Surgical vs. Nonsurgical Periodontal Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease is a serious but preventable condition. If you’ve received a diagnosis, you’re probably wondering what your treatment options are available to you. Treating gum disease can involve either a surgical or nonsurgical approach, and the procedure you receive will depend on the severity of your infection.

Nonsurgical Treatment

The first option that your dentist may use to combat periodontal disease is the most conservative treatment method: scaling and root planing. Otherwise known as a deep cleaning, scaling and root planing is a procedure that carefully removes all of the infection from your tooth enamel and gums. 

The procedure occurs in two steps. Scaling occurs when the tartar and infected tissue are removed. Planing smooths the root of the teeth to allow the gums to reattach to the tooth. Scaling and root planing is often successful, but if the infection has progressed, nonsurgical treatment may not be enough.

Surgical Treatment

There are several surgical methods for treating periodontal disease if scaling and root planing is not effective. Your dentist will examine your dentition and determine if you are a candidate for surgery.

You may benefit from flap surgery if your gums fail to reattach to your teeth. Your dentist or oral surgeon will gain access to the area beneath the gum line to remove any additional infection, smooth out the teeth, and reattach the gums manually. 

Other procedures include gum grafts, which involve taking tissue from another area of the mouth and using it to restore the gums damaged by periodontal disease. Additionally, there are regenerative procedures, which are only necessary when the infection has spread to the bone.

Which Option is Right for You?

The treatment option you choose will depend on how much the infection has spread. If nonsurgical treatment fails to get rid of the bacteria in your gums, you risk the infection spreading throughout the rest of the body. In these cases, you may need to consider a surgical solution.

No treatment is more suitable than the other; it’s simply a matter of what will benefit your oral health the most. Surgical treatment is often the best course of action when more conservative options haven’t been effective. A discussion between you and your dentist can help you determine the right treatment for you.

Call Today to Get Started!

If you would like more information about periodontal disease treatment or to learn more about your options, contact Grandon Village Dental today to schedule your appointment!

Fighting Dental Anxiety with Sedation Dentistry

For maintaining proper oral health, it’s important to visit your dentist twice a year. While this is not an issue for some patients, for others, it can be the source of significant anxiety. 

It’s normal to feel some apprehension before a procedure, but for those who have a dental phobia, so much as picking up the phone and scheduling an appointment can cause nervousness. When you stop visiting the dentist, you put yourself at risk for dental issues in the future. To help you get the care you need without increasing your anxiety, Grandon Village Dental offers sedation dentistry. 

How Does Sedation Work?

Dental sedation is an ideal option for nervous patients because it suppresses the parts of the brain that increases anxiety. Typically, sedation puts you in a twilight state that allows you to remain relaxed throughout the procedure. 

Sedation helps you get the care you need while also reducing discomfort. Without it, dental anxiety could cause you to avoid visiting the dentist, which increases your chances of developing tooth decay. When you neglect to visit the dentist, issues that would otherwise be preventable occur, which can cause further trauma and a greater expense. 

What Sedation Options are Available?

At Grandon Village Dental, we offer multiple sedation options depending on your individual needs. We offer nitrous oxide and IV sedation, both of which reduce sensation and make it easy for you to receive treatment.

Nitrous oxide comes in the form of a gas that you inhale while IV sedation is administered directly into your bloodstream. Both place you in a relaxed and calm state so that you can undergo treatment seamlessly. 

Is Sedation Right for You?

Dr. Bailey takes the time to discuss whether sedation will be a beneficial option. When you schedule an appointment, it will be important for you to let the staff know that you have dental anxiety so we can prepare for your visit beforehand.

Dr. Bailey will work with you to make you as comfortable as possible during your consultation, and will carefully explain your options for sedation. Together, you can come up with a treatment plan that best suits you in hopes that you continue to visit the dentist in the future.

Call Today to Learn More!

If you would like more information about sedation dentistry, or to find out whether sedation is right for you, contact Grandon Village Dental in San Marcos today to schedule an appointment!