Periodontal Therapy Procedures
Wylie, Texas
Gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease or periodontitis, is a bacterial infection affecting soft tissues around teeth that worsens without treatment. The condition progressively destroys supporting bone structure, potentially causing tooth movement and eventual loss.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary by severity and include:
- Red, swollen, tender, receding, and bleeding gums
- Periodontal pockets
- Bad breath
- Abscesses
- Gaps between teeth
- Bite changes
Once prevention becomes insufficient—particularly when permanent damage exists—both surgical and nonsurgical interventions can mitigate disease effects.
Surgical Interventions
- Flap surgery - Access and thoroughly clean root surfaces
- Bone grafts - For areas with significant bone loss
- Gum grafts - Using tissue from the palate or banks to restore lost tissue
- Guided tissue regeneration - Using biocompatible membranes
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy - Derived from blood samples to encourage tissue regeneration
