How do Hygienists treat the Gums?
First,
is a cleaning of the spaces between the affected teeth and gums. This
removes all the plaque and the Tartar which is mainly responsible for
the disease process and makes the tooth surface nice and smooth. This
removes sites where the bacteria lodge within the gums. It also reduces
the chance of more bacteria taking hold because it's harder for plaque
to stick to a smooth surface.
The Hygienist then
polishes the tooth with an special paste to remove stains and instructs
the patient on maintenance and home care, including the use of special
anti-bacterial mouthwashes.
Afterwards, you'll have to get frequent, regular
cleanings to maintain control of the problem. Be aware that gum disease can run
in families. You'll also have to practice good oral hygiene at home and try to
reduce other risk factors for gum disease, like quitting smoking or eating fewer
sweets.
Does the treatment hurt?
You
can expect some discomfort from periodontal treatment, but it will
probably be much less than you fear. The high fear factor is one of the
reasons why people don't see the dentist soon enough when they notice
symptoms. Although about half of patients reported feeling fearful of
pain before they were treated, less than 10 percent reported feeling
any large discomfort or pain from treatment, according to a poll by the
American Academy of Periodontology. For those that do, the Hygienist
can administer local anaesthetics to make the process comfortable and
easy.
Recent advances in dental techniques and
equipment, in addition to the better use of anesthetics, have made
periodontal treatment more comfortable. Local anesthesia, pain
medications and even sedation are used more frequently.
Please feel free to critique some of these timelapse videos of some of our more elaborate work:
Broken mouth makeover; time lapse Front tooth replacement; time lapseComposite Veneers and Crowns time lapseCreating pearly whites; time lapse