Oral health is very important, and this means that we should all take the proper measures to ensure we are looking after our teeth and gums in every way possible. One of the most crucial problems to watch out for is gum disease, which affects millions of people around the world in different ways. Gum disease refers to a number of different gum problems, some more serious than others, all of which can be treated with proper care. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways gum disease is treated.
Non-surgical gum disease treatments
When looking at non-surgical options for treating gum disease, there are two basic options that are usually practiced: professional dental cleaning and scaling and root planing. Professional dental cleaning is undoubtedly the easiest way to avoid gum disease. Cleaning removes plaque and tartar buildup from the surface of teeth, which is very helpful in making sure gum disease does not have a foundation on which to grow. Professional dental cleaning is not very effective for treating gum disease that is already there, but it is definitely a great way to avoid it. The second non-surgical option is scaling and root planing, which provides a deeper cleaning that scrapes away tartar and plaque from beneath the gum line. Planing is the process of making the root’s surface nice and smooth so that bacteria cannot attach itself.
Surgical gum disease treatments
When it comes to surgical gum disease treatments, there are numerous choices. Pocket reduction surgery is a procedure that lifts the gums back so tartar can be removed, and bone and tissue grafts are often used to repair and rebuild bone and tissue that have been deteriorated by gum disease. Bone surgery is another option that is available and involves smoothing out the shallow craters where bone loss has occurred in order to make it more difficult for bacteria to grow. All of these options are effective ways to treat gum disease, but they are more invasive and should only be considered in more serious cases of gum disease.
So which option is right for me?
Whether you go with a non-surgical or surgical treatment depends on the severity of your gum disease. Many people only have minor gum disease and usually 
only scaling and root planing, making it easier to treat their condition. If your gum disease is more serious and there has been damage to your gums, teeth, bone, or all three, then it’s likely that you may be in need of a surgical gum disease treatment. The best way to determine what kind of treatment you’ll be needing is to simply listen to what your dentist has to say; your dentist’s professional opinion is the most valuable tool in determining the course of action when it comes to your gum disease.