Gum Disease Treatment – Winfield, KS
Gum Therapy Made Easy
When you have gum disease, it can feel like even the most basic tasks become either distracting or difficult. However, you don’t have to live with sensitivity, tenderness, or inflammation when you have dedicated gum disease treatment available to you. With modern treatments from Dr. Parsons’ dental office, including laser periodontal therapy and antibiotic therapy, you can expect a more comfortable dental experience from start to finish; just give us a call to get started!
Why Choose David C. Parsons DDS for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Targeted Arestin Antibiotic Therapy
- Modern Laser Periodontal Treatment In-House
- Dentist Practices a Conservative Approach to Care
What is Gum Disease?
With roughly 50% of adults struggling with gum disease, it’s one of the most common oral health problems in the US. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the leading causes of tooth loss, which is why we strongly recommend seeking gum disease treatment in Winfield sooner rather than later. That way, we can eliminate the infection and restore your beautiful, healthy smile.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
During your biannual exams, Dr. David C. Parsons will look for warning signs of gum disease, including:
- Red, inflamed, or swollen gums
- A pimple-like bump on the gums
- Bleeding when flossing
- Teeth that appear longer than usual (gum recession)
- A change to your bite
Between visits, it’s important that you keep an eye out for abnormal symptoms like these as well. If one or more arise, then don’t wait – schedule an appointment at our Winfield dental office.
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Our team is proud to offer several treatments, including deep cleanings. During your appointment, we will discuss each of them in-depth and share our recommendations. In the meantime, you can read on to learn a little more.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a two-step process designed to prevent the spread of gum disease and preserve your smile. By minimizing bacteria accumulation along and beneath the gumline, we aim to prevent bone erosion, further gum health deterioration, and keep the infection under control. Followed by routine periodontal maintenance, our team may be able to reverse your condition and preserve your smile’s health and function with a deep cleaning.
Do You Need Scaling & Root Planing?
The best way to learn whether you require scaling and root planing, also called a deep cleaning, is to visit Dr. Parsons for a routine checkup. He may recommend this treatment if the following symptoms are present:
- Bleeding gums while brushing and flossing
- Gum recession that makes the teeth appear longer
- Persistent bad breath
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Shifting teeth
- Visible plaque or tartar build-up
- Difficulty or discomfort chewing
- Swollen, red or purple gums
- A change in your bite
The Scaling & Root Planing Process
The deep cleaning process is typically completed within one or two appointments, depending on the extent of your gum disease. First, our team will thoroughly scale your teeth, removing all plaque and tartar accumulated on their surface and along the gumline. We’ll clean as far down as the pockets of the gums.
After scaling, our team will move to root planing. We will remove hardened deposits of bacteria on the roots of the teeth, which will allow the healthy gum tissue to reattach to the teeth, protecting the roots and preventing the spread of infection and bone erosion. After treatment, we may also recommend coming in for periodontal maintenance cleanings every six months to prevent tooth loss and keep your oral health on the right track.
Deep Cleaning Aftercare Tips
We will numb your mouth before your scaling and root planing procedure to ensure your comfort, so it may be a couple of hours until you regain feeling in your full mouth. For the next several days, your gums may feel sore, so be gentle while brushing and flossing and rinse with saltwater every few hours to help minimize swelling and discomfort. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team! We’re always happy to assist you.
Antibiotic Treatment
As part of your ongoing treatment, our dental office performs antibiotic therapy following your initial scaling and root planing procedure. This antibiotic, also known as Arestin, slowly releases small amounts of gel-like material into the gums once applied. This reduces the risk of the infection coming back in between your routine gum therapy appointments. When you come back for your follow-up appointment, we’ll make sure the antibiotics are working as intended.
Laser Periodontal Treatment
Gum therapy doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable experience thanks to advanced laser therapy. Our dental office uses a CO2 soft tissue dental laser to effectively, yet conservatively, remove broken-down tissue. Thanks to its precision, we can retain more healthy tissue compared to traditional methods and reduce the healing time necessary to recover from the procedure substantially. It even makes the process virtually painless. Many patients don’t even need local anesthesia as a result!