Periodontics (Science of Gum Health)

Why is Gum Health Important?
Generally, the entirety of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth is called the gums. The gums are attached to the teeth by numerous fibers and provide support. When the gums lose their health, a process that can lead to soft tissue loss, bone loss, and tooth loss can occur.

Are My Gums Healthy? How Can We Tell If My Gums Are Losing Their Health?
When gums begin to lose their health, they provide us with many clues. These include:

Swollen gums

Discoloration of the gums

Sensitivity in the gums and teeth

Bleeding gums during brushing

Bad breath

Recessed gums

Cultivation of tartar (tartar)

Is Having Tartar Removed Harmful?
Tartar is a hard, unhealthy substance formed by the mineralization of food residue and microorganisms on the teeth over time. Having your tartar removed during routine dental checkups is definitely a healthy treatment for your teeth and gums.

 

In patients with excessive tartar buildup, gum recession becomes more pronounced after dental tartar removal, black triangles appear between teeth, and some tooth mobility is observed. These are examples of natural outcomes observed after treatment.

What are the Harms of Gum Recession?
Gum recession exposes root surfaces, causing tooth sensitivity and an unaesthetic appearance. In more advanced cases, tooth mobility and tooth loss can occur due to the weakening of the supporting structures.

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Is There a Treatment for Gum Recession?
The treatment method for gum recession is determined by the extent of the recession and the amount and health of the remaining tissue surrounding the tooth. If the case is suitable, the exposed surfaces can be successfully repaired with flap surgery and/or soft tissue grafting.

What is Curettage?
Advanced and untreated gingivitis results in pathological, unhealthy spaces between the surrounding soft tissue and the tooth. These spaces are highly susceptible to the accumulation of food debris and microorganisms. The accumulation of microorganisms and nutrients further exacerbates the soft tissue inflammation, making it impossible for the patient to clean it on their own. In such cases, the inflamed soft tissue and necrotic tissue on the tooth are removed using special hand tools under local anesthesia. This procedure is called curettage.

In patients who undergo curettage, gum recession becomes more pronounced, black triangles form between the teeth, and some mobility of the teeth are some examples of normal conditions observed after the treatment.

What is Flap Surgery?
In cases where curettage treatment is insufficient, severe gingivitis is widespread throughout the jaw, and bone loss has begun, the gum tissue is stripped away from the bone in a controlled manner to a certain extent, and all inflamed and necrotic soft and hard tissues are removed with specialized instruments. This procedure is called a flap surgery.

In patients who undergo flap surgery, gum recession becomes more pronounced, black triangular areas form between the teeth, and some tooth mobility are examples of normal conditions observed after the treatment process.

Gum Discoloration
Gum discoloration is often seen in dark-skinned individuals and heavy smokers. This discoloration in the frontal areas can cause an unaesthetic appearance. This discoloration can be significantly eliminated with scalpel surgery or laser treatment. Depending on the patient's genetics and habits, the discoloration may recur after treatment.

Other gum discolorations can occur for many different reasons and require a detailed history and clinical examination for an accurate diagnosis.

Gummy Smile Treatment
My Gums Are Too Visible When I Smile. Is There a Treatment?

Excessive gum visibility during lip movements is called a "gummy smile." There is a step-by-step treatment process:

1) Removal of a portion of the gums (gingivectomy-gingivoplasty)

2) If the results are insufficient, there are two reversible and permanent treatment options.

↳ a) Reversible treatment involves Botox injection into the lip muscles.

↳ b) Permanent treatment requires surgical intervention on the soft tissues of the lips.

3) If the results obtained in the first two steps are insufficient, advanced surgical methods are used.