Fight back against gum and tooth deterioration
No patient wants to hear the term gingivitis when discussing their oral hygiene. Gingivitis is a degenerative disease that left untreated, can cause significant tooth and gum deterioration. Treatment is relatively simple and can be performed by your dentist.
Bacteria thrive and multiply when plaque and tarter accumulate on the teeth. Bacteria causes gums to become inflamed and bleed and those conditions become more noticeable when you brush your teeth or eat. Inflamed or bleeding gums are early signs of gingivitis.
Gingivitis is easily treated with scaling and polishing. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress and the roots will need a planing. What’s the difference between scaling and root planing? Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth surface. Root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces to remove the infected tooth structure.
A non-surgical procedure, scaling and planing is done without anesthesia. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of gingivitis may make it necessary to numb the area. Deep scaling and root planing is usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for adequate healing time, and reduces the time for each appointment.