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!