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Posted on 11/20/2019 by Robert Henshaw, DMD |
 Gum disease can be treated in many ways depending on the state of a patient's gums and previous treatments. In the starting stages of gum disease, people will often come seeking help at our office for swollen, red, and bleeding gums. These are the first signs of gum disease, and generally suggest a more regular teeth cleaning schedule. This includes flossing and brushing twice a day and making regular visits to our office once every six months. While in the office for low level gum disease, we clean our patient's teeth in the normal manner that we would with anyone. During the cleaning, we remove plaque buildup around the gum line which is generally the cause for gum inflammation and bleeding. This technique is called scaling. Scaling is done with hand tools and is painless for the patient. The removal of plaque buildup using this process helps to aid in the recovery of the gums. What if the Gum Disease is More Severe?More severe gum disease may be the cause of an overwhelming amount of plaque buildup on the teeth and near the gum line. If this is the case, a patient may need to have two cleanings to effectively remove and dislodge the bacteria. In the worst case scenarios, plaque has broken the gum line and infected the gums. Depending on the severity of the infection and how long the infection has been ongoing, depends on the route we must take to protect your gums and teeth. If the gums have receded and are now showing the root of the tooth, we will need to clean the area using the scaling method, then afterwards repair the gums with a method called gum reshaping. If the bacteria in the mouth has reached a point where tooth decay has occurred, it may be necessary to remove the teeth to prevent further disease from affecting the patient. The most important thing to know about dental hygiene is that daily flossing and brushing is not enough to prevent gum disease. To prevent gum disease, it is important to make regular visits to our office, so please give us a call and schedule an appointment today. |
Benefits of
Oregon Periodontics PC
Comfortable operatory experience
Excellent results due to enhanced vision & precision
Rapid healing & minimal discomfort See our smile gallery |
 Office Hours
Tuesday–Thursday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM Location
11786 Southwest Barnes Rd Suite 210 Portland, OR 97225-5925 Contact Office: (503) 575-7750 Fax: (503) 531-3560 
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