Gum Disease Treatments

Family Dental Services Grandville MI Dentist

Scaling and root planing is a type of gum disease treatment. We may suggest this treatment if you have deep gum pockets around teeth.

It’s not uncommon for patients with gum disease to have receding gums. Over time, gums start to pull away from teeth unless you take action.

What to Expect

During your appointment, we may give you some local anesthetic to numb your gums. We’ll then remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line. Our dentists call this part of the procedure “scaling.” Next, we smooth out your tooth roots so your receding gums have a chance of re-attaching (“root planing”).

Depending on the extent of gum disease, our dentists will help you come up with a plan to protect your oral health. For example, you may need to see our dentists more often to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Each patient is different. This is why it’s important you see us as soon as possible so we can start gum disease treatments right away.

Causes of Gum Disease

Did you know that about 47.2% of adults age 30 and older have periodontitis? This number from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jumps up to 70.1% for adults age 65 and older. Yet, gum disease is not a “normal” part of growing older. Instead, it happens when patients neglect oral hygiene.

Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that feeds on the sugar left on your teeth and gums. It then uses this sugar to produce an acid that erodes tooth enamel and destroys gums. Over time, plaque can harden into tartar and cause gum disease.

While gum inflammation (also called gingivitis) is reversible, gum disease is not. This is why it’s important to see our dentists as soon as possible.

Schedule an Appointment With Us

Our family dentists in Grandville, MI, are accepting new patients. To request an appointment and learn if you’re a candidate for gum disease treatments, call the Grandville Dental Health Center at (616) 531-0360.

Ready to Schedule an Appointment?