Gum Health, Periodontal Care, and Periodontal Disease Treatment
At Dental Arts of Westwood, we provide comprehensive gum health and periodontal care to help patients protect their teeth and overall oral health. Our team treats patients in Westwood, MA, as well as nearby communities including Dedham, Norwood, Canton, Needham, Medfield, and Dover, offering personalized periodontal treatment plans designed to stop gum disease and restore healthy gums.
Gum Disease Treatment in Westwood, MA
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. At Dental Arts of Westwood, we help patients in Westwood, MA and nearby communities diagnose and treat gum disease early to protect long-term oral health. To schedule a consultation or learn more about our office, visit our contact page.
In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums become swollen and red and may bleed. It is considered the main cause of tooth loss for adults worldwide. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or fall out. Halitosis (bad breath) may also occur.
Source: Wikipedia
Periodontal Treatment
If you smoke or chew tobacco, it is important to quit. Ask your dentist or physician for information about ways to stop.
Periodontal treatments depend on the type of the gum disease and how severe it is. If the disease is caught early (when it is gingivitis), and no damage has been done to the supporting structures under the teeth, you may simply need a professional cleaning. The dental team can give you tips for improving your daily oral hygiene.
Even with these measures, some patients develop more severe periodontal disease. The first step in treating the disease usually involves a special deep cleaning called “scaling and root planing.” In this treatment, the dentist removes plaque and tartar down to the bottom of each periodontal pocket. This treatment may be done over several visits, depending on your needs.
Patients with early signs of gum disease may also benefit from our routine dental cleanings and preventive care services to help maintain long-term oral health.
The root surfaces of the teeth are then smoothed (or “planed”) to allow the gum tissue to heal and reattach to the teeth. This treatment also may take more than one visit.
Your dentist may recommend medications to help control infection and pain or to aid healing. These can include a pill, a mouthrinse or a medication that the dentist places directly into the periodontal pocket after scaling and root planing.
Another dental visit will be scheduled within a few weeks or months after your last scaling and root planing treatment. At this visit, your dentist or hygienist will look at your gums to see how they have healed. He or she will measure the periodontal pockets again. If the pockets have gotten deeper and the supporting bone is lost, more treatment may be needed.
Scaling removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line.
Root planing smoothes the tooth root and helps the gums re-attach to the tooth.
Periodontal Surgery
Diseased tissue is removed from the pocket. In some cases, the bone may be reshaped.
Bone has been reshaped.
Grafting material is placed over the bone. A membrane covers the grafting material.
The tooth is healed.
If the pockets do not heal enough after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed. Surgery allows the dentist to remove tartar and plaque from hard-to-reach areas. Then the gums are stitched into place to hug the teeth tightly. Surgery can reduce pocket depth and make it easier to keep teeth clean.
If bone has been damaged by periodontal disease, surgery may be needed to rebuild or reshape the bone. Splints, bite guards or other appliances may be used to hold loose teeth in place and to help tissues heal. If too much gum or bone tissue has been lost, the dentist may do a gum or bone graft.
The doctor may place a membrane layer at the surgical area to help the gums stay in place while the tooth root reattaches to the supporting ligament. This is called “guided tissue regeneration.” After surgery, the doctor may apply a protective dressing over teeth and gums and recommend or prescribe a special mouth rinse. Your dentist also may prescribe an antibiotic and pain reliever.
Once your periodontal treatment is completed, your doctor may recommend more frequent checkups and cleanings. Regular dental visits and deep cleanings are important to keep periodontal disease under control. In some cases, your appointments may alternate between your general dentist and periodontist.
Good oral hygiene at home also is very important to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or from coming back. Daily home cleaning helps keep plaque under control and reduces tartar buildup.
For patients experiencing tooth loss related to advanced periodontal disease, we also offer dental implant solutions to help restore function and smile confidence.
Before and After
Periodontal Disease Treatment in Westwood, MA
Looking for additional dental care services in Westwood, MA? Learn more about our preventive dental care, dental implants, and advanced restorative dentistry services.
If you have gum disease, it’s important to act quickly to avoid worsening symptoms and potential health risks.
What Patients in Westwood Are Saying
Frequently Ask Questions
Common signs of gum disease include swollen or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession, tooth sensitivity, and loose teeth. Patients in Westwood, MA experiencing these symptoms should seek periodontal care as early as possible to prevent further damage.
Yes. Dental Arts of Westwood provides gum disease treatment and periodontal care for patients in Westwood, Dedham, Norwood, Canton, Needham, Medfield, Dover, and surrounding Massachusetts communities.
Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning procedure used to treat periodontal disease. The treatment removes plaque and tartar below the gumline and smooths the tooth roots to help the gums heal and reattach properly.
Yes. Advanced periodontal disease can damage the gums and supporting bone structures around the teeth, which may eventually lead to loose teeth or tooth loss if not treated promptly.
Many patients with periodontal disease benefit from more frequent dental cleanings and periodontal maintenance visits to help control infection and protect long-term gum health. Your treatment schedule will depend on your individual needs.
Patients choose Dental Arts of Westwood for personalized periodontal treatment, advanced dental technology, compassionate care, and comprehensive gum disease management designed to protect both oral health and overall wellness.