Gum Disease Treatment – Phoenix, AZ

What is Gum Disease?

Periodontal disease, which is more commonly called gum disease, is the result of plaque and tartar buildup. As they accumulate around the teeth and gums, they cause the gums to become irritated and inflamed. Eventually, however, it can lead to serious consequences, including tooth loss. That’s why it’s so important not to take the “wait and see” approach if you suspect that something may be wrong.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

A few common symptoms of gum disease include:

• Red, inflamed, or sensitive gums
• Bleeding when you brush or floss
• Chronic bad breath
• Teeth that appear longer than usual
• A change to your bite

If these or any other warning signs of trouble arise, contact our team at Bell Road Dental Care of Phoenix. That way, one of our dedicated dentists can carefully assess your condition and create a personalized plan that matches your needs.

How Do We Treat Gum Disease?

Are you struggling with periodontal disease? Don’t let this condition ruin your smile or your health. Call our dental office to schedule a periodontal exam. That way, we can assess the severity of the infection and create a custom treatment plan at our Phoenix dental office.

Scaling & Root Planing

When you have advanced gum disease, a regular cleaning won’t be enough to remove the bacteria that is causing the damage. We’ll need to perform a deep cleaning instead. This procedure begins with scaling, which is simply the process of removing plaque and tartar from your teeth and gums, especially in the area beneath the gumline. The second step of a deep cleaning is root planing, where we smooth out the roots of the teeth so that they aren’t as susceptible to plaque accumulation.

Do I Need Scaling & Root Planing?

Some mild cases of gum disease can be addressed with at-home oral hygiene measures and regular dental care. However, if your case is more advanced, we might recommend scaling and root planing. Here are some signs that you should visit us for an evaluation:

• Your gums bleed easily when you brush and floss.
• Your gums are tender, sore, and swollen.
• You have persistent bad breath.
• You have noticeable gum recession or loose teeth.

The Process of Scaling & Root Planing

The goal of scaling and root planing is to minimize the number of harmful bacteria attacking your gums. To accomplish that, we start with scaling. We use special instruments to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, focusing on areas both above and below the gumline, including the small pockets between the teeth and gums. During root planing, we carefully smooth out the roots of the teeth so bacteria cannot cling to them as easily.

We typically treat one quadrant of the mouth at a time with scaling and root planing, so depending on the extent of your gum disease, the process might take up to four dental visits.

Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing can be intensive, so you can expect your gums to be tender and sore afterward for up to a few weeks. In the meantime, these aftercare tips can facilitate a smooth healing process:

• Be very gentle when you brush and floss.
• Regularly rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary.
• Eat a soft diet that is not too spicy, acidic, or hot.
• Get a bit of extra rest, especially directly after the procedure.

Antibiotic Treatment

We may prescribe antibiotics after a periodontal treatment to eliminate or reduce further bacterial development in your mouth. At our dental office, we often prescribe Arestin for patients with advanced gum disease that has caused pockets to form between the teeth and gums. Microspheres filled with medication are placed in the pockets in order to directly fight the source of the infection. By combining antibiotics with scaling and root planing, we generally see a much higher rate of pocket reduction over the course of several months.

Solea Laser Treatment

Laser treatment lets us address different aspects of gum disease to give your mouth a chance to recover. We can use it to gently remove infected tissues without incisions; the laser will cauterize any exposed blood vessels, so you don’t have to worry about bleeding. Also, lasers are highly effective for killing bacteria, allowing us to sterilize your mouth without damaging your soft tissues. Laser treatments cause little to no discomfort, so don’t worry about needing to have your mouth numbed for the procedure.