Gum Disease Treatment – Dallas, TX

Protecting More Than Just Your Teeth

As awful as cavities and tooth infections are, your teeth aren’t the only parts of your smile that matter. You also need to look after your gums, or else they could get infected and cause severe oral issues. That said, you can count on us for help; we offer great gum disease treatment here in Dallas. This service heals and strengthens gum tissues, keeping them stable for years to come. For more details, keep reading or book a consultation soon!

Why Choose Skillman Family Dentistry for Gum Disease Treatment?

  • Detailed Gum Exam at Every Visit
  • Fast & Gentle Dental Team
  • Dental Insurance & Medicaid Welcome

What is Gum Disease?

A 3D rendering of inflamed gum tissue

Gum disease, per its name, is an infection of your gums – the pink tissues surrounding your teeth. It’s often caused by a large buildup of plaque, which gathers due to poor oral hygiene and bad eating habits. Health factors like hormones, genetics, and smoking tobacco can also make the condition more likely.

The two stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. With the first (gingivitis), a patient suffers from a slight inflammation of their gums – an annoying but reversible problem. The second phase (periodontitis) is a full-blown infection that attacks your gum and jaw tissues. As such, it can’t be reversed or undone; dentists can only manage it.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

A woman revealing her red and inflamed gum tissue

Given its two stages, gum disease can cause many varied symptoms. The ones you show will ultimately depend on your infection’s severity, progress rate, etc.

If you only have gingivitis, you can expect somewhat milder signs. Such symptoms include:

  • Swollen gums
  • Red and bleeding gums
  • Gum tenderness
  • Receding gum tissues
  • Chronic bad breath (i.e., halitosis)

Periodontitis has harsher effects on your body. Therefore, its most common signs are:

  • Tooth sensitivity (often due to gum recession)
  • Chewing pain
  • Loose permanent teeth
  • A shifting bite
  • Changes in a restoration’s fit
  • Permanent loss of teeth

How Do We Treat Gum Disease?

An unhappy man seeing his dentist for gum disease treatment

Based on his in-person assessment, Dr. Henry could suggest several gum disease treatment options to you. They are the following:

Antibiotic Treatment

For severe gum disease, we perform antibiotic treatment alongside scaling and root planing. This therapy uses a topical substance or pills depending on your infection’s severity. Either way, the provided medicine kills the infecting bacteria over a period of two weeks or so. That means it makes your gums much healthier, shrinking its gum pockets and reducing the risk of reinfection. You can trust the treatment to leave your smile feeling better than ever.

Scaling & Root Planing

Also known as a deep gum cleaning, scaling and root planing is the traditional gum disease treatment. Its first phase – the scaling – removes hard plaque deposits from under your gums, relying on special instruments to do so. The later stage called root planing smooths your tooth roots to reduce the risk of reinfection and encourage healing. Taken together, the two steps help your gums recover in a matter of weeks. The treatment can also be combined with other gum disease methods for increased effectiveness.

Do You Need Scaling & Root Planing?

Gum disease may not seem like a big deal at first, but if left untreated it will develop into a nasty and destructive oral infection that can destroy teeth. You may need scaling and root planing if you experience symptoms like:

  • Inflammation or swelling of the gums
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Visible accumulations of plaque or tartar
  • Bleeding when brushing or flossing
  • Pain during chewing

While gum disease can usually be reversed with improved oral hygiene if it is caught in its early stage called gingivitis, advanced infections called periodontitis will require professional treatments like scaling and root planing.

The Process of Scaling & Root Planing

The process of scaling and root planing is usually completed over the course of two appointments and can be broken into two parts, those being:

  • Scaling: During your first appointment, Dr. Lu will use specialized tools to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and along and inside the gums.
  • Root planing: Lu carefully removes hardened accumulations of bacteria from along the roots of your teeth and smooths them out to allow them to reintegrate with the gum tissue more easily. This will also help prevent future infections.

Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing

The scaling and root planing process can be rather intensive, so your gums will probably need several weeks to recover afterward. While you can expect some discomfort while healing, you can reduce this and help ensure a speedy recovery by following our aftercare instructions. These will probably include:

  • Rinsing with warm saltwater to reduce accumulations of food and sooth inflammation. Make saltwater by mixing a quarter teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of water.
  • Being careful when cleaning your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with gentle, circular motions to reduce irritation and be especially gentle when flossing.
  • Avoiding foods and beverages that are tough, chewy, crunchy, acidic, sugary, hot, or alcoholic.
  • Refraining from tobacco use.
  • Taking a break from intensive physical activity for several days after the treatment.