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:

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 root planing smooths your tooth roots to reduce the risk of reinfection. Taken together, the two steps help your gums recover in a matter of weeks. The full treatment can also be combined with other options for increased effectiveness.

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.