Periodontal therapy is used to treat and prevent gum disease. Periodontal (gum) disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in the United States, according to the Oral Health Foundation. On average, 50 percent of all American adults between the ages of thirty-to-90 suffer from periodontal (gum) disease.
People who have gum disease are more likely to develop other serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. People who have untreated periodontal issues are also at a greater risk for developing stroke. On the other hand, treatment of periodontal (gum) disease is effective in reducing the chances of developing gum disease and heart disease. Moreover, periodontal therapy also helps to reduce the effects of systemic diseases and cancer, according to researchers.
There are two basic types of periodontal therapy. These include surgical and non-surgical treatments. Both involve surgical removal of diseased teeth and dental implants. Surgical treatments can be performed under local or general anesthetic. The recovery period is usually short-lived; however, gingivitis can recur.
Non-surgical periodontal therapy involves daily management of gum problems to prevent periodontal diseases. Since most people are not aware that they have any problems with their gums, they don't practice good oral hygiene. This leads to the occurrence of gingivitis. To detect whether a person has gum disease, a falmouth maine dentist needs to perform a series of dental procedures, such as a dental examination and collection of a sample of bacteria from plaque to build up on the diseased area. If any abnormal bacteria are detected, it is then removed from the body through a surgical procedure.
Another important difference between surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy is the type of treatment provided. While surgical methods to remove diseased tissue, the removal of bacteria and other factors, which promote tooth loss, is performed by non-surgical treatments. These treatments encourage bone formation in the gums. It is bone that supports the teeth. Without this supportive structure, tooth loss is more likely.
One of the results of untreated periodontal problems is bone loss. In the absence of this bone support, tooth loss is more likely and more dramatic. Periodontal diseases may affect people of all ages, but there are certain risk factors that increase the chance of developing this disease. Age, poor oral health, long term antibiotic use, diabetes and heart disease are just a few of these risk factors. Those who have untreated gingivitis and periodontal diseases are more likely to develop a form of periodontal infection, such as periodontitis. See page for more information about this topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodontology.