Gum Disease Treatment

What is gum disease?
Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum line that if left unchecked, can affect the bone surrounding your teeth. As gum disease is the number-one cause of tooth loss among adults, early detection and treatment can go a long way in helping you maintain a healthy smile.

Dr. Padolsky and our hygienists are highly skilled and experienced at treating all stages of gum disease.

Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease has two main stages that range from mild to severe. Treatment varies depending on how far the gum disease has advanced.

Gingivitis
The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. At this stage, the gums have become inflamed, swollen and reddened as a result of the bacterial infection. The gums may bleed when you brush or floss. The infection can usually be eliminated by thorough professional dental cleaning (known as deep cleaning) and good oral care at home.

Periodontitis
When gum disease advances, the gums begin to progressively detach from the teeth, causing “pockets” of space to form between the teeth and gums. This stage of gum disease is known as periodontitis. The ligaments that support the teeth as well as the bone start to get eaten away by the bacteria.

When the gum pockets get deeper, the bacterial strains become more aggressive and begin to grow in these spaces, causing the infection to spread and the gum to detach from the bone. The bacteria continue to erode bone as the infection reaches an advanced stage.

How is gum disease treated?
Gum disease can be effectively treated with thorough deep cleaning. We use ultrasonic scalers to loosen the calculus (tartar) and fine hand instruments to remove the remaining calculus and to polish the root surface.

Deep cleaning is also known as scaling and root planing. In scaling, our hygienist removes plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) and calculus, which is hardened plaque. We do scaling to remove build-up from below the gum line and root planing to smooth any rough areas and remove any remaining calculus. Having a smooth root surface has been found to promote the reattachment of the gums to the root and to prevent the further build-up of plaque.

Arestin antibiotic therapy
We use Arestin to eliminate any remaining bacteria. Arestin is an antibiotic which is placed below your gum line. Arestin is released over time and will continue to destroy any remaining bacteria.

Advanced gum disease treatment
If gum disease is too severe to be handled with scaling and root planning, Dr. Padolsky can perform flap surgery whereby a surgical opening is created and the gum is lifted away from the tooth to allow access to the infected area.

The tartar and infection are then removed with a high-tech laser. The gum tissue is then placed back so it fits snuggly around the tooth. The main goal of flap surgery is to reduce the depth of the periodontal pockets and make them easier to keep clean in the future.

Friendly and competent care
Dr. Padolsky has been practicing dentistry since 1982. He is known for his friendly manner and the highly skilled care he provides. He is committed to helping his patients maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.

To make an appointment, call 404-476-5504 or click here to request an appointment online.