My parents both had gum disease, so I know what it looks like. I’ve been afraid to go to the dentist for many years, but I know if I do, they’re going to operate because I have the family problem. My mom had gum surgery when I was young, and I remember how painful it was. She was in pain for days. Now I’m facing the same thing. Aren’t there better painkillers now?
Theresa V.
Atlanta
Hi Theresa,
It sounds like your mom had a very bad experience with both gum disease and gum surgery, and that may have contributed to your being afraid and avoiding the dentist. That’s unfortunate, but there’s a very bright side here. Your fear may have kept you away, but during your absence, there have been a lot of advances in the way gum disease is diagnosed and treated. None of them include the kind of pain your mom experienced.
It can be hard to overcome long-lasting fear, but you may be pleasantly surprised. Instead of assuming you need gum surgery, if you allow a qualified periodontist to examine your teeth, you may find out that your dental condition is easily treatable without surgery.
Healthy Gums vs. Periodontal Disease
Let’s break things down a little here. Sometimes straightforward information can be the best prescription for fear and avoidance. To begin with, periodontal disease is caused by plaque and tartar that attach to the tooth root below the gumline where brushing and flossing can’t reach. These pockets of plaque and tartar cause inflammation, which damages the bone structure that keeps our teeth stable. The drawing above shows this process.
Even diagnosing the extent of the inflammation and damage used to be fairly difficult. But a new, high-tech camera, called a perioscope, now allows the periodontist to see how far the damage extends. In addition, the laser technology that uses both heat and water to eliminate pain now enables non-surgical gum treatment to smooth the tooth root and remove bacterial toxins. This procedure is called scaling and root planing, and it does not require incisions, sutures, or a long healing process. In essence, it is a deep cleaning that can be accomplished in one or more appointments, leaving healthy tissue intact.
Here’s hoping you find a solution to your fear and your dental condition soon!
This Blog is brought to you by Dr. David Pumphrey of Pumphrey Periodontics in Atlanta.
