Gum disease: what it is and how we treat it.
Gum disease is the leading cause of lost teeth and lost implants. It usually doesn't hurt until it's advanced, which is why we measure your gums at every exam.
Signs to watch for
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bleeding when you brush, floss or eat something hard
- Gums pulling back, so teeth look longer
- Loose teeth, or teeth spreading apart
- Pus between your gums and teeth
- Bad breath that doesn't go away
- A change in how your teeth fit together
What raises your risk
- Smoking
- Diabetes and heart disease
- Dry mouth, often from medications
- Sleep apnea
- Worn fillings or crowns, or dentures that don't fit
- Implants that aren't cleaned well
- Family history: genes play a part, as with heart disease
Gingivitis comes first
Gingivitis is the mildest form. Gums are red and puffy and bleed easily, but there's little or no pain and no bone has been lost. It's fully reversible with a professional cleaning and good care at home.
Then periodontitis
Left alone, plaque spreads below the gumline. The bacteria in it set off a long-running inflammation in which the body breaks down the gum and bone that hold your teeth. The gums pull away and form pockets, the pockets get deeper, and eventually teeth loosen and can be lost.
We measure those pockets and look at your x-rays to stage the disease, from mild to severe. Bone that's been lost doesn't grow back. Our goal is to stop the disease where it is and keep your teeth for life.
Gum disease can't be cured, just like heart disease or diabetes. It can be treated and kept under control.
How we treat it
- Gum infection therapy. A thorough cleaning below the gumline, often called a "deep cleaning," that removes the bacteria and buildup a regular cleaning can't reach.
- A check a few months later. Swelling goes down and we measure again to see how your gums responded.
- Perio maintenance. Once roots are exposed, cleaning them properly takes special instruments and more time. Most people with a history of gum disease come every three or four months instead of six.
This is why a regular cleaning isn't the right treatment for active gum disease, and why your first visit is an exam before any cleaning. We'll show you what we find and explain what you need.
No insurance?
The Gum Health plan is $679 a year. It includes two exams, two perio maintenance visits and your x-rays, and takes 15% off gum infection therapy, extra maintenance visits and everything else. If you've ever been told you have deep pockets or needed a deep cleaning, it's the plan for you.