Periodontal or gum disease affects millions of people. It can range from simple inflammations caused by infection or irritation, or genetics to the tissue and bone. The most common kinds of gum disease are:
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria and infection, but certain health conditions and lifestyle factors can put you at higher risk for developing the disease. This includes smoking, hormonal changes in women, diabetes, and medications that reduce your saliva (which protects your mouth) or causes gum to swell and make them difficult to clean. You can also be genetically predisposed to gum disease.
Examine your gum for signs of swelling, tenderness, or bleeding. In some cases, you may notice your gums look like they’re shrinking or receding. Your teeth may be more sensitive and you experience pain or discomfort while chewing. It’s also common for people with gum disease to have chronic bad breath.
Dentists with periodontics training can identify and treat disease. Depending on your case, you may be given a deep cleaning (called scaling or root planning) that removes plaque and tartar. Infections and inflammations can be addressed with either medication or gum flap surgery, where tissue is cut to allow any infection around the roots. If there is a lot of bone loss, you may need bone and tissue grafts.
Dr. Firas Osman uses the latest laser and ultrasoundtechnologies to treat gum disease. This non-surgical treatment scrapes off plaque and tartar, and excise any diseased tissue. It doesn’t need general anesthesia, causes less bleeding and swelling, and has a much faster recovery and healing time. In the hands of a trained and experienced doctor, lasers can target infected areas very precisely with no damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Dr. Firas ensures to use the ‘minimally invasive’ approach for all the surgical treatments.