Gum Disease Treatment Near Portland, ME
Don’t Let Gum Disease Steal Your Smile
Maybe you didn't know, but gum problems are pretty common today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) find nearly half of Americans over 30 have gum disease. That issue has mild effects early on, but untreated cases can quickly threaten healthy teeth. The good news is that our team offers great gum disease treatment near Portland. To learn how Dr. McVety would use it to help, please keep reading or book a consultation!
Why Choose Casco Bay Smiles for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Modern Diode Laser Therapy
- Sedation Dentistry Available
- Highly Trained & Dedicated Dentist
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is basically an infection of your gums – the soft tissues around your teeth. It normally occurs due to plaque buildup, often as a result of poor eating and bad oral care. However, the problem does have other notable risk factors: genetics, tobacco use, hormone changes, etc.
Overall, gum disease develops in two different (but similar) stages. The first is gingivitis – a mild inflammation of the patient's gums. Given enough time, the disease advances to periodontitis and becomes an infection that attacks your jaw and gum tissue. While gingivitis can be reversed with good oral care, periodontitis can only be managed at best.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Since it has two distinct stages, gum disease can cause many symptoms. A patient's signs will depend on the infection’s severity and progress.
Consider gingivitis, for instance. This phase of gum disease has symptoms such as:
- Red, bleeding gums
- Gum tenderness
- Swollen gums
- Gum recession
- Chronic bad breath (i.e., halitosis)
On the other hand, periodontitis has harsher symptoms that make a bigger impact. These include:
- A shift in your bite
- Loose permanent teeth
- Tooth sensitivity (often due to gum recession)
- Chewing pain
- Permanent tooth loss
- Changes in your restoration’s fit
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Our dental team will closely assess your mouth to learn your condition’s severity. From there, we’ll use our findings to suggest treatment options like:
Scaling & Root Planing
When gum disease reaches a point where routine cleanings aren’t enough, scaling and root planing are the next steps in care. This procedure can be considered a “deep cleaning” that targets the harmful buildup of plaque and tartar beneath your gum line. Our team will also look at your tooth roots, which can develop rough surfaces that are prime targets for bacteria. By slowly smoothing them, we’ll promote healthy gum reattachment and help your smile recover.
Do I Need Scaling & Root Planing?
Only a qualified dentist can confirm if you need scaling and root planing. Even so, you’d be wise to watch for signs that you’d benefit from this service. Such symptoms include:
- A visible buildup of plaque
- Swollen or puffy gums
- Receding gum tissue
- Sensitive or bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath (i.e., halitosis)
The signs above can often be reversed with oral care, but you’ll need scaling and root planing if your infection advances. Only treatment could stop your symptoms at that point.
The Process of Scaling & Root Planing
The process of scaling and root planing takes roughly two dental visits. In general, these appointments can be divided into the first “scaling” session and the later “root planing” visit.
For the initial treatment visit, Dr. McVety will perform a scaling of your smile. This procedure uses a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from the surfaces of your teeth. To be thorough, it’ll even move as far down as the pockets of your gums.
Dr. McVety will do a “root planing” at your second visit. For that session, he’ll remove hard bacterial deposits clinging to the roots of your teeth. Since these deposits are beneath the gumline, removing them stops bacteria from re-infecting your gums.
If your gum disease is quite severe, these treatments may need to be done multiple times over several visits.
Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing
Because scaling and root planing are invasive, your mouth needs time to heal. That means your teeth and gums will feel sensitive for a few weeks. As needed, you can cope with your aches by using the following tips:
- Rinse with Salt Water – Rinse your gums with salt water soon after meals. That way, you’ll reduce irritation and loosen debris around your teeth.
- Brush Gently – Please use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your teeth gently in the first days after treatment. By brushing in slow, circular motions, you’ll prevent aches and pains.
- Avoid Certain Meals – Avoid hot and spicy foods, alcohol, or acidic drinks while healing. If you don't, you’ll inflame and irritate your gums.
- Don’t Rush – For the first few days after treatment, avoid intense physical activity. Moving around too much would delay the healing process.
Diode Laser Periodontal Therapy
Lasers are the future of modern oral healthcare, especially when treating the mouth’s vulnerable soft tissues. Dr. McVety regularly uses state-of-the-art diode lasers to treat the damage caused by gum disease, relying on a precise wavelength to recontour targeted areas conservatively. The result is a procedure that many patients find comfortable, thanks to its accelerated healing and recovery process.
Oral DNA
Dr. McVety proudly uses OralDNA Labs® to precisely pinpoint and treat each patient’s gum disease. This salivary diagnostic test confirms the type of oral bacteria we’re facing and the size and location of their concentrations. We can even identify a patient’s overall genetic susceptibility to developing gum disease over the years! As a result, our team can recommend specific antibiotics that do a much better job of eradicating gum disease and maximizing recovery.