Gum Disease Treatment Maplewood
Effective Protection for the Foundation of Your Smile
With gum disease being one of the most common oral health concerns in the country, a primary goal of ours is to spot and treat the condition as early as possible. Hilltop Dental's top priority is to protect your oral and overall health, which is why we offer thorough deep dental cleanings to minimize infection-causing oral bacteria. If it has been longer than six months since you’ve visited the dentist or you’re showing symptoms of gum disease, give our office a call today to schedule a checkup and see if you need gum disease treatment in Maplewood.
Why Choose Hilltop Dental for Gum Disease Treatment?
- We Accept & Maximize Dental Insurance Plans
- Compassionate Care for Patients of All Ages
- A Dentist Who’s Joyful & Easy to Talk To
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection that targets the supportive foundation of your teeth. It develops in stages. The early stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis, involves the accumulation of plaque and tartar build-up that results in uncomfortable symptoms. However, with timely treatment and good at-home oral hygiene, gingivitis can often be reversed. The next stage of gum disease is called periodontitis, which often results in more severe symptoms and is the leading cause for tooth loss in the United States.
Gum disease develops as a result of the accumulation of harmful bacteria within the mouth that can attack and break down the bone and soft tissue supporting the teeth. Without good at-home or professional oral hygiene, the disease can progress and lead to a variety of concerning oral and overall health concerns.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Depending on the stage of gum disease, you may experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Red or dark purple-ish colored gums
- Swollen and puffy gums
- Gums that are tender or uncomfortable to the touch
- Chronic bad breath
- Gum recession that makes teeth appear longer
- Small black triangles that form between the teeth
- Pus that develops in the pockets of the gums by the teeth
- A change in bite
- Discomfort while chewing
- Loose teeth
If you notice any of these, we encourage you to schedule a checkup with our team at Hilltop Dental so we can screen you for gum disease and help you take the next steps. Our team will never pressure you into any treatments—we want to keep you informed about any conditions you may have and ways you can address them, and we’ll always outline what we feel needs to be done right away and what could wait.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing, also referred to as a deep cleaning, is a two-step process that involves reducing the amount of plaque and tartar within the mouth to help your body fight off the gum infection. First, one of our skilled experts will thoroughly clean the surface of your teeth, as far down as the pockets of your gums. We will then scale the roots of the teeth, which just means that we’ll remove any hardened deposits of bacteria to help the gums reattach to the teeth to provide the vulnerable roots with proper protection.