Gum Disease Treatment Arlington Heights

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection that develops in the tissue from bacteria found in plaque and tartar accumulations. In its earliest stage, known as gingivitis, it causes inflammation, redness, and bleeding. At this point, it can be treated quickly without causing long-term complications.

Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the early signs of it. This causes it to progress in severity. Deep pockets form in the tissue, trapping additional bacteria. Over time, it destroys the supporting structures of your teeth. Ultimately, it can lead to tooth loss. The bacteria can also enter your bloodstream, causing serious health concerns, like cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetic complications.

Treatment for Gum Disease

Your dentist in Arlington Heights will evaluate your oral health to create individualized solutions to stop the infection. Depending on your needs, you may require one or both therapies.

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Scaling & Root Planing

When you ask your dentist about options for treating gum disease, scaling and root planing are very likely to come up, especially if your condition has already reached its more advanced stages. Scaling and root planing are the two parts that make up the deep cleaning process, which is often necessary for removing plaque and tartar from areas that would not be reached with a regular dental cleaning.

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Do I Need Scaling & Root Planing?

The earliest stages of gum disease don’t necessarily require scaling and root planing. Once your condition grows more severe, however, the procedure may become necessary. Signs that you may have gum disease that calls for scaling and root planing include:

• Gums that have a tendency to bleed easily.
• Gum recession (meaning the gums have pulled back from the teeth, exposing their roots).
• Persistent bad breath or a recurring bad taste.
• Increased difficulty chewing your food.
• Plaque buildup that you can notice on your own.

Be sure to schedule a consultation with us as soon as you realize that you might have gum disease. We’ll need to take a look at your gums and consider your symptoms before deciding whether scaling and root planing are warranted.

The Process of Scaling & Root Planing

Oftentimes, the first thing our team will do is numb your mouth with a local anesthetic to help you stay comfortable during your procedure. Once that’s done, we can move forward with scaling and root planing.

The scaling phase involves the removal of plaque and tartar. It largely focuses on bacteria that has accumulated below your gumline. If any pockets have formed between your teeth and gums, we will clean as far down to the bottom as we can.

After scaling comes root planing. This simply entails smoothing out the parts of your teeth that are typically covered by the gums. Since it’s harder for bacteria to cling to smooth tooth roots, the chances of a future infection occurring will be lower. Additionally, root planing can encourage the gums to re-adhere to the teeth.

Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing  

We’ll let you know what steps you should be following to take proper care of your mouth following your scaling and root planing procedure. When it comes to food, you should stick to a soft diet for at least a couple of days, and you will need to avoid eating anything that’s particularly hot or cold. If you need to, you can reduce your discomfort by taking an over-the-counter painkiller.

It's important to take steps to protect your mouth from infection while it’s still healing. It often helps to rinse with salt water multiple times a day. You might also be prescribed an antibiotic in certain cases. When it comes to brushing your teeth, you will need to be as gentle as possible around the treated areas; be sure to use slow and deliberate motions while cleaning your smile.

Antibiotic Therapy

Used in combination with scaling and root planing, antibiotic therapy kills the harmful bacteria found inside your gum pockets. Dr. Ernie prescribes an antibiotic to take according to his recommendations to restore the health of your smile. Over time, you will notice your gum health begin to improve.

Protecting Your Smile from Gum Disease

To prevent future infection, Dr. Ernie discusses your current oral hygiene routine and makes recommendations for improvement. It is best to brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes each session. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and tartar-control toothpaste to clean all surfaces of your teeth.

To clean areas that were missed by your toothbrush, do not forget to floss every night before going to bed. Choose a high-quality floss supported by the American Dental Association. Dr. Ernie may also recommend the use of an antimicrobial or antibacterial mouth rinse to reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth.

You will need more frequent cleanings and checkups until the health of your smile is restored. On average, you can expect to schedule an appointment about every 3 to 4 months for periodontal maintenance cleanings.

Save Your Smile Today!

Do not place the health of your mouth or body at risk. Get the treatment you need for gum disease. With a proactive approach, we can save your smile by stopping the infection in its tracks. Contact our dental office today to schedule your consultation for gum disease treatment.