Do I Want Gum Surgery
(Or an
Alternative)?
Gum disease (periodontal disease)
is caused by certain types of bacteria in plaque. Since gum disease is often painless in its
early stages, few people recognize that a disease is developing in their
mouths.
The warning signs of gum disease are: 1) Gums that bleed easily; 2) Red, tender gums; 3) Persistent, bad breath; 4) Pus between teeth and gums; and 5) Loose teeth, or gums that have pulled away from teeth. Gum disease begins when bacteria in the mouth multiply in the sleeves of gum around the root surface and crown. These bacteria emit toxins that inflame the tissue. It is when this inflammation spreads to the bone that serious damage can occur.
The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, which only affects the gum tissue. At this stage the disease is still reversible. The more advanced stage of the disease is called periodontosis, in which the gums, bone, and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. As the infection advances, it usually causes “pockets” to form between the teeth and the surrounding gum tissue as a result of the bone softening and receding. As the bone recedes, it leaves behind longer sleeves of gum. When the pockets become deep enough, teeth loosen and fall out or have to be extracted due to pain.
Since gum disease is caused by bacteria, our goal is to attack and reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. Fortunately, this is not that difficult to do. Regular brushing and a unique home-treatment that has been successful time after time can effectively control or prevent gum disease.
The next step in prevention (and/or treatment) is periodontal scaling and root planing. Scaling is a process in which the dentist removes plaque and calculus deposits beneath the gum line. Planing is a procedure in which the dentist “planes” or smoothes the root surfaces of the tooth.
The purpose of gum surgery is to surgically remove gum tissue to produce a short sleeve of gum around each tooth. The goal is to arrest the disease and to facilitate the attachment of the gums and support structures to the teeth. However, surgery does not address the underlying bacteria field. Swollen gum tissue is best treated as an open wound by eliminating the offending bacteria. In addition to scaling and planing, the pockets between the teeth and gums are gently “irrigated” with a special solution to flush out bacteria and debris.
While prevention is the best “cure” for gum disease, there are viable alternatives to gum surgery for those already suffering from gum disease. In any case it is critical to have regular dental check-ups to check for signs of gum disease.
Charles E. Warlick, Jr., D.D.S.
Dr. Warlick has been practicing
dentistry in Wimberley for 20 years. He
is Managing Director for the