Gum Disease Treatment in Redmond

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums and the bone that hold your teeth in place. It is common, it often causes no pain in its early stages, and it is one of the main reasons adults lose teeth. The good news is that it can be found early and treated. Here is how gum disease develops, how it is diagnosed, and what treatment involves.

How Gum Disease Starts

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day. If it isn’t removed by brushing and cleaning between your teeth, it irritates the gums. Over time, plaque can harden into tartar (calculus), which only a dental professional can remove. Tartar along and below the gumline gives bacteria a place to collect, and the gums respond with inflammation.

Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Gum disease has two main stages:

• Gingivitis is the early stage. The gums become red and swollen and may bleed when you brush or floss. The bone and the fibers that hold your teeth have not been damaged yet, so gingivitis can usually be reversed with a professional cleaning and good daily care at home.
• Periodontitis is the more advanced stage. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth, forming spaces called pockets that collect more bacteria. The infection slowly breaks down the bone and tissue that support the teeth. Lost bone does not grow back on its own, but treatment can stop the disease from getting worse and help keep your teeth.

Signs to Watch For

Many people have gum disease without knowing it, because it often doesn’t hurt. Call us if you notice any of these signs:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste that doesn’t go away
• Gums that have pulled back, making teeth look longer
• Teeth that feel loose or have shifted, or a change in how your teeth fit together when you bite
• Pus between the teeth and gums

Some things raise the risk of gum disease, including smoking or using tobacco, diabetes, hormone changes such as pregnancy, some medications, and a family history of gum problems.

How Gum Disease Is Diagnosed

Checking your gums is part of every regular exam. Your dentist or hygienist uses a periodontal probe, a thin instrument marked like a tiny ruler, to gently measure the depth of the pocket around each tooth. Healthy pockets are usually shallow, about 1 to 3 millimeters. Deeper pockets, bleeding when the gums are probed, gums that have pulled back, and teeth that move can all be signs of periodontitis.

X-rays show the level of the bone around your teeth, which can’t be seen during an exam. Comparing X-rays over time also shows whether bone loss is getting worse or staying stable. Together, these measurements and X-rays help your dentist decide whether you have gingivitis or periodontitis and how advanced it is.

Scaling and Root Planing

When periodontitis has caused deeper pockets, a regular cleaning can’t reach all of the buildup. Scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, is the usual first treatment.

1. Numbing. The area being treated is numbed with a local anesthetic. Treatment is often done one section of the mouth at a time.
2. Scaling. Plaque and tartar are removed from the tooth surfaces above and below the gumline, all the way to the bottom of each pocket.
3. Root planing. The root surfaces are smoothed so bacteria have a harder time sticking to them and the gums can heal and fit more snugly against the teeth.
4. Re-evaluation. A few weeks later, your pockets are measured again to see how your gums have responded and to plan your next steps.

In some cases, your dentist may also recommend a medicated rinse or an antibiotic placed in a deep pocket to help control bacteria.

Periodontal Maintenance

Periodontitis can come back if bacteria build up again, so ongoing care matters. After a deep cleaning, most patients move to periodontal maintenance visits instead of standard cleanings. These visits clean below the gumline, recheck pocket depths and look for any areas that need more attention. They are often scheduled every three or four months, but your dentist will recommend the timing that fits your gums. Daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth are just as important between visits.

When a Specialist May Help

Some advanced cases need more treatment than a deep cleaning, such as gum surgery or gum grafting to repair lost gum tissue. When that’s the case, your dentist will refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum disease and the structures that support the teeth. Your dentist will explain why a referral is recommended and continue to see you for your regular care.

Gum Health and Your Overall Health

Researchers have found links between gum disease and other health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease. A link does not mean that one condition causes the other, and scientists are still studying how they are connected. The connection with diabetes appears to go both ways: diabetes can make gum disease harder to control, and gum disease may make blood sugar harder to manage. Let your dentist know about any health conditions and medications, and tell your physician if you are being treated for gum disease.

If it’s been a while since your last checkup, or your gums have been bleeding, we can check your gum health at our Redmond office. See preventive care for more about regular exams and cleanings.