Periodontal therapy is a variety of treatments. They are meant to prevent, diagnose, and treat periodontal diseases, thereby affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
The fundamental aims are to manage infection, halt disease progression, and promote oral hygiene. Ankeny is a city known for promoting community health.
Residents of the city recognize the importance of periodontal care among pregnant women. The dentists in Ankeny can provide safer options for treating various conditions and making sure that the expectant mother remains secure during the entire process.
What are the types of periodontal therapy?
Non-surgical Treatments
- Scaling and Root Planning:
During this procedure, plaque and tartar are eliminated from under the gum line, while root surfaces are made smooth to help reattach the gums to teeth.
- Antibiotic Therapy:
Local antibiotics can be used alongside scaling and root planing in order to reduce bacterial infection.
Surgical Treatments:
- Flap Pocket Reduction surgery:
It again separates the gums from tartar accumulations in deep pockets before closing them through a process called suturing.
- Bone Grafting:
These treatments replace bone that has been destroyed due to periodontal disease and help in getting new bone structures.
What are the essential points to consider during periodontal therapy?
Periodontal therapy is very imperative for pregnant women due to the probable effects of gum diseases on their well-being and that of their fetuses.
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Taking hormonal changes into consideration:
Hormonal fluctuations related to pregnancy can make things worse as far as periodontal problems are concerned; hence, this makes the gums more vulnerable to inflammation and infections.
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Risks of Periodontal Disease:
Untreated periodontal disease in a pregnant woman has been linked with adverse outcomes during childbirth, such as premature birth and low birth weight.
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Going for safer treatment options:
Non-surgical therapies for periodontal diseases like scaling and root planing are considered less risky by most people during the pregnancy period, according to scientists.
Additionally, regular dental cleanings as well as practicing good oral hygiene are also recommended.
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Timing is also essential to get treatment:
It is generally assumed safe to have elective dental procedures during the second trimester, but necessary treatments shouldn’t wait if the situation involves infection or intense swelling.
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Preventive measures that can be taken:
Pregnant women should be advised on how to maintain their oral health, which includes making sure that they brush two times a day, use dental floss daily, and possibly antimicrobial mouthwashes.
What are the emergency treatment options?
A lot of women will experience swollen and sensitive gums during pregnancy due to their increased inflammatory response to dental plaque. Saltwater rinses may help relieve the irritation.
Pregnancy gingivitis generally intensifies during the third trimester. Consequently, women who had gingivitis before getting pregnant run a higher risk for exacerbation while they are expectant.
A highly vascularized and hyperplastic lesion that often resembles pedunculated tumors could develop on the anterior gingival region, measuring 2 cm in diameter approximately 59% of the time in pregnant women.
These lesions could also be products of an increased response to oral pathogens, resulting in inflammation and often regress after pregnancy. Generally speaking, excision is rarely necessary unless severe pain, bleeding, or interference with mastication occurs.
During gestation, ligaments and bones that support the teeth might be temporarily loosened, which increases their mobility.
Usually, there is no loss of teeth unless other complications are involved. Increased incidence of enamel erosion might result from frequent vomiting due to morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, or gastroesophageal reflux during the last months of gestation.
Therefore, rinsing the mouth with dissolved sodium bicarbonate (for example, one teaspoon of baking soda added to a cup of water) would help neutralize associated acids.
Signs of periodontal disease? Get in touch with a periodontist!
The sooner you will reach out to a professional, the better for you. You can get in touch with a skilled periodontist in Ankeny and get your condition treated on time.