Dental Bangkok, Dentist Bangkok @ Sukhumvit 21 (Asok Road)

Gum Treatment

At BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC we put great emphasis on the prevention and treatment of gum disease, or periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when the tissues that surround and support your teeth become infected and the gum tissue can become detached from the teeth. gum treatment bangkokThe sulcus is a shallow crevice that lies between the gum and the tooth, periodontitis is an affliction that is to be found just below the line of the gum in the sulcus. When periodontitis becomes evident the tissues that support the tooth break down and cause the tooth to become detached from the gum. As the gum tissues become more and more infected the sulcus can develop into a small pocket, as a general rule, the more advanced the disease, the greater the depth of the sulcus pocket. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.

At BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC we classify Periodontal disease according to the severity of the disease. At BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC we use internationally accepted methods to diagnose and classify the extent and severity of the disease. There are two major stages of gum disease, gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is a mild and, generally, correctable form of periodontal disease that will only affect the actual gums. However, gingivitis can lead to far more serious and damaging forms of periodontal disease, classified as periodontitis.

Some factors increase the risk of developing periodontal disease:
Regular users of tobacco are at greater risk: Suffers of systemic diseases such as diabetes: Steroids and similar types of medication will increase the risk of periodontal disease, as will patients that have been administered some forms of anti-epilepsy drugs, some cancer therapy drugs and calcium channel blockers will also raise the risk factor. Evidence also shows that ill-fitting bridges can cause problems, as can damaged or defective tooth fillings. Pregnancy and the use of oral contraceptives are also known to raise the risk of periodontal disease. Our Smile Republic expert will take our clients overall medical history into consideration during the diagnostic stage of the initial examination to ensure that the correct treatment can be administered in each individual case.

Here are some warning signs that a client may become aware of:
- Gums that are prone to bleeding
- Gums that become red, swollen or tender
- Gums that are pulling away from the teeth
- Persistent unsavory breath or bad taste
- Permanent teeth becoming lose or separating
- Any altering of the way your teeth come together when you bite
- Any change in the fit or alignment of partial dentures

If you experience any of these, or other unexplained symptoms, it is time to visit BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC for a professional examination which will determine whether or not you have a problem that needs treatment. At BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC you can be assured of a clear, honest appraisal of your dental condition and a balanced evaluation as to the best course of treatment that suits your condition and circumstance.

What types of gum disease are there?
At BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC we are aware of the many forms of periodontal disease, and the many perceptibly tangible traits that occur with this common affliction. It is vital that any of these periodontal afflictions gain prompt attention from one of our BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINICpublic experts to stem the deteriorative effects of the disease so as to eliminate the risk of irreversible damage to the gum tissues and bone. Our experts are well versed in the diagnosis and treatment of all gum diseases however minor or advanced they may have become. Here are some of the most common types of periodontal disease along with the treatments typically performed to correct them:

Gingivitis.
Gingivitis is a prevalent and yet fairly mild form of periodontitis. Its cause can be found in the toxins that exist in plaque, this leads to the periodontal disease. Some sections of society are at a greater risk of developing gingivitis, including pregnant women, women taking contraceptive pills, people with uncontrolled diabetes, users of steroids and people who require medication to control seizures and high blood pressure.

Your infected gums will be red, swollen, and tender. You probably notice bleeding during brushing and flossing. This progression level of gingivitis is correctable with the expert treatment and advice available from our Smile Republic experts.

Mild Periodontitis.


This by far the most prevalent form of gum disease witnessed by our BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC experts. We see greater levels of this form of periodontitis occurring in people over the age of 45. In this scenario inflammation will show progression through to the supporting alveolar bone. A degree of bone loss will be seen along with the formation of periodontal pockets, which act as traps for food particles. From here on periodontitis will follow and cause the destruction of the surrounding support structure of the teeth and this can also be influenced by other factors such as an individual's immune and inflammatory responses, this is instigated by microbial plaque. If periodontitis is allowed to go untreated a person can find themselves losing teeth and experiencing bad breath or halitosis.

Moderate Periodontitis.
At this, more serious progressive stage, there will be a much increased gingival recession, this is commonly characterized by a greater level of inflammation below the gum line and the continuous degeneration of the gingival and bone tissue. This creates the illusion that the teeth gradually extending in length, but in actual fact this is a direct result of gum recession. This will result in the appearance of moderate to deep pockets, moderate to severe bone loss, and the loss of tooth stability, a direct result of the bone becoming undermined.

Severe Periodontitis.
This is a very serious stage of periodontitis. Once periodontal disease becomes sever it can be excessively aggressive and is epitomized by the increasingly rapid loss of gum attachment, the further loss of bone tissue and familial aggregation. The disease, at this juncture, is viewed upon as being similar to that of moderate periodontitis but the progression of the condition is much faster. Users of tobacco products and those with a family history of the disease are known to be at an increased risk of developing aggressive periodontitis. The deepening of pockets, increased instability of teeth, movement and misalignment and visible fistulas (boils) will be present at this progressive stage of the disease. There is the possibility of pus development, continued bone loss and may result in the loosening and possible loss of teeth

Necrotizing Periodontal Disease.
At this point the disease will rapidly worsen and is more prevalent among HIV suffers, those with immunosuppression, malnutrition, chronic stress or those choosing to partake in the use of tobacco products. Necrosis, or death of the tissues, will often affect the periodontal ligament, gingival tissues and the alveolar bone.

How is Periodontal (Gum) Disease Treated?
In the event that our BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC expert diagnoses a client with gum disease, our periodontist may recommend non-surgical periodontal treatment. For more advanced cases, it may be necessary to undertake gum surgery. The biggest single factor in deciding upon which treatment is the most appropriate will be how quickly your gum disease has been detected and how advanced it is. Our skilled experts will guide you with detailed, comprehensive advice as to the options available so you can make an informed choice as to your treatment. In addition, treatment will depend upon the type of periodontal disease and how far the condition has progressed.

Non-Surgical Treatment.
This non-evasive treatment is applicable if you are showing has the early stages of gum disease. Non-surgical treatment can be quick and simple and is always performed by one of Smile Republics’ highly skilled professionals.

Scaling or Cleaning.
This is a treatment procedure which involves our Smile Republic expert using a simple instrument based technique on the crown and root surfaces of the teeth. Plaque, calculus, and stains are removed from these surfaces. It is performed on clients with periodontal disease and is a therapeutic procedure, as opposed to a prophylactic one and may precede root planning. It is a definitive, meticulous treatment procedure aimed at the removal of cementum and/or dentin that is rough and is possibly permeated by calculus, or that might have become contaminated with toxins or microorganisms. This procedure can be used as a definitive treatment or as part of pre-surgical therapy (tissue preparation) depending on how far the periodontal disease has advanced. This is also a non-evasive treatment with little or no trauma.

Bone or Gingival Augmentation.
We carry out this BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC surgical procedure using tissue grafts to replace the missing thick tissue (keratinized gingiva), in addition we use a barrier membrane, and or, a bone graft replacement material which is placed under the gum and over the remaining bone support (ridge or jaw bone) which will aid the regeneration of new bone in an area where teeth are being extracted or have already been removed. It may be possible that the graft material can be taken from the patient's own body. If this is not the case, an artificial, synthetic, or natural substitute may be used. This is necessary to prevent the surrounding bone from collapsing into the extraction socket, post removal of a tooth. If this procedure is not carried out, the ridge will become narrow and sharp and it will not be possible to insert an implant or a comfortable-fitting denture. This is a more invasive procedure and a client may well experience some level of post- operative discomfort during the healing process, however this is quite normal.

Clients often ask what materials are used in bone grafting.
At BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC we utilize several tried and tested materials.
Puros Cancellous Particulate Allograft.
This has become the most favorable material of choice at Smile Republic, and indeed throughout the world, for many bone graft applications due to its well documented, extemporary clinical results, in the regeneration of periodontal bone and furcation defects.

ExFuse. For some applications at BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC it may be preferable to opt for ExFuse. This is an advanced, demineralized bone matrix with cancellous bone gel.

ExFuse. has been clinically proven to deliver excellent results in many bone grafting applications.

Xenograft.
This material is of non-human extraction, often bovine. Xenograft is largely coral based calcium carbonate, with the addition of the necessary levels of fluorides. This makes it a highly appropriate material for bone grafting which promotes further, healthy bone development. Whichever material is deemed appropriate for each individual case our clients can be assured that our BANGKOK SMILE DENTAL CLINIC experts use only clinically tested materials with an exemplary pedigree.

Post-Op care.
In most cases, the gums are too tender to brush post-operatively. We will provide you with an antibacterial mouth rinse called Chlorhexidine which will chemically reach those areas that the tooth brush will be too sensitive to debride. Warm salt water will help to reduce gum inflammation and an antibiotic is usually prescribed to prevent infection. Analgesics (pain medication) can be used if the pain becomes severe. You should always strictly adhere to the directions for dosage of any medication you take.