Tailored, proactive and healthy treatment for every stage of gum disease in central HK
In its Oral Health Survey, the Hong Kong Department of Health reports 98.6 percent of adults aged 35 to 44 had bleeding gums. This is a symptom of early-stage gum disease or gingivitis. The department reports almost 40 percent of adults surveyed had pocketing around the gums, or a space between soft and hard tissues, of at least four millimetres. Healthy gums have a pocket depth of between one and two millimetres. The deeper the pocket, the more severe the gum disease. As a biological dentist, we emphasise conservative gum disease treatment in Central, HK. We encourage recall appointments, regular professional cleanings, and nutritional and hygiene-oriented guidance to prevent disease from arising in the first place.
At the beginning stages gum (periodontal) disease can be stopped and its effects may be reversed. But as it progresses there is increasing bone loss – a potentially devastating consequence that can’t be reversed. Restorative treatment is required to rebuild the function of your teeth and gums, and the appearance of your smile. With proactive care that is tailored to your specific needs, these damaging complications can be avoided. As a holistic practice, we understand that the consequences go beyond the oral cavity. Recent research suggests the inflammation present in periodontal disease is also responsible for problems with diabetics controlling their blood sugar, with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, osteoporosis, and kidney, pancreatic, and blood cancers. The earlier you visit our office to get started on a customised treatment plan, the better your mouth and your entire body will be.
Stage by stage treatment
Every patient’s mouth and specific medical and lifestyle factors are different, but there are treatments that are appropriate for each stage of gum disease. The first step to managing and reversing gingivitis is to understand the symptoms and to get into the healthy routine of ongoing recall exams and cleanings. Gingivitis is known as a “silent” disease, because patients with it don’t always have red and swollen gums, or bleeding when they floss and brush. This fact underscores the need for professional diagnostics. We can detect subtle changes that may suggest you have early-stage inflammation that you didn’t even know you had!
Our team may recommend one, some, or all the following steps to halt the progression of disease:
- Daily good thorough oral hygiene care at home.
- Professional cleanings – scaling to remove plague which contains disease causing bacteria.
- Root planing , once the plague is calcified into a hard scale tartar then specialist treatment is necessary. This treatment removes tartar from under the gum tissue and smoothes out the root surface to minimise further build up.
- Correction of worn or poorly-fitting crowns and other types of dental restorations, which can promote disease-producing bacteria and reinfection. We use tooth-friendly, metal-free materials.
Topical or oral products, including ozonated oils as a chemical-free disinfectant, may be combined with guidance on medications that cause dry mouth syndrome. Dry mouth is a common side effect of many different drugs used to manage chronic conditions. We’ll offer suggestions on how to treat dry mouth and promote the healthy flow of saliva. It’s important to follow these recommendations and treat early effects in a timely fashion to avoid periodontitis.
In modest cases of periodontitis, nonsurgical treatments may be appropriate and effective at preventing tissue damage and irreversible bone loss. We (and the American Academy of Periodontology guidelines) generally abide by the idea that periodontal health should be achieved in the most non-invasive way possible. Conservative treatments make less demands on your body and time for healing and recovery, and they are associated with fewer side effects and risks of complications. So perfecting home techniques and making diet and lifestyle changes would be ideal if that was all it takes. However, in advanced cases, surgical intervention may be unavoidable. This may include surgical reduction of the gingival pockets that allow bacteria to accumulate and cause disease.
Gum disease is not an isolated condition ; it takes on many forms. Your holistic dentist is acutely aware that some classes of periodontal disease are manifestations of other medical conditions, such as poorly-controlled diabetes. If you would like to check on the health of your gums, contact us to schedule an appointment to restore and maintain your healthy, beautiful smile.
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