When you come in for a periodontal consultation with us, we will be able to advise you on the most appropriate treatment for your unique needs, symptoms, and gum disease progression.

Fundamental gum disease treatment starts with non-surgical scaling and root planing. This deep periodontal cleaning consists of two parts. First, a team member “scales,” which removes all the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) above and below the gum line, all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. Next, they will root plane. Root planing involves smoothing out the root surfaces to prevent future buildups and help your gums reattach to the teeth. Typically, successful scaling and root planing can take multiple trips to our St. Johns dental office.

If your gum disease is in a more advanced stage, Dr. Patel might suggest more intense periodontal disease treatment, such as:

Gum disease starts with an overabundance of plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that can harden and turn into tartar. Even though brushing and flossing daily manually removes a significant amount of plaque, these simple tools are not powerful enough to remove tartar.

When a dental hygienist doesn’t remove tartar, it irritates the gums and can lead to gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease. Bleeding, red, or inflamed gums are one of the first signs of gum disease and signify a need for treatment. Eventually, mild gum infections can progress to bleeding gums, receding gums, and tooth loss.