Nearly half of American adults have some form of gum disease. One of the reasons this is such a big deal is because it’s one of the leading causes of tooth loss. The good news is deep cleaning can help restore your oral health.
At Nobel Dental, located in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, Abraham Nobel, DDS, MPH, and our team offer periodontal treatment, which can help prevent the worst outcomes of gum disease. In this blog, Dr. Nobel explains why gum disease requires professional therapy and how deep cleaning can help.
Why professional treatment is necessary
Brushing and flossing are crucial for good dental health. However, if you have gum disease, you likely won’t be able to keep up with the worsening problems with at-home care alone.
When plaque builds up beneath the gum line, it forms pockets around the tooth roots. These areas are ideal for bacteria and become repositories for them to collect and grow. When this happens, your tooth enamel and gum tissue suffer. Eventually, this can lead to tooth loss.
Furthermore, as bacteria proliferate, they can enter your bloodstream and cause problems in other areas. Because of all these factors, you must get professional treatment if you have gum disease as soon as possible.
How deep cleaning can help
When it comes to treating gum disease, there are a number of options. One standard treatment, called deep cleaning, comes in two parts: scaling and root planing.
Scaling
With scaling, we remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets under your gum line. Tartar is what plaque turns into after it hardens. Unfortunately, no matter how often you brush or floss, these pockets will remain unless treated by a dental professional.
Root planing
With root planing, we smooth out the surface of your tooth roots. This helps your gum tissue reattach to your teeth properly. In some cases, you may need more than one appointment to complete your scaling and root planning, and you may need a follow-up appointment to make sure the pockets are gone and healing is proceeding.
After scaling and root planing
After your treatment, you may need to take over-the-counter pain relievers for a day or two. Furthermore, you may experience some sensitivity for about a week. Also, we’ll likely prescribe a special rinse for you to use at home.
If you have gum disease and want treatment, or if you want to see if you have the condition, we can give you a thorough evaluation and discuss your next steps. To learn more, call 213-386-7173 or book an appointment online with Nobel Dental today.