Gingivitis
- Treatments
Once you have been diagnosed
with periodontitis, your dentist will
decide if you can be treated surgically,
non-surgically or a combination of
both. Treatment aims are to control
infection, prevent disease progression
and return to good oral health.
Non-surgical treatment involves
scaling and root planing. Surgical
treatment includes gum surgery, bone
or tissue grafts to replace or encourage
new growth of bone or gum tissue
destroyed by periodontitis.
The link between periodontal disease
and general health
The effects of periodontal disease are
not limited to the mouth. Researchers
have found that people with
periodontal disease are almost twice
as likely to suffer from coronary artery
disease as those without periodontal
disease.
Additional studies point to a
relationship between periodontal
disease and stroke. Periodontal disease
can exacerbate existing cardiac
conditions.
Pregnant women with periodontal
disease are seven times more likely to
have pre-term deliveries and babies
who are of low birth weight. Pregnant
women should have a periodontal
evaluation.
