What is Periodontology (Gum Treatments)?
Rather than how showy a magnificent building is, the solidity of the foundation it sits on is what matters. The situation is exactly the same for your oral health; no matter how white or straight your teeth are, if your gums and jawbone holding them are not healthy, it is difficult to protect your teeth.
Periodontology deals with all "infrastructure" problems, from bleeding in the gums to recessions and shaking teeth. Stopping gum diseases, which often progress insidiously, not only saves your teeth but also protects your general body health.
Why Gum Health?
Healthy gums are pink in color, do not bleed when brushing, and grip the tooth tightly. If you notice redness, swelling, or bleeding in your gums, this is a "help" signal sent to you by your body. Our job is to take these signals seriously, strengthen your foundation, and ensure your teeth remain in place for a lifetime.
In Which Situations is This Specialty Consulted?
• Gum Bleeding: Bleeding that occurs while brushing, flossing, or biting into hard foods like apples.
• Color and Shape Change: The healthy pink color giving way to a dark red or purplish color; gums appearing swollen and edematous.
• Gum Recession: The receding of gums backward, exposing tooth roots and making teeth look longer than they are.
• Bad Breath: Insidious and disturbing bad breath that does not go away despite tooth brushing, or a constant bad taste in the mouth.
• Shaking in Teeth: Teeth starting to move away from each other, gaps forming between them, or shifting and shaking.
• Sensitivity: Extreme sensitivity developing especially toward hot and cold due to gum recession.
• Gum Abscesses: Inflammatory swellings or painful areas forming at the gum margins.
Remember:
Healthy gums do not bleed. Bleeding is the clearest distress signal given by your body that there is an infection in that area. Early intervention is the only way to prevent bone loss and tooth loss.
Periodontal Applications
- Detailed Dental Scaling (Detartraj): The removal of plaque and tartar that accumulate on the tooth surface and along the gum line, and cannot be removed by brushing, using professional equipment.
- Deep Gum Cleaning (Curettage): The thorough removal of inflamed tissues that have penetrated into the deep areas we call periodontal pockets, and of deposits on the root surface.
- Flap Operations: Direct cleaning of root surfaces and bone tissue by surgically opening the gums in areas with advanced bone loss and deep inflammation.
- Gum Recession Treatments: Gum graft (soft tissue graft) procedures performed to repair receding gums and cover exposed root surfaces.
- Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty: Cutting of excessive growths in the gums or aesthetic correction of the gum level in case of "Gummy Smile" (excessive visibility of gums when smiling).
- Frenectomy: Releasing faulty tongue and lip ties (frenulum) that put pressure on the tooth, negatively affecting speech or tooth alignment, with a minor intervention.
- Bone Graft Applications: The reinforcement of the jawbone that has deteriorated due to gum disease by using artificial or natural bone graft materials.
What to Expect During the Treatment Process?
- Detailed Dental Scaling (Detartraj): The removal of plaque and tartar that accumulate on the tooth surface and along the gum line, and cannot be removed by brushing, using professional equipment.
- Deep Gum Cleaning (Curettage): The thorough removal of inflamed tissues that have penetrated into the deep areas we call periodontal pockets, and of deposits on the root surface.
- Flap Operations: The direct cleaning of the root surfaces and bone tissue by surgically opening the gum in areas with advanced bone loss and deep infection.
- Gum Recession Treatments: Gum graft (soft tissue graft) procedures performed to repair receding gums and cover exposed root surfaces.
- Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty: The removal of excessive gum tissue or the aesthetic correction of the gum line in cases of “Gummy Smile” (excessive visibility of the gums when smiling).
- Frenectomy: The release of abnormal tongue and lip ties (frenulum) that put pressure on the gums and negatively affect speech or tooth alignment through a minor procedure.
- Bone Graft Applications: The reinforcement of the jawbone that has deteriorated due to gum disease by using artificial or natural bone graft materials.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Contrary to common belief, no. Dental scaling does not damage the tooth enamel; it only removes the tartar that accumulates on the teeth and causes bone loss. What actually causes damage is leaving those tartars there.
Gum bleeding is not normal; it is the clearest sign that there is an inflammation in the area. Just as you worry when your hand bleeds, you should also see a specialist when your gums bleed.
No, but since the tooth surface becomes smooth after cleaning, you will feel the gaps more with your tongue. If proper brushing habits are not formed, tartar will build up again; this is not the fault of the cleaning, but a lack of maintenance.
Unfortunately, no. Receded gums do not grow back on their own. However, this recession can be stopped with periodontologic interventions, or the area can be covered again using surgical methods.
Absolutely yes. Bacteria accumulating in periodontal pockets produce gases that cause bad breath that does not go away with brushing. Gum treatment is the most effective way to get rid of chronic bad breath.
Since the area is numbed during the procedure, you will not feel any pain. It is normal to have mild sensitivity for a few days after deep cleanings (curettage), which is a part of the healing process.
Smoking disrupts blood flow in the gums. Therefore, even if your gums are diseased, they may not bleed. In smokers, gum diseases usually progress insidiously and are only noticed when teeth start to shake.
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