Gum disease treatment in South Edmonton
Gum disease is an infection of the tissue that holds your teeth in. Non-surgical therapy cleans the bacteria and tartar out from below the gum line so the gums can heal, with freezing and without cutting or stitches.
What happens
The treatment, start to finish
Nothing is started at the first visit that you have not agreed to.
Do you recognise this
The signs, and what they mean
Gum disease is slow and usually painless, which is why most people miss it. These are the things worth acting on.
What we do
The treatment itself
Three things, used in combination depending on what the screening finds.
What is measured
What the numbers mean
Every tooth is measured before anything is decided. These are the depths the hygienist is calling out.
The dashed line is the gumline. The colour is the pocket: how far the gum has come away from the tooth.
- Healthy1 to 3 mmA regular cleaning reaches the bottom of this.
- Early4 to 5 mmA regular cleaning no longer reaches it.
- Advanced6 mm and deeperBone has been lost. This is what deep cleaning treats.
How far along
Gingivitis, or periodontitis?
They are the same disease at two stages, and the difference decides how much can be undone.
Only an examination with pocket measurements tells you which one you have. The signs overlap, and the early stages are usually painless.
Afterwards
Keeping it from coming back
Gum disease is managed rather than cured. What happens between appointments decides more than the appointments do.
A deep cleaning, or a regular cleaning?
Regular cleaning
- Above the gumline, and a little below it.
- For gums that are healthy, to keep them that way.
- Usually one appointment, no freezing.
- Measured pockets are shallow and the bone is where it should be.
Deep cleaning
- Below the gumline, down the root surface, where the bacteria are.
- For gums already losing attachment. It is treatment, not maintenance.
- Often two appointments, usually with freezing.
- Pockets measured deep enough that a regular clean cannot reach them.
Which one you need is measured, not judged by eye. We chart the pockets around every tooth first, and the numbers decide it. If they are shallow we will say so and clean them the ordinary way.
Ready to visit?
We're easy to reach.
780-434-8749
In Heritage Square, right next to the IDA Pharmacy
FAQ
What does gum disease treatment cost?
We go over the quote with you before any work is done. We bill your insurer directly wherever your plan allows it. We make every attempt to work with your insurer so your plan covers as much as it can, and what a plan finally pays is the insurer's decision. The practice is a registered provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. There is more on fees and insurance.
What are the early signs of gum disease?
Red, swollen or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, tenderness when brushing, gums that are receding so teeth look longer, a bad taste in the mouth, and teeth that feel loose or have shifted. Early gum disease is often painless, which is why it is easy to miss.
Is gum therapy painful?
The area is frozen first, so the treatment itself should not hurt. Some tenderness and sensitivity for a few days afterwards is normal, and usually settles on its own.
What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums and it is reversible. Periodontitis is the later stage, where the infection has reached the bone and the structures holding the teeth in place. Periodontitis can be managed and stabilised but the lost support does not grow back.
How many appointments does it take?
It depends on how much of the mouth is affected. Treatment is often split so one side is frozen and treated at a time, which is more comfortable than doing everything at once.
Will my gums grow back?
Gum tissue that has receded does not grow back on its own. The purpose of treatment is to stop the disease progressing and protect the support that remains.