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CALL: 705-748-5151
Treatment of Gum Disease Peterborough

Gum Disease

Periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease, can lead to more than just an unsightly smile—it can cause loss of teeth and eventually, if left untreated, other more serious health problems.

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, we will recommend that you come in for a deep cleaning. While it may sound like just a more intense teeth cleaning, deep cleanings are actually the gold standard of treatment for patients diagnosed with gum disease. This procedure is also sometimes referred to as “scaling and root planing” or “periodontal therapy”.
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In periodontal disease, swollen unhealthy gums start to pull away from the teeth because of pockets where infection-causing plaque and tartar accumulate. During a deep cleaning, the dentist or hygienist removes plaque, tartar and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth and tooth roots. The dentist or hygienist then smoothes the surface of the tooth root to make it harder for bacteria to stick in the future and easier for the gums to re-attach.

What Is Gum Disease?

Called gingivitis in its early stages, periodontal disease is caused by excessive toxic bacteria (found in plaque) that attack your mouth’s soft tissues. Early warning signs of this disease include red, swollen or bleeding gums. If caught early, we can help you reverse the damage. If detected late, we can use one of the many effective restorative dentistry procedures to restore your mouth to its healthy and beautiful state. We can help you keep your teeth and gums strong and disease-free with regular examinations and cleanings plus specialized interventions to treat periodontal disease if needed.
Understanding Periodontal Disease and Initial Treatments ​

Understanding Periodontal Disease and Initial Treatments

If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, we will recommend that you come in for a deep cleaning. While it may sound like just a more intense teeth cleaning, deep cleanings are actually the gold standard of treatment for patients diagnosed with gum disease. This procedure is also sometimes referred to as “scaling and root planing” or “periodontal therapy”.
If you have gum disease, we may recommend that deep cleanings, along with periodontal maintenance checkups, become part of your routine dental visits.
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Comprehensive Periodontal Therapy Options

Management of periodontal disease also involves a variety of other treatments in addition to deep cleanings. Periodontal therapy involves the enhancement of the gum tissue that holds your teeth in place. Diseased tissue must be replaced with healthy tissue whenever possible. If gum disease has caused severe gum recession, gum grafting may be necessary to move gum tissue back into place so that tooth roots are no longer exposed. We will also tackle the bacterial infection in your tissues directly by applying topical antibacterial or antibiotic solutions, either on their own or in conjunction with the treatment already mentioned.

Patients with very advanced or complicated periodontal disease may need to see a specialist. A periodontist is a dentist who works almost exclusively in the treatment of gingivitis, periodontal disease, and other afflictions of the mouth’s soft tissues. A periodontist is a fully trained dentist who completes additional specialized training in the field of periodontics after completing a general dental degree. While all dentists are trained to treat periodontal disease, this additional training makes a periodontist an expert in gum disease, its risk factors, and the symptoms and conditions that come with this dental disease. If you have been diagnosed with advanced gum disease, a periodontist may become a central part of your routine dental care and will work with us to create a treatment plan to keep your condition from getting worse.

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Comprehensive Gum Disease FAQs

What is gum disease (periodontal disease)?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, begins when excessive toxic bacteria in plaque attack your gums’ soft tissues. Early stages are known as gingivitis.
What are the early warning signs of periodontal disease?
Early warning signs include red, swollen, or bleeding gums.
How does gum disease progress if left untreated?
If untreated, swollen unhealthy gums pull away from teeth, forming pockets where infection-causing plaque and tartar accumulate. Eventually this can lead to gum recession, exposed tooth roots, tooth loss, and more serious health problems.
What treatments are offered for gum disease?
Treatment options include deep cleaning (also called scaling and root planing or periodontal therapy), topical antibacterial or antibiotic solutions, gum grafting for severe gum recession, and possibly working with a specialist periodontist for advanced disease.
What is a “deep cleaning,” and why is it considered the gold standard?
A deep cleaning involves removal of plaque, tartar, and bacteria from both the tooth surfaces and root surfaces. The tooth roots are smoothed to help gums reattach and make it harder for bacteria to stick in future. It’s considered the gold standard for treating diagnosed gum disease.
When might gum grafting be necessary?
Gum grafting may be required for cases with severe gum recession—when the gums have pulled away far enough that tooth roots are exposed.
What role do periodontists play in treating gum disease?
A periodontist is a dentist who has done additional specialized training in gum disease and other soft-tissue issues. For very advanced or complicated periodontal disease, a periodontist may become central in creating the treatment plan to prevent further deterioration.
How can gum disease be prevented or kept under control?
Prevention and control include regular dental examinations and cleanings, good oral hygiene to reduce plaque, possibly periodic deep cleanings, and maintenance checkups. Catching gingivitis early helps reverse damage.