Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is the most common reason adults lose teeth, and it is largely painless until it is advanced. Bleeding when you brush is not normal, and it is usually the first sign.

What we look for

At every exam we measure the pockets between your gums and teeth. Healthy pockets are shallow. As inflammation progresses, the tissue and the bone underneath begin to pull away from the tooth, the pockets deepen, and bacteria collect where no toothbrush can reach. Left alone, the bone that holds the tooth in place is gradually lost.

Your periodontal diagnosis determines what treatment you need — a routine cleaning, a deeper cleaning, or a referral.

Deep cleaning

Scaling and root planing removes hardened deposits from the root surfaces below the gum line and smooths those surfaces so the tissue can reattach. It is usually done with local anesthetic, often over two visits, and followed by a shorter recall interval so we can confirm the tissue is responding.

For patients with advanced periodontal disease, we will refer you to a periodontist for further treatment. Treating advanced disease properly matters more than treating it here.

Gum surgery

Gum surgeries can be completed to improve cosmetics and to treat recession. Common reasons include:

• Recession — covering exposed root surfaces that are sensitive or at risk of decay
• Uneven or “gummy” smiles — reshaping the tissue so the teeth show in better proportion
• Preparation for restorative work — sometimes gum surgery is recommended before a crown or a filling to give a better result and a better long-term prognosis

Keeping it stable

Periodontal disease is managed rather than cured. Once we have the inflammation under control, the work is in maintenance: more frequent cleanings, a home routine that actually reaches the gum line, and honest attention to the risk factors that made it worse — smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and grinding among them.