Gum Disease Treatment

When you come to our office as part of our hygiene program or for a scale and clean, one of the first things we’ll do is screen for signs of periodontal problems.

During your exam, we’ll measure the attachment levels of your gum tissues as to where they meet your teeth. Special X-rays will be needed to assess bone levels between teeth and under the gums.

Treatment for Periodontal Disease

Your gum and bone health is the foundation of your smile’s wellness. We approach your oral health in a holistic manner that considers your overall health. Treating you as an entire person — and not just your mouth — can have the best impact on your health and quality of life.

Unless your teeth and gums are clean, we can’t prevent bacteria from spreading elsewhere in your body. Addressing active periodontal disease is crucial to proactive wellness.

Most periodontal therapy involves a series of deep cleans, where calcified and soft deposits are removed from the “pockets” surrounding infected teeth. To ensure your comfort, we may recommend phasing cleans over 2-3 separate visits.

About Our Team

Our hygienist, Zoe Hunter-Smith, has extensive experience in periodontal health, having previously worked with a periodontist (gum specialist). She is highly trained in periodontal services, allowing us to provide expanded care to the patients we serve.

If more specialised care is needed, we have a professional relationship with a visiting area periodontist to whom we can refer severe cases. Situations such as gum or bone grafting, sinus lifts, crown lengthening or other specialised services can be performed in conjunction with seeing the expert periodontist.

Fortunately, most periodontal therapies can be completed right here with our experienced team.

Do You Need to See a Periodontist?

Often, symptoms of gum disease are easy to overlook. When they’ve reached aggressive stages of infection, you may notice symptoms like:

• Teeth that have moved
• Gums that bleed
• Swollen gums
• Receding gumlines

If bleeding doesn’t improve with regular brushing and flossing, you could have a severe gum condition that requires professional treatment.

A Risk to Your Overall Health

Modern research continually shows a link between gum disease and conditions like cardiovascular health. Some studies even suspect that there is an association between oral biofilm and Alzheimer’s disease. As new information comes to light, the better we understand the closely knit relationship between the health of our smiles and that of the rest of our bodies.