at multiple points throughout the mouth.

A healthy depth of gums is around 1-3 mm, and if the pocket depths are deeper than 4 mm, it may indicate gingivitis or periodontitis.

Next, you can be taken in for dental X-rays. Dental X-rays will tell us

Treatment may include surgical and non-surgical procedures, dental implants, and cosmetic procedures.

If more specialized treatment is needed, the patient may be referred to a specialized periodontist in Fort Collins Periodontics.

Periodontal Gum disease stages

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that is caused by the buildup of bacterial plaque on the surface of the tooth.

Symptoms of gingivitis include red and inflamed gums, bleeding during brushing, and no loose teeth.

If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis, which is a severe gum disease that causes the destruction of tissue, bone, or both.

Periodontitis is characterized by deep pockets in the periodontal tissue that harbors anaerobic organisms, which can lead to inflammation, receding gums, tooth migration, and even tooth loss.

If you practice proper oral hygiene, like regular brushing and flossing, gingivitis can be prevented, and periodontitis can be treated before it causes irreversible damage.

Early Periodontal Disease

In this early periodontal stage, your gum pockets get larger, and they begin to accumulate more plaque, food, and bacteria. Naturally to fight these bacteria your body responds and due to that and bacterial toxins, the surrounding bone starts to get damaged.

Moderate Periodontal Disease

Moderate periodontal disease is a gum disease stage that occurs when periodontitis remains untreated. Signs of moderate periodontal disease include gum recession, loosening of the teeth, and pain around the teeth and gums.

Bacteria can accumulate in pockets left between the gums and teeth now leading to infection.

A moderate loss of gum attachment and bone destruction can be seen with moderate periodontal disease.

Treatment for moderate periodontal disease may include medications or surgery, depending on the severity of the condition.

Sadly, it becomes harder to reverse this.

Advanced Periodontal Disease

An advanced periodontal disease is an advanced form of gum disease in which the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, resulting in severe pain and tooth loss.

Treatment can involve a combination of medications, surgery, and dental cleanings.

What is the best treatment for periodontitis?

Periodontitis treatment options include cleaning, scaling, flap surgery, and bone grafting. With a prescribed mouth rinse and antibiotics, you should get the best results quickly.

However please understand that how gum disease is treated is completely depended on your periodontal disease symptoms, the periodontitis stage you are in, and other factors that your doctor will be able to diagnose at that time.

There are two types of treatment that can be done for periodontitis.

Nonsurgical and Surgical treatment.

Nonsurgical treatments

Apart from antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, here are the nonsurgical treatment options for periodontitis.

Scaling/Root Planning: The periodontist will perform a deep cleaning of your teeth. The doctor will clean the gumline to remove tartar. plaque from the deep pockets. Root planning can be done to smooth the tooth root to prevent future accumulation of plaque.

At an early stage of the disease, the patient might not need any other treatment.

Laser Treatment: Sometimes laser treatment can be used instead of scaling and root planning. Laser of different wavelengths can be used safely to destroy bacteria and remove plaque from the teeth without damaging the gum.

However, if the wavelength is mismatched, then damage to the gum tissue might happen.

There is another approved nonsurgical treatment known as Tray Delivery Systems. But it is not that popular among patients.

Surgical treatments

Surgical treatments include flap surgery/pocket reduction surgery, soft tissue grafts, and bone grafts.

Flap surgery/pocket reduction surgery: This involves lifting the gums back and removing tartar while smoothing out any irregular surfaces of the damaged bone to prevent bacteria from hiding.

Soft tissue grafts: With gum diseases, your gumline will recede. When flap surgery is not suitable to make your gumline better then soft tissue grafts are the way to go.

This involves taking tissue either from the roof of the mouth or from a donor source to replace gum tissue that has receded around the teeth.

This will help with gum recession and will bring back your beautiful smile.

Check how we take care of soft tissue grafts for our patients!

Bone Graft: Bone grafts involve using fragments of your own bone, synthetic bone, or donated bone to replace bone destroyed by gum disease. Bone grafts will give support to your loose tooth so that it does not fall.

Guided Tissue regeneration: If the bone is destroyed by the bacteria then guided tissue generation can be used. A biocompatible fabric is placed between your both and tooth, this fabric prevents anything else from entering the healing area. This might help the bone grow back.

Register for guided tissue regeneration with us today!

All of these procedures are carried out under local anesthetic, and the gums are closed with stitches after the procedure if needed.

Depending on your needs, the specialists at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants will decide the course of action for you.

How we can help you with periodontitis at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants

Scaling and cleaning

Scaling and cleaning is a professional dental procedure used to treat periodontitis at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants. It involves removing plaque and calculus (tartar) build-up from the teeth and their roots, as well as polishing and treating them with fluoride.

Furthermore, deep cleaning techniques–such as scaling and root planing–are used to scrape off tartar and remove any rough spots on the tooth root where bacteria tend to gather.

This practice helps restore periodontal health and reduce gum bleeding, and can help prevent tooth loss.

Scaling does not need any anesthesia, but if you insist, we can administer it.

It also involves debridement to clean the surfaces of the teeth above the gum line and in the pockets, as well as treating the teeth with fluoride for further protection.

It is important to note that the frequency of scaling and cleaning depends on the amount of plaque and tartar accumulation.

By receiving regular professional teeth cleaning, periodontitis can be managed and prevented.

Antibiotics

At Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants, we recommend a variety of antibiotics for periodontitis treatment.

If you have gingivitis, then we might proceed with this nonsurgical procedure to see how you respond.

These antibiotic treatments will help reduce bacteria and inflammation, as well as help prevent tooth loss due to periodontitis.

Good oral hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for managing periodontitis and preventing it from getting worse. The best practices for good oral hygiene for people with periodontitis at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants include:

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
2. Consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective.
3. Floss at least once a day to remove plaque.
4. Use interdental brushes and soft picks once a day to remove plaque.
5. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for a professional cleaning.
6. Avoid using tobacco in any form.
7. Limit consumption of alcohol and foods with added sugars.
8. Seek dental or medical advice for dry mouth, changes in taste or smell, and other mouth problems.
9. Use a mouthwash to reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth.
10. Stay informed and regularly talk to your dentist about how the treatment is going.

Surgery

At Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants, a range of surgical procedures may be available to treat periodontitis, depending on the individual case.

Surgeries include flap surgery, soft tissue graft, and bone graft.

After any of these procedures, the gums may be stitched back into place, and it typically takes about a week for the wound to heal.

Follow-up appointments

Follow-up appointments for periodontitis at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants are designed to assess the progress of your periodontal treatment and ensure that your gum health is maintained.

During the appointments, your dentist will examine the pockets and other issues caused by your gum disease and discuss a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Additionally, your dentist will create a maintenance care schedule based on your clinical evaluations, which may involve more frequent visits initially.

How long does periodontitis take to heal?

The first stage of periodontitis is Gingivitis, this can heal in just 14 days. In some cases the bone around the teeth needs to be implanted, with regular checkups this can take 4-6 months or more.

Recovery time will also vary on your immune system as well.

Why Acting Fast on Gum Disease Treatment Is Important

The importance of acting fast on gum disease treatment cannot be understated.

Often many patients come to us late when the periodontitis has set in, and the tooth is about to get loose.

If gum disease is left untreated, it can become more advanced and require more extensive treatment. Not only is this more expensive, but it can also lead to increased tooth loss.

Early intervention is key to getting your oral health back on track and preventing further damage.

You should also visit your dentist for regular dental checkups, and preventive care is essential in order to monitor the condition of your teeth and gums and catch any problems early on.

With the right care and treatment, gum disease can be managed, and your teeth can be saved.

Periodontitis vs. gingivitis

Gingivitis is the early stage of Periodontitis. With gingivitis your gums could be swollen, they might bleed, and your mouth may smell bad.

If gingivitis is left untreated, it can slowly result in periodontitis.

In periodontitis, the gum gets pulled down and forms pockets. These gum pockets collect food particles or other debris, and the bacteria in them make the gum more infected. To stop the bacteria in the gum, our boy releases enzymes, but this battle of them results in bone decay.

As a result, the pockets get deeper, and eventually, the tooth gets loose.