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1 Can periodontal disease be cured?
2 What is the treatment for periodontal diseases?
3 What is Periodontal Surgery?
5 Soft tissue grafting.
 
(1) Can periodontal disease be cured?
Gingivitis, being a reversible condition, will restore quickly once dental plaque is removed and prevented from returning (by regular tooth brushing and flossing). Periodontitis unfortunately is NOT reversible. The loss of support structures (including bone) around teeth is usually a permanent feature. At best it can only be halted by appropriate treatment and satisfactory personal oral hygiene. In severe cases, a permanent disfigurement (such as gum recession and elongation of teeth) remains and the patient has to accept these limitations. Plastic and reconstructive surgery can correct some of these disfigurements sometimes but not in all cases.

After active periodontal treatment is completed, we will refer you back to your general dentist but may also see you periodically for follow-up care and periodic maintenance treatment. This is usually done alternating every three months.

Periodontitis is a condition ( LIKE DIABETES OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE )this means that it cannot be completely cured but it can be managed. It will depend on you, the patient, to maintain excellent levels of oral hygiene once the initial treatment is completed. This is why the maintenance visits are so important to ensure that the condition is kept under control. After the initial treatment in conjunction with your own dentist a maintenance plan will be devised for you.

Remember that the most important member of the treatment team is you. Your interest, participation and commitment are essential to make your treatment a success.
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(2) What is the treatment for periodontal diseases?
The first line of defence against periodontal disease is actually prevention. This includes a good oral hygiene routine at home. Brushing at least twice a day and cleaning between teeth once a day with floss helps prevent plaque from accumulating. Depending on the severity of the disease, more in-depth oral hygiene instructions may be recommended.

Depending on how far the diseases have progressed, treatment can vary widely. In the early stages of gum disease, treatment may involve scaling and root planing. This means removing plaque and calculus in the pockets around the tooth and smoothing the root surfaces. Scaling and root planing helps rid the mouth of infection-causing bacteria and irritants beneath the gum line.
More advanced cases may require periodontal surgical treatment. The goals of this treatment are to remove calculus from deep pockets around teeth, reduce the pockets, smooth root surfaces and arrange gum tissue into a shape that will be easier to keep clean.
The many benefits of periodontal treatment include fresh breath, the ability to chew your food more easily, healthy gums that are free from infection and most importantly, helping you achieve your goal of keeping your natural teeth for a lifetime! Whatever the treatment may entail, our goal is to return you to good oral health and then to help you to maintain it.
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(3) What is Periodontal Surgery?
  This surgical procedure is used by us to smooth or correct defects and irregularities in the bone surrounding the diseased teeth with the ultimate goal of reducing or eliminating the periodontal pockets.  
  Periodontal resective therapy  
  BEFORE
Non-responding sites that after root surface debridement still have deep pocketing and bleeding on deep probing.		  
  AFTER
Pocket reduction periodontal surgery was carried out resulting in minimal probing depths and no bleeding on deep probing. This also provides the patient with proper access for plaque control in home maintenance.		  
       
  Periodontal regenerative therapy  
  BEFORE
Advanced bone loss on the distal surface of the premolars. Surgical regenerative therapy was carried out using Emdogain bone regenerative material.		  
  AFTER
Bone regenerative therapy establishes new tooth support through new bone growth thereby enhancing the long-term prognosis of the tooth.		  

After administering local anaesthetic we expose the roots so that we can see the amount and type of bone loss. We can also see tartar that may be attached to the roots.

This tartar and the granulation tissue are then removed. This granulation tissue is basically (infected/inflamed gum tissue) that gets into the craters and defects as the bone resorbs or disappears.

The bone is then contoured and in the cases of deep craters a bone graft material may be inserted. It may also be necessary to place a special membrane over the graft to protect the material and to help it regenerate.
After the bone is reshaped or augmented (bone graft), we then replace the original gum flap back over the bone and place sutures (stitches). The sutures are usually nylon and are removed between one to two weeks later.
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(5) Soft tissue grafting.
Periodontal procedures are available to stop further dental problems and gum recession, and/or to improve the aesthetics of your gum line.

Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. Perhaps you wish to improve your smile by covering one or more of these roots that make your teeth appear too long. Or, maybe you're not bothered by the appearance of these areas, but you cringe because the exposed roots are sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids.

Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing or periodontal disease. You may not be in control of what caused the recession, but prior to treatment we can help you identify the factors contributing to the problem. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure will repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.

Soft tissue grafts can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During this procedure, we take gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity.
BEFORE
Gingival recession with root exposure on premolars causing aesthetic and tooth sensitivity problems.
AFTER
A sub epithelial connective tissue graft harvested from the palate together with a coronally advanced flap is used for root coverage. The outcome shows excellent aesthetics and a decrease in tooth sensitivity.
   
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