Gum Disease Treatment – Belmont, MA
Have Concerns About Gum Health? Let Us Help
Your gums are essential for providing support for your teeth. If they become infected, it can lead to serious problems for your smile as well as your overall health. Have you noticed any warning signs that make you think that you might be suffering from gum disease? If so, give our office a call today to schedule an appointment with your reliable dentist in Belmont. Dr. Salibian will determine the best way to get your gum health back on track.
Why Choose EyeSmile Dentistry and Optometry of Belmont for Gum Disease Treatment?
- State-of-the-Art Laser Treatments
- Thorough Scaling and Root Planing
- Antibiotic Treatment Available
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a serious oral health problem that affects around 64.7 million adults in the United States. It is an infection of the soft tissues in your mouth around the roots of your teeth. Many people aren’t as concerned about gum disease as they should be since its symptoms tend to be relatively mild at first. However, should it go unaddressed for too long, it can significantly damage the gums and jawbone, causing the teeth to come loose.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Many people find out that they have gum disease when visiting their dentist for a checkup, but there are certain warning signs that you can keep an eye out for. Some of the most notable symptoms of gum disease include:
- Swollen and/or unusually red gums.
- Teeth that appear longer due to the gums pulling away.
- Gums that bleed easily (which you are likely to notice when brushing or flossing).
- Loose permanent teeth.
- Bad breath that won’t go away.
- Discomfort while chewing.
- Pus that appears between the teeth and gums.
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Step one is to confirm that you have gum disease and check to see how severe it is. Then we will go over your treatment options with you before giving you our recommendation. If you would like more information about the different ways that our team can help improve and protect the health of your gums, keep reading.
Scaling & Root Planing
Upon examining your mouth, we may find that your gum disease has already passed the point where it could be reversed simply by improving your oral hygiene. In cases like this, we are likely to suggest a deep cleaning. This procedure revolves around two steps: scaling and root planing. The idea is to get rid of bacteria that are hiding in areas that a regular dental cleaning wouldn’t reach, thus improving the health of your gums.
Do I Need Scaling & Root Planing?
It largely depends on how advanced your gum disease is. If it’s still in the gingivitis stage, we might simply recommend that you update your brushing and flossing routine. However, if your gum disease has turned into periodontitis, scaling and root planing may be necessary to ensure that the problem doesn’t grow any worse. We’ll need to examine your mouth before we can give you any recommendations for dealing with your gum disease.
The Process of Scaling & Root Planing
During the scaling step, we will identify areas where plaque and tartar have accumulated. We will specifically look at the area beneath the gum line, right down to the bottom of any pockets that have formed between the teeth and gums. Then we will remove as much of the plaque and tartar as possible with special dental instruments.
When scaling has been completed, we can then move on to root planing. We will smooth out the roots of your teeth, which are usually completely covered by the gums. Root planing has two major benefits. First, it aids the gum tissue in reattaching itself to the teeth. Second, it makes it harder for bacteria to cling to the tooth roots, which means you will be less likely to suffer from a tooth infection.
Depending on the circumstances, you might need to schedule multiple appointments for scaling and root planing. You may be nervous about discomfort during the procedure, but rest assured that we will numb your mouth before we begin, so there shouldn’t be any pain. (That said, it’s not unusual to feel some pressure.)
Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing
To make sure that everything goes smoothly after scaling and root planing, keep the following tips in mind:
- Wait to Eat: It’s recommended that you avoid eating for at least a couple of hours after your procedure. This is to give the local anesthetic a chance to wear off; trying to eat while your mouth is still numb could lead to biting your tongue by accident.
- Rinse with Salt Water: By rinsing with salt water every few hours, you can manage any discomfort that you might be experiencing and reduce the risk of infection.
- Be Careful When Brushing: You will still be able to brush and floss, but you will need to be very gentle when cleaning around any areas where scaling and root planing were performed.
Antibiotic Treatment
We might not get all of the bacteria out of your mouth with scaling and root planing alone, which is why antibiotics may also be used as part of your gum disease treatment. The antibiotics that we prescribe come in the form of pills; be sure to follow any instructions that we give you for taking the medication.
Laser Periodontal Treatment
Our practice offers what is known as the LANAP protocol (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), which is a minimally invasive way to treat gum disease with the help of a state-of-the-art CO2 laser. With this treatment, we can gently remove damaged parts of the gum tissue while the healthy tissue remains intact. Note that procedures involving dental lasers tend to have shorter healing times, and they typically result in less bleeding.