Gum Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease or “periodontitis” is an advanced form of gum disease.

It’s linked to concerns like bleeding, tooth mobility, bad breath, tartar buildup and tooth loss. Through early intervention, we can provide therapeutic gum disease treatments that help preserve your teeth for as long as possible.

What are the warning signs of gum disease?

If you have persistent bad breath, gums that are tender or bleeding when you brush and floss, you may have gum disease. We’ll perform a detailed examination of your teeth, take recordings of your gum and bone levels, as well as capture a few X-rays to determine the extent of any infection. Depending on our findings, we will let you know the most appropriate plan of action.

Take note: people who smoke or have certain medical conditions such as anaemia may not display traditional symptoms of gum disease.

People who use tobacco products rarely see the traditional signs of swollen or bleeding gums. Keeping your regular checkups can help you to avoid tooth loss before it’s too late.

Gum disease can transfer elsewhere in your body

When you go to the dentist’s office, you may feel as if we’re only looking at your teeth. Rather, we’re also looking at your gums and the big picture when it comes to oral and systemic wellness. Left untreated, your body can take the bacteria from inside of your mouth and allow it to transfer elsewhere in your body via the bloodstream. This situation can quickly lead to complications, especially for people with medical conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Gum disease treatments remove the source of bacterial infection, lowering your chances of other medical complications. If you have difficulty managing underlying health issues and know that you have untreated periodontal disease, it’s important to seek out dental care right away.

Treating gum disease

Treatment for gum disease usually involves a series of periodontal deep cleanings. To ensure your comfort, we’ll numb your teeth or offer sedation upon request. We want you to feel as relaxed as possible. During the clean, we’ll remove buildup from below your gums, between teeth and on the root surfaces.

The visit usually lasts just under an hour. If you have severe gum disease, we may recommend working on one part of your mouth at a time and scheduling a couple of different appointments to complete the process.

After the deep cleaning is complete, we’ll usually have you come back for a review in 3-4 months to see how your gums are healing. As long as everything looks satisfactory, we may continue to keep you on a 3-4-month frequency or book you back out to every six months.

Alternative treatments to gun disease 

If you’ve seen commercials for toothpaste that’s designed for gum care, it’s important to know that these products do not take the place of dental treatment. Brushing and flossing help, but they may not be able to reach the bacterial plaque or tartar deep below gums, across the roots of your teeth. The only solution is a care plan with your oral health therapist, in conjunction with the dentist.

In instances where aggressive disease does not respond to gum therapy, it may be necessary to see a specialist.