gum therapy / deep cleaning
If your gums bleed when you brush or floss or sometimes even when you eat, this is the early stage of gum inflammation called ‘gingivitis’. At this stage, having your dentist perform a routine cleaning and polishing will help prevent further gum infection. However, if you neglect your gums at this point, the infection spreads downwards and can cause breakdown of the supporting bone which eventually leads to increased mobility of the teeth. This is the stage at which there may be permanent and irreversible damage not only to the underlying bone and gum but can also lead to the loss of an otherwise healthy tooth. The key to treat the progression of this ‘silent disease’ at this point is a deeper cleaning (periodontal therapy).
1. What is periodontal therapy/ scaling and root planing?
- Simply put it is a deep oral cleaning procedure for people who are suffering from gum inflammation due to plaque buildup and gum disease. It involves a combination of an ultrasonic device that uses sonic vibrations to loosen plaque, bacteria and calculus, and a manual instrument to scrape bacterial buildup. This procedure cleans the root of the tooth underneath the gum line to reverse the damage caused by chronic tartar buildup. At Summit Dental, we also offer laser therapy for the treatment of advanced stages of gum infection which offers several advantages over traditional technique of manual instruments.
2. What is laser gum therapy?
- This technique involves deep cleaning using a specialised soft tissue laser which gently removes diseased tissue and stimulates healing. Laser therapy has several benefits including reduced or no bleeding during the procedure, minimal swelling and no drill noise or vibration. The post-operative sensitivity is greatly limited and the recovery time is much quicker. The laser’s high energy light beam acts as a steriliser thereby reducing the risk of bacterial infection. Hence the stress and anxiety often associated with dental work is eliminated due to this quick, effective and essentially pain-free laser procedure.
3. Is gum therapy painful?
- A deep cleaning is a more thorough version of routine dental cleaning. Everyones comfort level and sensitivity is different. Our gum specialist (periodontist) is highly trained in this procedure which is always performed with a numbing gel and local anesthesia.
4. How long does a deep cleaning take?
- The gum specialist (periodontist) will first perform a comprehensive dental exam to determine the extent of inflammation and plaque buildup. Typically this procedure can take between one or two visits deepening on the current gum infection.
5. Why do gums bleed?
- There are many reasons which can cause irritated and bleeding gums. Certain medical conditions and medications, tobacco use, lifestyle and dietary habits, hormonal conditions and pregnancy. A thorough medical history as well as a detailed clinical examination is required to ascertain the reason for bleeding gums so that treatment can be provided in a timely manner to restore gum health.