Protect Your Gums with Effective Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is one of the most common oral health issues we see, and one of the easiest to miss in its early stages. It’s estimated that roughly half of adults over thirty have some form of periodontitis, the more advanced stage of gum disease, without even knowing it.
At Metropolitan Dental Arts, we treat gum disease at every stage, from early gingivitis to more more advanced cases that require deeper intervention. Patients throughout Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and the wider Brooklyn area count on routine visits to catch gum disease before it has a chance to progress and on our team to build a treatment plan around wherever things currently stand.
Schedule a Gum Health EvaluationHow Gum Disease Develops
Gum disease starts when bacteria become trapped above and below the gumline, leading to infection in the surrounding tissue. In its earliest stage, known as gingivitis, the main symptom is red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss. Left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, which comes with more noticeable symptoms such as toothaches, receding gums, ongoing swelling, and bleeding that doesn’t resolve on its own. Because the earliest stages often cause few symptoms, gum disease can go undetected for a long time, which is part of what makes it so common and often overlooked.
What Happens If Gum Disease Is Left Untreated
Gum disease doesn’t stay the same if it isn’t addressed. Left alone, it tends to move through the following stages.
- Gingivitis, marked by red, swollen gums that bleed easily
- Periodontitis, bringing toothaches, receding gums, and persistent swelling
- Advanced periodontitis, an incurable stage involving loose teeth, tooth loss, and jaw bone damage. Surgical intervention is sometimes needed at this stage to help restore gum health and save remaining teeth.
Catching gum disease early is what keeps it from ever reaching these later stages.
How We Treat Gum Disease at Every Stage
Treatment for gum disease depends heavily on how advanced it is by the time it’s diagnosed. Here’s how a typical course of treatment unfolds at Metropolitan Dental Arts.
01. Diagnosis and Staging
The dentist examines your gums, checks for bleeding, swelling, and pocket depth around each tooth, and determines whether you’re dealing with gingivitis or a more advanced stage of periodontitis.
02. Professional Cleaning
For early gingivitis, a thorough professional cleaning is often enough to remove the plaque and tartar buildup causing the infection and allow your gums to heal.
03. Scaling and Root Planing
For more advanced cases, this deep cleaning procedure removes infection and buildup from above and below the gumline, smoothing the tooth root to help gum tissue reattach.
04. Topical Medications or Antibiotics
Depending on the severity of infection, topical treatments or antibiotics may be used alongside cleaning to help control bacteria and support healing.
05. Surgical Care, If Needed
In severe cases where gum and bone damage has already occurred, surgical treatment may be recommended to restore gum health and help save remaining teeth.
Keeping Gum Disease from Returning
Treatment brings gum disease under control, but keeping it that way depends on what happens after you leave our office.
- Brush twice daily and floss once a day to keep bacteria from building back up along the gumline
- Keep up with regular cleanings and exams so any changes are caught early
- Avoid tobacco products, which significantly increase the risk of gum disease
- Manage conditions like diabetes that can make gum disease harder to control
- Ask our team about a more frequent cleaning schedule if you’ve had gum disease before
Don’t Wait for Symptoms to Get Worse
Bleeding or swollen gums are worth having checked, even if they don’t seem serious yet. Book online or call our dental office in Brooklyn to schedule an evaluation.
Schedule an EvaluationFrequently Asked Questions About Gum Disease Treatment
Common warning signs include red, swollen, or tender gums, bleeding when you brush or floss, persistent bad breath, and teeth that feel loose or appear longer because of gum recession. If you notice these symptoms, Metropolitan Dental Arts can evaluate your gums and recommend appropriate treatment.
Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can often be reversed with a professional cleaning and consistent at-home care. Periodontitis is different because lost bone does not grow back on its own, but it can be effectively managed and prevented from progressing with the right treatment at Metropolitan Dental Arts.
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning procedure that removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths the tooth roots. This helps the gum tissue reattach to the teeth and reduces the bacteria that collect in periodontal pockets. Metropolitan Dental Arts may recommend this treatment when gum disease requires more than a routine cleaning.
Yes. Research has found associations between gum disease and several health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Treating gum disease at Metropolitan Dental Arts can help protect your oral health while supporting the overall health of your mouth and gums.
Patients being treated for gum disease may need periodontal maintenance cleanings every three to four months rather than the standard six-month schedule. At Metropolitan Dental Arts, your recommended cleaning frequency will depend on the severity of your gum disease and how well your gums respond to treatment.
Most gum disease treatments, including professional cleanings and scaling and root planing, cause minimal discomfort. Local anesthetic can be used for deeper cleanings when needed to keep you comfortable throughout treatment at Metropolitan Dental Arts.
Without treatment, gum disease can progress from gingivitis to periodontitis and eventually advanced periodontal disease. This can contribute to gum recession, loose teeth, tooth loss, and damage to the bone supporting your teeth. Metropolitan Dental Arts can help identify gum disease early and recommend treatment to protect your oral health.
Many dental insurance plans provide coverage for gum disease treatment, including procedures such as scaling and root planing, although coverage varies by plan and provider. The Metropolitan Dental Arts team can help you understand your benefits and determine what coverage may apply to your recommended treatment.
