Gum Disease Treatment – Itasca, IL

What Are Bone Disease and Gum Disease?

When afflicted with gum disease, you’ll notice that your gums appear red and tender, and may even bleed after regular brushing and flossing. If only in the initial stage, gingivitis, the symptoms can be reversed with the help of regular professional cleanings and good at-home oral hygiene habits. However, if you do not keep up with your dental routine, gingivitis will likely progress to periodontitis. Also known as bone disease, this damaging condition is the result when bacteria and plaque are allowed to spread beneath the gumline, resulting in gum pocket formation. As the bacteria break down your jawbone, teeth will become loose and eventually fall out.

Gum Disease Treatments

If you’re faced with gum disease and need safe and effective treatment, you’ll be pleased to learn that Drs. French and Dr. Conti are experienced in treating damaged soft oral tissues. With various periodontal solutions available, we can determine the right course of action during an initial consultation so that you can work to take back your gum health. Some of our available treatments include:

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Professional Dental Cleaning

During a professional dental cleaning, we will remove any bacterial accumulation that exists above and below the gumline. This will help to clear away plaque that cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing. If our team discovers that you are in the early stage of gum disease or have a more advanced case, you’ll likely be required to attend two more of these same cleanings each year to avoid further damage.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a two-part process that is necessary for patients to avoid more damaging stages of gum disease. We will administer local anesthesia before starting treatment so that you will remain comfortable. We will then begin with the scaling portion of the treatment, which includes removing plaque and tartar buildup from above and below the gumline. One of our skilled hygienists will then move on to the root planing portion of treatment, which involves smoothing the tooth root to encourage reattachment and minimize the potential for bacteria to reinfect the area in the future.

Once scaling and root planing is complete, our team may include antibiotic therapy, which will be applied to the gum pockets, to encourage proper healing and complete elimination of bad oral bacteria.

Scaling & Root Planing

Gum disease often calls for a different type of dental cleaning (sometimes referred to as a deep cleaning) that can be divided into two steps: scaling and root planing. Not only is the harmful plaque contributing to your gum disease removed, but steps are taken to reduce the chances of future bacterial buildup. Read on for a closer look at what you can expect from scaling and root planing.

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Do I Need Scaling & Root Planing?

Sometimes all you need to do to improve the health of your gums is to simply commit to brushing and flossing more often. Once your gum disease reaches a certain stage, though, scaling and root planing may be necessary.

If your gums are red, swollen, and have a tendency to bleed easily, scaling and root planing may be warranted. Other telltale signs that the treatment is needed include bad breath that doesn’t go away, visible plaque accumulating near the gums, and gum recession.

The Process of Scaling & Root Planing

For the scaling step, our team will focus on getting rid of harmful plaque and tartar from the mouth. Not only will we clean the area above the gumline, but we will also pay close attention to any gum pockets that have formed. Any bacterial deposits that have appeared in these pockets will be removed.

The second step, root planing, involves gently smoothing out the roots of the teeth. The purpose of this step is twofold; it makes it more difficult for bacteria to accumulate on the roots (thus reducing the risk of further problems), and it aids with the reattachment of the gum tissue.

Scaling and root planing often require multiple appointments. The exact number needed depends on how severe your gum disease currently is.

Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing

If a local anesthetic was used during your scaling and root planing procedure, you should wait until the numbness has completely worn off before you eat anything. There may be some slight discomfort in your gums for at least a few days, but taking an over-the-counter painkiller can often help.

You need to take steps to keep the risk of infection to a minimum while your mouth is healing. For example, you can periodically rinse with salt water. If you were prescribed any antibiotics, carefully follow any instructions for taking them.

Your teeth may be temporarily more sensitive than normal after scaling and root planing. Stay away from any foods that can make sensitivity worse; this effectively means not eating or drinking anything that’s hot, cold, spicy, or acidic. Plan on sticking to a soft food diet for at least two days following your scaling and root planing procedure.

It should take about one to two weeks for your gum tissue to fully heal after scaling and root planing. Any discomfort you’re experiencing should eventually go away on its own.