Periodontics

Before any periodontal treatment is started, your prosthodontist will first do an examination. If gums issues are detected, your dentist measures the pocket depth (groove between your gums and teeth) with a dental probe beside to determine how deep to clean gums. A dental x-ray may also be taken to check for any bone loss in the areas.

Special deep gums cleaning, called  deep cleaning, root scaling or root planing is normally the main course treatment for gum diseases. Any bacteria build-up on tooth surfaces and under the gums is cleaned and removed. This periodontal cleaning can cause your gums to bleed and to shrink after treatment.

If periodontal disease is more advance, your periodontist will recommend antibiotics or corresponding gum surgery. Surgical periodontal treatment treatment may include flap surgery to reduce deep pockents, bone and tissue grafts or guided tissue regeneration.

Periodontitis cannot be cured. It can be treated and will need routine maintenance care. 

Gingivitis, however, can be prevented with good oral hygiene and bi-annual visits to your dentist for checkups, exams and teeth scaling. You can avoid periodontitis by treating gingivitis at an early stage.

Professional teeth cleaning is normally recommended twice a year. Your dentist may increase visit frequency depending on how much plaque accumulates. If you have prior periodontal disease, bi-annual teeth cleaning and scaling is recommended.

Periodontal disease can be stopped through regular dental checkups and continued good oral hygiene at home:

• Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day 
• Use a fluoride toothpaste
• Rinse and wash your toooth brush well after use and store upright
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, more if the bristles are matted or frayed.
• Bacteria can pass from person to person, so do not share toothbrushes.

Source : American Dental Association (ADA).

This will vary with the type of periodontal treatment required. At BIDC dental center, gums cleaning can range from 300 baht/tooth to 2500 baht/quadrant (approx USD10 to 80). For gums surgery, it treatment fees is normally by areas and can range from around 10,000 to 20,000 baht/area (approx USD320 to 640).

All gums surgery and treatment at BIDC dental center are done by periodontists dental specialists, not general dentists.

During periodontal treatments, local anaesthesia is normally used. So you do not feel pain during the procedure. After treatment, when the anaesthesia wears off, you may experience some tenderness or soreness. Dependign on the extent of your treatment, gums may also bleed for the first few days, Pain and bleed will will fade off. 

Your dentist will prescribe pain relieve medications and post care instructions to lessen and reduce discomfort.

Receding gums is normally caused by gum disease. To prevent gums from further receding forward, you will need to visit your dentist to remove or treat the periodontal disesae. If treated early, early gum disease can be reversed.

To improve gum recession, gingival grafts may sometime be a treatment option whereby gums are placed over exposed areas to protect your tooth. However, gingival grafts do not resolve most aesthetic gums recession and will need care and maintenance over time to be successful. 

Some people may try natural remedies using for treating receding gums. These supplement proposals. You will still visit your peridontist for proper gum disease treatment. Certain items such as the use of special toothpaste for receding gums, coconut oil or consuming foods high in antioxidants, beta-carotene, and Omega-3 fats, may help periodontal healing, but may not treat them.