Gum Disease

Do you notice that your gums are irritated, swollen, or perhaps bloody? You may have gum disease, which begins when bacteria builds up around your gum line – a process which is often called Periodontal Disease. The initial stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. This condition causes red, swollen and bleeding gums and can cause bad breath. If you don’t get prompt treatment, Gingivitis left untreated may develop into Periodontal Disease – a permanent infection of your gums leading to receding gums, tooth loss and bone loss which can cause tooth mobility.

Unfortunately, gum disease symptoms aren’t always obvious. To treat gum disease, we offer non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing is a thorough cleaning of the root surfaces well below the gumline to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and smooth the tooth root to remove bacteria. We provide anesthesia to numb the target area during the procedure. At its earliest stage known as gingivitis, initial gum disease is treatable and even reversible. Regular dental cleanings and exams are critical to detecting problems early.

Periodontal “Perio” Disease cannot be reversed – only maintained with frequent cleanings, root planing and scaling (deep cleanings using anesthetic) and sometimes application of topical antibiotics are required. Tooth loss is not the only potential problem posed by Perio Disease. Research suggest that it has been associated with more serious health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pre-term labor, low birth weight babies, respiratory disease, and some forms of cancer. Researchers are trying to determine if bacteria and inflammation associated with perio disease play a role in affecting these systemic diseases and conditions.