Can Teeth with Bone Loss be Saved?
Depending on the severity of the gum disease, teeth affected by periodontal disease can be saved. Scaling, root planing, and antibiotic therapy will help reduce inflammation and reverse the progress of periodontal disease. Surgery might be required to repair and restore any lost tissue or jawbone.
Bacterial infections in your gums cause gum disease. Untreated gum disease will put the tooth-supporting jawbone at risk.
The first visual sign of gum disease is swollen gums that will bleed. Allowing the disease to progress causes the damaged gums to separate from the teeth forming pockets. Even more bacteria grow in these spaces, accelerating the damage in tissue and bone and eventually resulting in tooth loss.
Diagnosing Gum Disease
Your dentist will perform the following tests to determine if you have periodontitis and how severe it is:
- Begin by reviewing your medical history for any factors causing your symptoms, like smoking or taking certain medications that result in dry mouth.
- Examine your teeth and gums for plaque and tartar buildup and easy bleeding.
- Place a dental probe beside several teeth to measure the pocket depth of the groove between your gums and teeth. A healthy pocket depth is usually less than 3 millimeters. Periodontitis might be indicated by pockets deeper than 4 mm. Pockets deeper than 5 mm cannot be effectively cleaned.
- Check for bone loss with X-rays in areas where there are deeper pocket depths.
Periodontitis is classified by stages based on the severity, the complexity of treatment, your risk factors, and your overall health.
Gum Disease Treatment
Either a periodontist or your dentist can provide treatment. Periodontitis treatment thoroughly cleans the pockets around teeth and protects the surrounding bone.
Nonsurgical Therapies
If periodontitis is not advanced, treatment may consist of less invasive procedures such as:
- Scaling- Scaling removes bacteria from all surfaces of your teeth and beneath your gums. It can be done with hand instruments, a laser, or an ultrasonic device.
- Planing the roots- Root planing treats the root surfaces of your teeth, smoothing them and discouraging further bacteria buildup, removing the source of the infection.
- Antibiotics- Bacterial infection can be controlled with topical or oral antibiotics.
Surgical Procedures
If you have advanced periodontitis, you might need to have oral surgery, such as:
- Flap surgery- Your dentist will make tiny incisions in your gums to lift back some gum tissue, exposing the roots for more effective scaling. Gum disease can result in bone loss, so the underlying bone may be recontoured.
- Grafts of soft tissue- Your gumline recedes with tissue loss. Some damaged soft tissue may need to be reinforced. This is accomplished by attaching a small amount of tissue from the palate or donor source. This can help prevent further recession, cover any exposed roots, and improve the appearance of your teeth.
- Bone grafting- This procedure is when the bone surrounding your tooth root has lost mass. The graft in your jawbone will hold your tooth in place, so the bone graft helps to prevent tooth loss. It also helps with natural bone regrowth.
- Tissue regeneration with guidance- This treatment allows for the regeneration of bone that has been lost. Your dentist will place a biocompatible fabric between your existing bone and the tooth. The material keeps unwanted tissue out of the healing area, allowing the bone to regrow.