Procedures - Gum Treatment

Wayne T. Adkison, DMD and Michael Steward, DDS

Gum Treatment

Gum treatment is the treatment of active gum and jaw bone disease. The treatment can slow or stop the progression of the disease. Since there are different stages of gum disease (from gingivitis to advanced periodontitis), there are different levels of treatment. In some cases, the patient may be referred to a specialist.

Gum treatment consists of one or more of the following procedures, depending on the individual case:

Prophylaxis (Cleaning)

Scaling and Root Planing

Tooth before Scaling and Root Planing is a common non-surgical treatment for periodontal disease. By using special instruments, your hygienist removes bacteria and infection from the unhealthy deep pockets around the teeth below the gum line. This is often referred to as a "deep cleaning." Scaling

First the tooth is scaled to remove the plaque and tarter that has accumulated on the tooth.

Root Planing

Then the root is planed or smoothed. This eliminates any rough areas on the root that can easily trap plaque and bacteria.

Tooth after

A smooth clean root provides a healthy environment to allow the gums to heal naturally and reattach to the tooth. This will create a reduced pocket, therefore eliminating areas for bacteria to hide and cause further disease.

Gum Surgery

Sometimes, in order to treat advanced gum disease, surgical procedures are necessary, such as:

Advanced Medications

Recent advances in periodontal treatment allow us to now place medications directly at the site of infection. One of the most commonly used medications of this kind is Arestin™. This is often used in conjuction with scaling and root planing. In addition, an antimicrobial rinse is sometimes used after some procedures.

Strict Home Care Regimen

A home care routine specific to the patient's individual needs may be prepared to prevent the patient from relapsing.

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