Your gums frame your smile and also keep your teeth in place, and are essential for good oral health. When you develop periodontal disease, you need treatment to manage it and prevent complications linked to discomfort and even tooth loss. In today’s blog, your North Hollywood, CA, dentist talks about periodontal care.

The Warning Signs and Dangers of Gum Disease

When people begin to develop the disease, they could encounter symptoms like soreness or discomfort in the gums, redness, or bleeding when they brush and floss, as the issue increases in severity, the tissues could pull away from the teeth and recede, which makes your teeth appear longer, and also increases the risk of periodontitis, the advanced stage linked to worsening pain and tooth loss. When you encounter any of these common symptoms, we urge you to contact our team right away for a diagnosis, in which we examine the tissues and decide which treatments you need to reverse gingivitis or manage gum disease, keeping your smile healthy and whole.

Scaling and Root Planing

For the early stages, we may conduct a deep cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing. The procedure could take one visit or as many as four, depending on the severity of the issue. Our team will use an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick to gently and thoroughly break up and remove all plaque and tartar for the surfaces of the teeth and from along and beneath the gum line, smoothing the roots in the process. Since this is more involved than a traditional cleaning, we will administer a local numbing agent. We complete the procedure by polishing the smile to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to the surfaces before your next cleaning appointment, which is typically every three to four months.

Gum Grafts

When your gums recede, this could expose the upper portions of the roots. Not only are you more at risk for periodontitis, but also tooth decay and infection. But with gum grafts, we can attach new tissues to cover receded areas, covering the gums and reshaping the gum line to improve symmetry and beauty. This also helps strengthen the smile to avoid tooth loss, so your smile is strong and more attractive too.

If you have any questions about how we conduct a scaling and root planing, or gum grafts, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you maintain a strong and healthy smile, with results that last for years and a smile free of complications like sore gums or tooth loss.

Schedule a Visit for Periodontal Treatment

Our team is ready to help safeguard your smile. To schedule a visit for your next visit, give us a call at Modern Smiles in North Hollywood, CA at (818)763-9353.