Gum disease begins as inflammation caused by plaque bacteria along the gumline. Caught early, it is reversible. Left alone, it progresses to affect the bone supporting your teeth — and that damage does not come back.
Bleeding when you brush is the most common early sign, and the one most often ignored. Gums that bleed are gums that are inflamed.
What treatment involves
- 01
Assessment
We measure the depth of the pockets around your teeth and check for bone loss on X-rays. That establishes how far the disease has progressed.
- 02
Cleaning
Scaling and root planing remove plaque and hardened deposits from below the gumline, where brushing cannot reach.
- 03
Review and maintenance
We re-measure after healing to see how the gums responded. Advanced cases may need surgical treatment; all cases need ongoing maintenance.
Good to know
- Gum disease is often painless until it is advanced. Absence of pain is not evidence that your gums are healthy.
- Smoking significantly worsens gum disease and masks the bleeding that would otherwise warn you.
- Treatment controls the disease; daily cleaning at home is what keeps it controlled.