Call us today to schedule an Appointment! 801-764-9444

Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is the disease of the gums and supporting structures around your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in the United States and the disease itself is quite a sneaky one because it usually only causes pain in its more advanced stages.

What is Gum Disease?

Two terms need to be differentiated to understand gum disease. Gingivitis is a disease of the gums only—it is inflammation caused by plaque, the white, soft sticky substance that adheres to teeth and consists of bacteria, saliva, and bits of food. Gingivitis is perhaps the most common disease in the world and it is totally reversible through professional cleaning and proper home care.

Periodontal disease can be understood as a progression from gingivitis to an irreversibly damaged state. In periodontal disease, not only the gums are affected, but the ligaments and bone surrounding teeth are also damaged. These tissues cannot grow back, and once they are compromised, the gum pocket around a tooth tends to become deep and difficult to clean. The progression of periodontal disease is helped by several factors, including grinding, poor hygiene, poor dental restorations, tobacco use, etc., but ultimately it is also a disease caused by plaque. When plaque is not cleaned properly, it can harden, accumulate, and become a major problem called tartar or calculus—hard, scaly deposits that are found within gum pockets and attached to teeth.

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, has been linked to many serious health conditions, including heart disease, respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, low birth weight babies, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. While it was once thought that the link was bacteria, studies now show that systemic inflammation is the common denominator. In any case, treatment of periodontal disease has been shown to improve general health as well as oral health.

How Is Gum Disease Treated?

Gum disease is treated through a procedure called scaling and root planing, commonly referred to as a “deep cleaning.” Local anesthesia is often required, and plaque and tartar are mechanically removed from the pockets surrounding the teeth. Plaque and calculus are impossible to remove with homecare alone because brushing and flossing cannot clean at of the depth of the gum pockets involved. After an initial deep cleaning, a maintenance schedule is followed, usually more frequently than every six months. Gum disease must be carefully monitored and controlled for life; similar to adult onset diabetes, special precautions are taken and checkups are scheduled more frequently to counteract a disease that can easily become active again.

Canyon Gate Dental Hygienists Can Help

Our dental hygienists are the best around at preventing and fighting periodontal disease. Although our practice philosophy is to prevent such conditions from happening in the first place, our gentle and thorough hygienists will help you manage it well and avoid pain, tooth loss, and expensive dental work that result from advanced periodontal disease.

It's time to clean those pearly whites!

GET 10% OFF TEETH CLEANING

SCHEDULE A DENTAL APPOINTMENT