Gum Disease Treatment – Silver Spring, MD
Protecting Your Oral & Overall Wellbeing
Many people believe that it’s perfectly normal for their gums to bleed a little after brushing or flossing, but in actuality, it’s just the opposite. Bleeding gums are a common sign of gum disease, which could have disastrous consequences on your health if left untreated. Luckily, Dr. Hank Gakavian can recognize gum disease in its early stages and stop it in its tracks, protecting your smile and overall wellbeing. If you’ve been dealing with bleeding, sore, or swollen gums, please reach out to our team right away for safe, effective gum disease treatment.
Why Choose Dr. Hank Gakavian for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Dentist with More Than Three Decades of Experience
- Insurance Welcome & Low-Interest Dental Financing Offered
- Focused on Punctuality & Short Wait Times
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Another term for gum disease, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection caused by plaque buildup in the mouth. Its symptoms are often mild in the beginning, but without treatment, gum disease can all too quickly progress to the point of irreversible damage. For one, bacteria could destroy the connective tissues supporting your teeth; in fact, gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in the United States. It has also been linked to a higher risk of multiple overall health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Scaling & Root Planing
If Dr. Gakavian finds that you have gum disease, he’ll almost always recommend a two-part treatment called scaling and root planing. You can think of it like a dental cleaning that is focused specifically on the gum tissue and the roots of the teeth. First, we clear away the deposits of hardened plaque that have built up along the gumline (scaling), and then we gently smooth out the rough surfaces on the roots of the teeth (root planing). This second step lowers the risk of reinfection since bacteria have more difficulty accumulating on smooth surfaces.
Antibiotic Therapy
After we’ve performed scaling and root planing, we may apply a topical antibiotic to the gums to eliminate any lingering bacteria from the deep pockets in the tissue. We typically use a powder-like substance called Arestin. Once administered to the area, the medicine slowly disperses throughout the gums, working over the next several weeks to target bacteria in the places that even our advanced instruments cannot reach.