Two Unique And Effective Ways To Treat Your Periodontal Disease
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, or periodontitis, then you need to seek out a periodontics specialist as soon as you can. Even if you aren't in any pain, inflammation and receding gums can eventually lead to tooth loss! Some people have very mild symptoms like bad breath, but periodontitis can progress to puss-filled gums and infection, if it isn't treated. Two periodontal treatments to consider include Arestin application and pinhole surgery—take a look.
What is Arestin?
Arestin is an antibiotic that your dentist can insert into your gum pockets. Many people have gum pockets that are deeper than 3 millimeters, or even pockets that have detached from the tooth root. Deep gum pockets make it easier for bacteria to infiltrate healthy tissue. Arestin can eliminate bad bacteria and reduce the size of gum pockets. This FDA-approved drug is very unique; it is made up of tiny spheres that slowly release over time. This slow-release means that the antibiotic will continue to work for weeks after you leave the dentist's office.
Before Arestin is applied, your dentist will likely do a scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure. During SRP, your dentist will use tools called scalers to deeply clean both your teeth and gums. Once your mouth is cleaned, then the Arestin microspheres will be placed.
What is Pinhole Surgery?
If your periodontal disease has progressed to a point where SRP and Arestin application will not work, you may want to look into pinhole surgery. Pinhole surgery is very effective on people who have severe gum recession.
Pinhole surgery is quite similar to laparoscopic surgeries, which are minimally invasive procedures that only need small incisions. Pinhole surgery is even less invasive, as tiny pinpricks are made with a needle, instead of a scalpel. Through these pinpricks, your dentist will pull healthy gum tissue down, and relocate it over any receding gum tissue.
Gum tissue has a lot of collagen, a huge structural protein, so it is able to regenerate and heal well, after it has been relocated over receding tissue. Your dentist may even insert collagen strips to encourage new gum growth.
As long as you keep good oral hygiene habits and follow your dentist's instructions, the pinhole surgery should be very successful. This surgery is great, if you still have some healthy tissue that wouldn't warrant a gum graft. Because there are no scalpels and stitches, healing also has fewer complications.
Since periodontal disease can cause bone loss and infection, it's vital that you take care of it before it progresses any further. Ask your dentist for more information on Arestin and pinhole surgery.
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