Unhealthy gums can have a devastating impact on the health of your mouth. Before you know it, inflamed gums can develop pockets filled with bacteria that attack teeth and their supporting ligaments and tissues below the surface of the gums. If left untreated, teeth may loosen, shift, or even fall out, lowering quality of life. Gum disease patients are also at an increased risk of heart disease, further underscoring the necessity of seeking treatment. But what exactly does gum disease treatment involve? Your Waco dentist, Dr. Corbet Locke, tells you what you can expect from a deep cleaning for gum disease treatment.
The Purpose of Deep Cleaning
As gingivitis progresses into the more damaging periodontitis, pockets typically appear between teeth and gums. These pockets are filled with bacteria that attack teeth and their supporting ligaments. To treat periodontitis, the bacteria must be removed. Once they are removed, oral health is temporarily restored. Unfortunately, further cleanings are necessary as no treatment has yet proved successful in “curing” periodontitis. Deep cleanings, however, are very effective in treating periodontitis and preventing a decline in oral health.
The Deep Cleaning Process
Deep cleaning for periodontitis means a cleaning called root planing and scaling. This process uses fine scalers to remove plaque from teeth both above and, more importantly for gum disease, below the gum line. The procedure is completed under local anesthesia and may require more than one visit. With the cleaning complete, the gums should be able to reattach to the cleaned surface of the teeth, eliminating the pockets caused by periodontitis. Deep cleaning also helps to reduce bleeding and redness, and with bacteria removed, teeth and their supporting tissues and ligaments are less likely to suffer damage.
Schedule a Visit with Your Waco Dentist
If you have gum disease or suspect that you may have it, don’t neglect to seek dental care. Without treatment, gum disease can inflict serious damage on your mouth. Schedule an appointment with your Waco dentist, Dr. Locke, today by calling 254-776-4888. Our 76172 dental office serves patients from Waco, Woodway, McGregor, Hewitt, and surrounding communities.