Partha Dental Blog

 The teeth are held firmly in place due to the gums and the bone  around them.
 The tartar gathered around the teeth causes infection of the gums and bone.
This infection leads to receding of bone and gum levels and thus creates gaps between teeth.
 This tartar if not removed periodically (once in every 6 months) can cause loosening of teeth.
The cleaning procedure will help remove tartar and stop the gum and bone from receding.

As we know that the durability of any structure depends on its basic foundation, the same way durability of teeth depends on strong Gums.

Gums are one of the four structures which are required to support the teeth, the others are, bone surrounding the tooth, the covering of
tooth root (cementum) and the ligaments between the roots and the
bone.

When we say we are cleaning your teeth, its only the plaque and tartar that is present at and above the gum line that gets cleaned.

The main source of infection, the tartar present below the gum line, is notcompletely removed by this procedure. The bacteria residing deep
inside are not only destroying gums but also leading to bone loss  resulting in poor support for the tooth.

Previously to get access to these organisms we use to do a small operation in which we use to  reflect a part of (flap of) gums, remove all the infection, clean up the root and bone; if required we use to  drill to re contour the bone to normal shape. At last again adapt the gums to tooth and suture
(tie) them for better healing. This complete procedure is called Traditional Flap Surgery.

But Now At Partha Dental we cure gum disease with  LASER ASSISTED NEW ATTACHMENT PROCEDURE  . Periolase treatment is the removal of infected tissue, debris, and bacteria, as well as stimulation of the bone and surrounding gum tissue for reattachment.

The best news about the new laser technology is that, unlike traditional "flap" surgery, laser gum surgery promotes regeneration of diseased gum and root surfaces.The patient experiences no gum recession and no side effects than from scalpel surgery.

There is also a much lower chance of gum disease returning after laser gum surgery, since there is regrowth of the connective tissue. Other benefits include a nearly pain-free experience, very little recovery time, if any, and no higher cost than traditional scalpel gum surgery.

How Laser Gum Surgery Works

The process for laser gum surgery uses an FDA approved laser and is called LANAP, which stands for "laser-assisted new attachment procedure." The pulsing laser can tell the difference between diseased gum tissue, which is darker in color, and healthy tissue, and thus it only destroys the infected areas.

The new attachment refers to the actions performed by the periodontist after removing the diseased tissue, when the laser is used to agitate the remaining tissue just enough so that it is stimulated to reattach to the bone. The heat of the laser then seals the gums with a "thermal blood clot, creating a physical barrier to any bacteria or tissue that could re-create gum pockets," according to Sam Low, vice-president of the American Academy of Periodontology.

While laser therapy hasn't been demonstrated to be superior to scalpel surgery, according to the Journal of Periodontology, the decreased pain and recovery time, as well as the potential for regeneration, suggest that there are some important advantages of the newer technology over the old.
The Process.

After an initial exam and x-rays, the periodontist will schedule two appointments within a week of each other, and then proceed to treat one half of the mouth at a time.

Each session takes about two hours and includes the use of Novacaine or a similar local anesthetic. After the area is numb, the periodontist will use the laser to seek out and destroy all the diseased gum tissue. It is then removed through a combination of water, suction and laser. Next, the doctor will use the laser to stimulate the regrowth and reaattachment of the gum tissue to the bone. The patient's bite is also adjusted to prevent unwanted grinding, and patients are usually given a bite guard to wear.

Laser Gum Surgery Post Operative Treatment and Recovery

There is minimal recovery time after the laser gum surgery. The patient can drive themselves home and even return to work the same day. It is a good idea to take it easy for the first 24 hours, and antibiotic and anti-inflammatory medications are taken to prevent infection and reduce swelling.
Crucial to the healing and regeneration at this point are the instructions to refrain from brushing teeth for about a week after the procedure. Gentle rinsing and rubbing the tooth lightly with a cotton swab is the most agitation allowed inside the mouth. A liquid and soft food diet is also required for a week, to prevent any disturbance of the new blood clots which have formed during the procedure. Soon, these will heal into healthy, sealed gum tissue, preventing further infection and disease.

If you have bleeding gums and are searching for a treatment, it’s important that you don’t delay getting this properly and effectively sorted out.

Bleeding gums can be a sign that you are at risk for, or already have, gum disease.

However, persistent gum bleeding may be due to serious medical conditions such as leukemia and bleeding and platelet disorders.

This Is More Dangerous than Many People Realize

Bleeding gums are an early indication of Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease.
At the risk of sounding over-dramatic – if you don’t act speedily you could be in danger of contracting life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, pancreatic cancer and other serious illnesses.
And this is not idle speculation or scaremongering. There is a substantial body of international evidence that supports these assertions.

“How Can Bleeding Gums Be Dangerous ?”

The physical explanation is quite simple. At this present moment – large numbers of harmful bacteria (millions – possibly billions of micro-organisms) are present in your mouth. If you are experiencing swollen and/or bleeding gums, your blood circulatory system already contains every type of organism that is present in your mouth.

Fortunately - our body oftentimes gives us warning indications that all is not well. Your bleeding gums are one such warning to take action before things become more serious.

“So Why Do My Gums Bleed ?”

An army of harmful bacteria live in the human mouth. It’s nothing personal – but your mouth is the perfect breeding ground for these little microbes. They multiply at an astonishing rate and as far as you and I are concerned – they create two main problems for us.

Problem #1
The bacteria survive by feeding off microscopic particles of food they find all over your mouth – even if you brush and floss regularly.
In return for being fed – they excrete foul-smelling sulferous deposits straight into your mouth. It is these deposits that cause a sour taste and the bad breath so many adults suffer from.

Problem #2
Far more serious – and the main subject of this page – is the continuous action of the bacteria depositing a sticky film all over your teeth. This film hardens to form the plaque your dentist chips away each time you go for a check-up.

Unfortunately, this hardened plaque also forms and accumulates down under the gum line where it’s not seen, and can’t be physically removed without painful and costly dental procedures.

The below-the-gum-line plaque eventually leads to all sorts of gum problems that will almost certainly get progressively more serious and more damaging as time passes.
The bleeding gums you may be experiencing right now will most likely be coming from swellings and pockets that form as a result of this bacteria and the damage they cause. The pockets will continue to enlarge and gums may recede providing further visual evidence of advancing gum disease.

Other causes of bleeding gums include:
•    Any bleeding disorder
•    Brushing too hard
•    Hormonal changes during pregnancy
•    Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
•    Ill-fitting dentures
•    Improper flossing
•    Infection, which can be either tooth- or gum-related
•    Leukemia
•    Scurvy
•    Use of blood thinners
•    Vitamin K deficiency

What Happens If You Take No Action

With plenty of food available, oral bacteria can multiply very quickly in a warm mouth. As gums begin to soften and swell, the bacteria will produce toxins and begin to eat away at the bone of the tooth and the soft gum tissue.

If this deterioration is left unchecked your bleeding gums – (which are just an indication of what’s going on underneath) – can easily lead to receding gums and periodontal disease over time – and eventually lost teeth and/or serious medical conditions in extreme cases.
It is important to note that this condition is actually destroying your gum tissue and the bone of your teeth.

“What can you do to  Stop Gums Bleeding ?”

LASER curettage in conjunction with  scaling and root planing (SRP).
The SRP procedure is aimed at the complete removal of bacteria, biofilm, calculus,
and diseased root structure to achieve a biologically
acceptable root surface.

Laser Assisted Procedure can accomplish the healing of your diseased periodontal tissue by laser treatment.

We use Laser to treat many gum problems thus avoiding a surgery.
Laser assisted treatment ensures more comfort, no bleeding and very fast healing.
Within short period of your laser treatment  your gums will look completely normal.

Home Care

Visit the dentist at least once every 6 months for plaque removal.

Follow your dentist's home care instructions.

You should brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristle toothbrush after every meal.

Flossing teeth twice a day can prevent plaque from building up.

Avoiding snacking between meals and reducing carbohydrates can also help.

Follow a balanced, healthy diet.

Other tips:
•    Avoid the use of tobacco, which aggravates bleeding gums.
•    Control gum bleeding by applying pressure directly on the gums with a gauze pad soaked in ice water.
•    If you have been diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency, take recommended vitamin supplements.
•    Avoid aspirin unless your health care provider has recommended that you take it.
•    If side effects of medication are irritating, ask your doctor to recommend another medication. Never change your medication without consulting your doctor.
•    Use an oral irrigation device on the low setting to massage the gums.
•    See your dentist if your dentures do not fit correctly or if they are causing sore spots in your gums.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Consult your health care provider if:
•    The bleeding is severe or long term (chronic)
•    Your gums continue to bleed even after treatment
•    You have other unexplained symptoms with the bleeding

What to Expect at Visit

Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums, and ask questions such as:
•    Are the gums bleeding a large amount?
•    Did the bleeding begin recently?
•    Do the gums bleed frequently or only occasionally?
•    Have you had gum problems before?
•    How often do you brush?
•    How often do you floss?
•    Do you use a soft- or hard-bristle toothbrush?
•    How vigorously do you brush?
•    What other home care aids do you use (toothpicks or other)?
•    When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned at the dentist?
•    Have you changed your diet?
•    Do you eat adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables?
•    Do you take supplemental vitamins?
•    Do you have a high carbohydrate diet (pasta)?
•    What medications do you take? Do you take seizures medicines, blood thinners (such as Coumadin, heparin), or aspirin?
•    Are you pregnant?
•    Have you changed mouthwash or toothpaste recently?
•    What other symptoms do you have? (for example, sore throat)

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

•    Blood tests
•    X-rays of the teeth and jawbone

Prevention of Gum Disease

Best method to avoid recession of gums is to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly.

Dental visits should be scheduled twice every year. Soft bristled tooth brushshould be used for brushing and patient should not use faulty technique of brushing.

Patient can ask his dentist to teach him correct way of brushing teeth.

If traumatic bite or teeth grinding is causing gum recession, then they should be corrected.

 If a person is in the habit of grinding teeth, then mouth guard may be given to the patient.

 In case of traumatic bite, cause of traumatic bite is found and bite of the patient is corrected.

 If traumatic bite is because of some missing teeth, then it should be replaced and if it is because of incorrect alignment of teeth, then alignment needs to be corrected.

Person should quit smoking to prevent gum recession and should eat balanced  

We want your mouth to zing with cleanliness

If friends or family members back away when you speak, you may have bad breath.

While mouthwash can temporarily mask bad breath, using it will not correct underlying hygiene or dental issues that contribute to bad breath.

Persistent bad breath that does not improve with home treatment should be evaluated by a dentist, as breath odor can be a sign of dental health problem.

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath occurs when food particles remain between teeth and on the tongue and mouth after you eat.

If you don't brush or floss regularly, bacteria begins to grow on the particles, which causes the emission of hydrogen sulfide vapors.

Bad breath may also occurs if your mouth is too dry, if you smoke, if you have recently eaten spicy or strong foods, or if you have gum disease, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, liver disease, sinusitis or other illnesses.

Keeping a record of what you eat may help identify the cause of bad breath.

Also, review your current medications, recent surgeries, or illnesses with your dentist.

Treatment of Bad Breath

Untreated periodontal, or gum, disease can cause bad breath.

Periodontal disease occurs when plaque accumulates on the teeth and gums, causing a chronic bacterial infection.

During periodontitis, the worst phase of periodontal disease, the gums separate from the teeth and form pockets.

If the disease destroys gum tissue and bone, teeth can become loss and may have to be removed.

Dentists treat periodontitis by performing a dental cleaning that removes the plaque and bacteria from the pockets.

At Partha Dental we use Laser to treat many gum problems.

Laser assisted treatment ensures more comfort, no bleeding and very fast healing.

Within short period of your laser treatment your gums will look completely normal.


Basic Dental Hygiene

Brushing and flossing are the easiest way to ensure that you have fresh breath.

We recommends brushing your teeth and tongue twice each day with a fluoride toothpaste.

Flossing once each day helps remove trapped food particles.

Cleaning dentures every night will help reduce breath odors.

While mouthwash will only have a temporary effect on odor, using it mouthwash with fluoride will help reduce tooth decay that can cause odor.

Visiting Dentist

Visiting your dentist every six months is an important step in maintaining fresh breath.

Dental cleanings can remove plaque, a sticky substance that build up in the mouth and causes odor.

Careful brushing and flossing removes plaque, but it may not be possible for you to remove all of the plaque in your mouth simply by brushing or flossing.

Preventing Bad Breath

Avoiding foods that you know cause bad breath, such as garlic and onions, can help reduce breath odor.

Quitting smoking and treating underlying illnesses can be helpful in reducing bad breath.

Increasing the amount of liquids that you drink during the day can help prevent bad breath caused by dry mouth.