Gum Disease Treatment – Downers Grove, IL
Helping Your Gums Stay Strong
Your teeth may be the more prominent parts of your smile, but that doesn't mean your gums don't matter. You could develop many health problems if these special tissues get infected. Fortunately, Esplanade Dental Care offers excellent gum disease treatment in Downers Grove. Drs. Albert and Snow can use this procedure to heal your gums as non-invasively as possible. For more details about it, please keep reading or book a consultation with us soon.
Why Choose Esplanade Dental Care for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Gum Screenings Included with Every Checkup
- Antibiotic Treatment Available
- Warm & Friendly Dental Office
What is Gum Disease?
In essence, gum disease is an infection of your gums – the pink tissues around your teeth. It’s usually the result of plaque buildup from poor eating and bad oral hygiene. Still, certain risk factors – genetics, hormones, etc. – can make the condition more or less likely to occur.
The two main stages of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. With gingivitis, a patient suffers from a slight gum inflammation that’s irritating but ultimately minor. However, this inflammation can advance and become periodontitis – a full-blown infection that attacks gum and jaw tissue. While gingivitis can be reversed with oral care, periodontitis can only be managed.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Since gum disease has two stages, it can cause various symptoms. The exact signs you show will depend on your condition’s severity, rate of progress, and so on.
Take gingivitis, for instance. This initial form of gum disease has symptoms like:
- Red, bleeding gums
- Gum tenderness
- Swollen gums
- Gum recession
- Chronic bad breath
On the other hand, the symptoms of periodontitis are more severe and include:
- Tooth sensitivity (often due to gum recession)
- Loose permanent teeth
- Chewing pain
- Changes in your restoration’s fit
- A shift in your bite
- Permanent tooth loss
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
When our dentists first meet with you, they’ll conduct a thorough oral exam. This process lets us assess your mouth and the severity of your gum disease. Based on our findings, we’ll then provide you with several treatment options.
Antibiotic Treatment
Along with scaling and root planing, we may suggest you get a site-specific antibiotic treatment. This service would apply a medication to your gum line that eliminates the infecting bacteria. After a few weeks or so, it’ll make your gums fairly healthy and stable again. You’d then leave with a truly strong smile and avoid invasive surgical procedures.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing can be thought of as a more in-depth cleaning than what you’d typically receive at a routine dental hygiene appointment. During this process, our team will work to eliminate accumulations of harmful plaque from above and underneath the gum line with special instruments. We will then target the tooth roots, which are likely to develop rough surfaces that attract infectious bacteria over time. By smoothing these surfaces, we can reduce your risk of future flare-ups. Patients at our Downers Grove office should expect this process to take a few separate appointments depending on the severity of their condition.
Do You Need Scaling & Root Planing?
You may require scaling and root planning treatment if you have signs of advanced gum disease such as your gums bleeding when you brush or floss, visible plaque accumulation, chronic bad breath (halitosis), or swollen or puffy gums. While gum disease can usually be reversed with improved oral hygiene habits at home if it is addressed in its early stages, scaling and root planning may be necessary to stop the progression of the infection in more severe cases.
The Process of Scaling & Root Planing
The process of scaling and root planning typically requires two appointments and can neatly broken down into two parts. Those are:
- Scaling: Your dentist will use a special tool called a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of the teeth as well as from deep in the pockets of the gums.
- Planing: Your dentist removes hardened bacterial deposits from the roots of the teeth beneath the gumline. This helps the patient avoid further infection by preventing bacteria from re-colonizing the gums.
Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planning can be rather intensive, so it may take up to a few weeks for your mouth to recover afterward. During this period, you may experience sensitivity in your tooth and gums as a natural part of your healing process. A few tips to help your recovery go smoothly include:
- Use a warm saltwater rinse to prevent irritation and loosen food debris so that you can brush and floss more easily. Make your saltwater rinse with ¼ teaspoon of salt to eight ounces of water.
- Brush gently after treatment using a soft-bristled toothbrush to prevent irritation and bleeding. Take care to brush in circular motions and move slowly to avoid irritating your healing gums and teeth.
- Your teeth and gums may be sensitive to certain foods and drinks after scaling and root planning. Take care to avoid items that are hot, spicy, acidic, or alcoholic, as these can cause irritation and inflammation.
- Refrain from chewing or smoking tobacco, as these can interfere with your gums’ healing process.
- Stick to a soft diet for the first 48 hours after treatment. A few suggestions include mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, yogurt, pasta, and ice cream.
- Avoid intense physical activity immediately after the procedure.