Surgical and Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatments

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, it is important to consider the various treatment options and to make a decision about whether to have surgical or non-surgical gum disease treatments to restore your gum health. The decision you make is going to directly impact the recovery outcome. There are several things to keep in mind when making this decision.

How bad is the gum disease?

Gum disease can range from being minor to severe. If we can catch the gum disease at an early stage, non-invasive methods are typically all that is necessary to treat the condition. Having a deep dental cleaning, for example, can restore the health of the gum tissue. Some dental offices do this using metal dental tools to scrape off the plaque while others use dental lasers.

We will remove the plaque and tartar from underneath the gum tissue so that the gums can begin returning to good health. If effective, there will be no need for more intensive treatments such as oral surgery.

Have all non-invasive measures been tried yet?

Since a deep cleaning can help to improve gum health, it is wise to start with this treatment option. If the non-invasive measures are effective enough for restoring the health of the gums, there will be no need to try more invasive measures. Non-invasive options can result in saving cost and time, so it is important to exhaust these non-invasive methods first.

Have pockets formed in the gum tissue?

If there are pockets in the gum tissue, it is a clear sign that gum disease has progressed to the point of a surgical option becoming necessary. A gum graft is likely to be the best treatment option at this point. By suturing new tissue to the natural gums, we can secure the gums around the teeth. This way, the lower areas of the teeth and roots are no longer exposed.

Preventing root exposure is a critical step in the restoration process and important for protecting the teeth and preventing tooth loss. Typically, surgery is part of this process. However, some dentists are using alternative therapies to restore gum tissue that does not require a scalpel.

Are teeth wiggly or feeling loose?

If teeth are already loose, gum disease has probably progressed to the point where immediate treatments are going to be necessary and surgery required. Additionally, the teeth themselves may need to be restored, root canals completed, etc. in order to eliminate an infection.

What does the dentist recommend?

Asking a dentist if they recommend surgery or non-surgical treatment is important when making a decision on how to treat gum disease. They are going to make the recommendation that they feel will best resolve the issue so it is important to carefully consider any advice that they give.

Consider the recovery process

When debating between surgery and non-surgical alternatives, it is important to consider the recovery process. Anytime a patient undergoes surgery it is going to take longer to recover, there could be complications and there will be a level of discomfort for several days.

Gum surgery is no different. Before it is scheduled, it is necessary to prepare by taking time off work and planning to take it easy for a few days.

Learn more about your options

Get help deciding between surgical and non-surgical gum disease treatment options by discussing them with our dentist. Schedule a consultation today in order to do so.