Say Hello to an Infection-free Smile with Precise Periodontal Therapy

Do you notice blood spots when brushing and flossing your teeth? Are your gums swollen, or do you have persistent bad breath? These are classic symptoms of periodontal (gum) disease. You shouldn’t take gum infection lightly. If left untreated, periodontal disease doesn’t just damage the soft tissues in your gums. It can destroy the teeth-supporting bone structure, leading to tooth loss, as well as stroke and heart complications when the infection seeps into your bloodstream!

Gum disease is indeed scary. But the good news is that it’s easily treatable, especially in the early stages. Framingham Family Dental Care in Framingham, Massachusetts, offers preventive services to ward off gum disease. In addition, Drs. Arvi Duka and Adelina Duka provide periodontal therapy to stop gum disease in its tracks before it causes permanent damage. 

Symptoms of gum disease

Poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of gum disease. When you fail to brush or floss your teeth effectively, plaque — a sticky, colorless film of bacteria, saliva, and food debris — forms on your teeth and along the gum line. When you fail to remove plaque with home dental care, it calcifies into tartar (calculus) within 48 hours.

The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. At this stage, plaque along the gum line inflames your gingival tissues causing the symptoms below:

  • Gum swelling or redness
  • Gum tenderness
  • Bleeding when flossing and brushing your teeth
  • Bad breath

If you don’t treat gingivitis, it’s a matter of time before it progresses to periodontitis. At this stage, the infection spreads below the gum line, pulling gums away from the teeth (gum recession). Eventually, the disease damages the connective tissue and the supporting bone, resulting in loose teeth that eventually fall out!

Gum disease treatment options

We can reverse gingivitis through optimal home dental care —brushing, flossing, and mouthwash — combined with regular dental cleanings. However, you need further intervention if you have mild to advanced gum disease. 

Our periodontal therapy options include the following:

  • Deep teeth cleaning: If you have undergone a regular dental cleaning, deep teeth cleaning is more like it but a bit extensive. After numbing your gums, we scale away dental calculus from your teeth surface and all the way to your tooth roots. In addition to scaling, we perform root planing to smooth your roots, removing embedded bacteria and encouraging the reattachment of gum tissue to your teeth.
  • Laser dentistry: This minimally invasive procedure treats periodontal disease by removing the diseased tissue and reshaping your gum to restore health, function, and appearance to your gums.

Periodontal Therapy FAQs

What are the common symptoms of gum disease?

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, often begins with mild symptoms that can be easily overlooked. Common symptoms include red, swollen, or sensitive gums, which may bleed when brushing or flossing. You may also experience chronic bad breath, gum recession, or gums pulling away from your teeth, forming pockets. In more advanced cases, teeth may become loose, shift position, or cause discomfort while chewing.

What is the process of periodontal therapy?

Periodontal therapy targets infection and restores healthy gums. It usually starts with scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar and smooth tooth roots for gum reattachment. Laser therapy may remove diseased tissue, and if needed, surgery like flap surgery or bone grafting is used to repair damage.

What types of periodontal treatments are available?

Treatment varies based on the severity of gum disease. Non-surgical treatments like professional cleanings, scaling and root planing, and antibiotic therapy are common for mild to moderate cases. For more advanced periodontitis, surgical treatments may be needed. These include flap surgery to clean deep pockets, soft tissue grafts to cover exposed roots, bone grafts to rebuild lost bone, and guided tissue regeneration to encourage new tissue growth. Laser therapy is also an option to reduce bacteria and promote healing.

When will I see the results from periodontal therapy?

The timeline depends on the condition’s severity and the treatment type. Initial non-surgical therapy typically shows improvement within a few weeks as inflammation decreases and gums start to heal. Full healing after scaling and root planing may take a few months. Surgical procedures generally require a longer recovery period of several weeks. Regular follow-up appointments are important to monitor progress and maintain gum health.

Can periodontal therapy reverse gum disease?

While periodontal therapy cannot fully cure advanced disease, it can effectively control the infection, halt progression, and promote healing of gum tissues. Early-stage gum disease, called gingivitis, can often be completely reversed with professional treatment and proper home care. For more severe periodontitis, therapy helps manage the condition and prevent tooth loss, but some damage to bone and gums may be permanent.

How do I know if I need periodontal therapy?

If your dentist or hygienist observes signs of gum disease during a routine exam—such as deep gum pockets, bleeding, or bone loss on X-rays—they may recommend periodontal therapy. Symptoms like persistent gum bleeding, swelling, bad breath, or loose teeth indicate that treatment is needed. A thorough periodontal evaluation, including measuring pocket depths and X-rays, helps determine the extent of the disease and the best course of action.

What happens if gum disease is left untreated?

Ignoring gum disease can lead to serious consequences. The infection can worsen, causing further gum recession, bone loss, and tooth mobility. Eventually, untreated, periodontal disease may result in tooth loss. Beyond oral health, studies link advanced gum disease to systemic health problems like heart disease, diabetes complications, and respiratory issues. Early treatment is critical to protect your smile and overall health.

Don’t let gum disease steal the glow of your gums. Please dial (508) 665-2016 to schedule an appointment with Framingham Family Dental Care for effective periodontal care. We are conveniently located at 434 Old Connecticut Path, 1st Floor, Framingham, MA, but we welcome new and returning patients from the nearby locations of Ashland, Natick, and Wayland, MA.