Gum Disease Treatment with Non-invasive yet Effective Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
When your dentist tells you to brush and floss your teeth daily, it’s not in vain. When you fail to follow diligent oral hygiene, cavities, and bad breath aren’t the only problems you’ll encounter. Gum infection sneaks into your smile, causing gum swelling, redness, recession, and sensitivity. In severe, untreated cases, you may have severe bone loss that will eventually cause you to lose your teeth!
Good news! Lifestyle Dentistry in Smyrna, Georgia, offers non-invasive treatments to keep gum infection under control. Using deep teeth cleaning, Dr. Aja Nichols and the team can conservatively overcome gum disease for a healthy mouth.
The two ways of deep teeth cleaning
Gingivitis – the earliest form of periodontal disease – is the only reversible stage of gum disease. When we diagnose you with gingivitis, we’ll recommend optimal brushing and flossing alongside standard dental cleanings (oral prophylaxis).
However, if you have mild to moderate gum disease, you need more than diligent oral hygiene. In such cases, Dr. Nichols recommends deep dental cleaning that involves the two procedures below.
- Scaling: This procedure involves using a hand-held scaler or ultrasonic device to remove plaque and tartar (dental calculus) on the teeth surface and beneath the gum line.
- Root planing: After thorough cleaning, we polish/smooth out the rough spots in the tooth roots to encourage the gums to reattach to the teeth. Moreover, root planing discourages the recurrence of bacterial invasions since bacteria find it challenging to grow on smooth surfaces.
Scaling and root planing can be effective as stand-alone treatments. However, in cases of severe infection, we may enhance the treatment with antibiotic therapy. We use customized trays to administer anti-bacterial medication, ensuring it reaches the deeper layers of your gum tissues that are otherwise hard to access.
What to expect during periodontal cleaning treatment
Unlike conventional teeth cleaning, deep dental cleaning requires at least two appointments. And since the treatment is more in depth than a ‘regular’ cleaning, you’ll need anesthesia to minimize discomfort during treatment.
After numbing your mouth with a local anesthetic, we’ll use a special tool to eliminate dental calculus above and beneath the gum line. Then, we polish the tooth roots to promote healing and prevent future buildup of tartar and harmful bacteria.
After treatment, you’ll expect mild bleeding, tooth sensitivity, and swollen gums. However, you’ve nothing to worry about. These discomforts only last a day or so and are easily managed with home remedies and over-the-counter pain medications.
We’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor your healing progress. Based on your results, we recommend frequent standard cleanings to prevent relapse. If you aren’t responding to deep teeth cleaning, we’ll offer other options for advanced treatment.
Gum disease treatment near me
Suspect gum disease in Smyrna, GA? Don’t delay treatment! Instead, contact Lifestyle Dentistry at (678) 884-4494 for effective periodontal treatment.
