Gingivectomy to Treat Periodontal Disease

Gingivectomy is one of the most popular treatment methods for periodontal disease. There are only a handful of treatment methods that can reverse the effects of periodontal disease. This procedure is one of them. It can bring the smile back to your face, making you more confident than ever before. Anyone facing the possibility of gum diseases can look into gingivectomy as a possible solution.

What is a gingivectomy?

A periodontist does a gingivectomy to address advanced stages of gum diseases. This happens when plaque builds up under the pockets of the gums. The plaque and bacteria enter the root of the tooth and cause periodontal disease. The dentist removes the diseased gum tissue and prevents more serious dental problems.

What does gingivectomy treat?

The periodontist will do a couple of tests before advising a gingivectomy. The procedure is not always the best method to treat gum diseases. It would be better for patients if they can visit the dentist as soon as the gum problems become apparent. Here are the other situations that require a gingivectomy:

  • People who have advanced gum disease
  • Cosmetic reasons if the tooth is already exposed
  • People with gummy smiles (gums are too prominent)

People with advanced gum disease need gingivectomy if antibiotics and root planing and scaling cannot treat them. For the procedure to be successful, they should have generally healthy teeth. Their periodontal diseases should not have progressed yet to the point of needing more invasive procedures. Otherwise, the procedure may not be advisable anymore.

Gingivectomy is also done for cosmetic reasons. An exposed tooth is not only attractive to bacteria, but it also affects a person’s looks. The procedure is called gum lift or crown lengthening. The aim is to prevent people from having gummy smiles, which means a lot of the gum is showing.

Understanding periodontal disease

Most people who suffer from a periodontal disease need to undergo a gingivectomy. Gum diseases happen when the bacteria in the mouth collect and multiply to form a plaque. Then, the plaque infects the teeth and adjacent gingival, which can be inflamed. This is the early form of gum disease called gingivitis.

The gums will bleed, and the area between the tooth and gum tissue deepens when the gingivitis gets more inflamed. That deepening forms a periodontal pocket that starts a periodontal disease. At this point, home care such as brushing and flossing the teeth will not work anymore. Patients will need to visit a periodontist. The dentist will look under the gumline and the infected periodontal pocket.

How well does gingivectomy work?

Most patients can return to normal life after a month of the procedure. The patients’ gums will become pink and healthy again if they follow proper dental and oral care. However, patients still have to visit the dentist every three months for follow-up checkups. After that, patients will only need to visit twice a year for regular dental cleaning.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Periodontist in Summit, NJ

Take care of your dental health

No one wants to go under the knife. If you wish to avoid gingivectomy, you must follow a strict oral and dental health regimen. It includes visiting the dentist regularly and having regular and deep cleaning. Strict dental health protocols will help you avoid invasive procedures.

Request an appointment or call Summit Periodontics & Dental Implants at 908-219-6664 for an appointment in our Summit office.

Related Posts

Being Referred To A Periodontist For Implants

Many people have difficulty deciding whether they want a periodontist or oral surgeon to do dental implants. It all depends on what your regular dentist says. If your dentist referred you to a periodontist, that is where you should go. A periodontist received special training outside dental school. Periodontists know more about teeth, gums, and…

Early Stage Of Periodontal Disease: Gingivitis

You have probably heard a lot about gum disease and the effects it can have on your oral health. Dentists emphasize the importance of preventing it much like they do avoiding cavities. Gum problems can be gradual and at first not appear or feel so serious. Early on, gum disease is known as gingivitis. If…

Causes Of Receding Gums

Receding gums is a condition that exposes more of the teeth or the root of the teeth. When this happens, gaps are formed between the teeth and the gumline. Bacteria can quickly build up there and lead to several periodontal diseases. Therefore, it would be best to visit a periodontist immediately when you notice the…

Summit Periodontics & Dental Implants

Share
Published by
Summit Periodontics & Dental Implants

Recent Posts

When To Visit a Periodontist for Gum Recession

Chronic bad breath and a foul taste in the mouth could be symptoms associated with…

7 days ago

Are All-on-4 Dental Implants Right for You? Factors to Consider

Recovery after All-on-4 depends on the treatments necessary to complete the process.

1 month ago

Understanding Bone Grafting: How It Restores Jawbone Health and Strength

To perform a bone graft, the dentist will collect bone tissue from somewhere else in…

2 months ago

What a Periodontist Does in Root Surface Debridement

The most common procedure that a periodontist performs is removing plaque and tartar from their…

3 months ago

Being Referred to a Periodontist for Implants

Many people have difficulty deciding whether they want a periodontist or oral surgeon to do…

3 months ago

A Periodontist Discusses Possible Consequences From Poor Oral Hygiene

During a visit to the periodontist, the dental professional will reiterate the importance of taking…

3 months ago