Gum disease is a serious oral health condition that can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including bleeding gums, bad breath, and gum recession. In severe cases, your dentist or periodontist (a dentist who specializes in gum treatments) might even recommend that you get your teeth extracted. But will the tooth extractions in Lincoln actually cure your condition? Let’s talk about the answer to this important question.
Tooth Extractions as Part of a Gum Disease Treatment Plan
Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue; it isn’t an infection of the teeth. Therefore, it is important to understand that removing your teeth will not actually treat or cure your gum disease. However, extractions can be an important part of your overall treatment plan to get your oral health back on track.
It might be necessary to remove the teeth if the gum disease has seriously damaged the tissue around them. In such cases, the bone that supports the teeth, as well as the gums, may shrink to the point where your teeth become loose. You might find it difficult to chew foods, and it will be easier than ever for food particles and bacteria to accumulate in the pockets between your teeth and gums. Removing the teeth can both increase your comfort and be a stepping stone on your way to defeating gum disease.
Preventing the Need for Extractions
Your dental team doesn’t want to remove any of your teeth — they would prefer to save them! If you seek treatment before your gum disease becomes severe, it’s likely that you will be able to get ahead of the infection before it causes devastating damage to your oral tissues.
One of the most popular and conservative forms of periodontal (gum) therapy is known as scaling and root planing, which is basically a deep cleaning of the mouth. Your dental team will remove bacteria both above and below the gumline, then smooth out the roots of the teeth so bacteria find it more difficult to cling to them. Antibiotic therapy and excellent at-home oral hygiene can work along with scaling and root planing to restore your oral health.
If You Need Extractions
If it does become necessary to remove one or more of your teeth, be sure to ask about your tooth replacement options. After you no longer have active gum disease, you may qualify for dental implants. Implants are similar in structure to natural teeth and provide a strong bite force that can handle even the toughest foods.
Tooth extractions might be an important step on your road to recovery from gum disease. Consulting with a periodontist can help you make smart choices about how to manage your condition.
Meet the Practice
We are privileged to have four periodontists at Pioneer Periodontics & Implant Dentistry. Thanks to their advanced training and state-of-the-art technology, they are able offer multiple types of gum disease treatment, as well as tooth extractions and dental implants. If you are concerned about the health of your gums, they would be pleased to talk with you. Contact our practice at 402-483-7631.