General Dentistry
Gum Disease Treatment in Stockton, CA
Every year, gum disease destroys perfectly healthy teeth. This attack on the gums by oral bacteria is extremely preventable, and it will not go away by itself.
Periodontal disease is a progressive condition that begins with mild gum inflammation called gingivitis. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults living in the developed world, and it should be taken seriously.
It is typically signified by red, swollen, painful or bleeding gums, but in some cases it produces no noticeable symptoms at all. That is the reason it is so often found first at a routine examination rather than by the patient.
How gum disease develops
The process begins when bacteria living in plaque cause an infection in the tissues surrounding the teeth, irritating them and making them painful. Left alone, that infection causes the jawbone to recede and the tooth to loosen.
The stages
Gingivitis. The earliest stage. The gums become inflamed, red and prone to bleeding, most noticeably during brushing or flossing. At this stage the condition is reversible, because the supporting bone has not yet been affected.
Periodontitis. The infection has reached the bone. Gum pockets deepen, the supporting structures begin to break down, and the damage from this point forward is permanent. When gum pockets exceed 3mm in depth the risk climbs sharply, because deeper pockets house larger colonies of harmful bacteria.
Advanced periodontitis. Bone loss is extensive, teeth loosen and shift, and teeth that cannot be saved may need to be removed.
Why it matters beyond your mouth
The oral bacteria that cause periodontal infections can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Research has linked periodontal bacteria to lung infections and heart disease. Treating gum disease is not purely a dental concern.
How we treat it
Treatment depends on how far the disease has progressed.
For mild to moderate cases, the focus is on curing the underlying bacterial infection and then advising on the most effective home cleaning methods. Often this means scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning that removes bacterial plaque and calculus from the teeth and from below the gumline.
In more advanced cases, more intensive cleaning is recommended, and loose teeth that cannot be saved are removed. Where bone has already been lost, bone grafting can replace lost tissue and encourage natural regrowth. Where gum tissue needs reshaping, crown lengthening may be part of the plan.
Patients with periodontitis are typically seen every three to four months rather than every six, because bacteria recolonize gum pockets faster than a standard recall interval allows.
Prevention
Gum disease cannot be fully reversed once bone is lost, but its progress can be halted. Consistent brushing and flossing, professional cleanings on the right schedule, and early treatment of inflammation do the work.
What treatment actually involves
Treatment is staged according to how far the disease has progressed, and the first step is always diagnosis rather than intervention.
Assessment
We take X-rays, conduct a visual examination and measure pocket depths before recommending anything. Pockets deeper than 3mm indicate raised risk, and the pattern across the mouth tells us whether the problem is localised or general.
Non-surgical treatment
For mild to moderate disease the focus is on curing the underlying bacterial infection, then advising on the most effective home cleaning methods. Often this means scaling and root planing, a deep clean that removes plaque and calculus from below the gumline where a routine cleaning cannot reach.
Advanced cases
More intensive cleaning is recommended where the disease is established, and loose teeth that cannot be saved are removed. Where bone has already been lost, bone grafting can replace lost tissue and encourage natural regrowth.
Staying ahead of it afterwards
Gum disease is a managed condition rather than a cured one. Patients with periodontitis are typically seen every three to four months instead of every six, because that is how quickly bacteria recolonise the pockets.
Grinding accelerates the damage by loosening teeth and deepening pockets, so where bruxism is present it is addressed alongside the gum treatment rather than after it.
If your gums bleed when you brush, that is a symptom rather than a normal event. Request an appointment, or call (209) 951-3436 to talk it through with someone at the office first. Periodontal treatment is covered by many plans. See patient information.
Questions patients ask
- Can gum disease be reversed?
- Gingivitis, the earliest stage, is reversible because the supporting bone has not yet been affected. Once the disease has reached the bone and become periodontitis, the damage is permanent, but its progress can be halted, which is what treatment aims to do.
- Is gum disease treatment painful?
- Depending on the condition of the gums, the amount of tartar present and the depth of the pockets, a local anaesthetic may be used. Most patients find the anticipation worse than the appointment, and gums that are already inflamed tend to be more comfortable afterwards than before.
- Will I lose teeth?
- Not necessarily. Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, but that reflects untreated disease. Where it is caught and managed, teeth are usually kept. In advanced cases, loose teeth that cannot be saved are removed.
- Is gum disease linked to other health problems?
- There is a documented association with lung and cardiovascular conditions, driven by the fact that bacteria from infected gums can enter the bloodstream. An association is not the same as a proven cause, but it is consistent enough that gum health is worth treating as a general health matter rather than a purely dental one.
Ready to get started?
Much of your first visit is spent explaining your individual treatment and getting to know you, so you can make a decision you feel good about.