What Do Dentists Use for Gum Disease? Comprehensive Treatments & Prevention
Gum disease isn’t just about a little bleeding when you brush. It’s a big deal that can end with loose teeth, pain, and even losing your smile. But here’s the good news—dentists have a bunch of tools to fight gum disease at every stage. In this article, I’ll share what really happens in the dental chair, what treatments work (and why), and how you can keep your gums healthy for good. You’ll get simple answers and easy tips you can use right away. Stick with me, and we’ll take on gum disease together.
Table of Contents
What Is Gum Disease and Why Should I Care?
First, the basics. Gum disease means your gums and the bone holding your teeth are being attacked by bad germs. There’s a mild stage called gingivitis, but it can get a lot worse and turn into periodontitis.
What Are the Stages?
- Gingivitis is the early stage. Your gums might look a little red or bleed when you brush. Good news: You can fix this stage.
- Periodontitis comes next if gingivitis isn’t stopped. The problem goes deeper and starts hurting the bone that holds your teeth in place. If you don’t fix it, you could lose teeth.
Why Should You Worry?
Ignoring gum disease isn’t just about your teeth. Studies show it can cause bigger health problems like heart trouble, more problems for people with diabetes, and even problems during pregnancy. You don’t want that! If your gums are bleeding or swollen, don’t wait.
How Do Dentists Check for Gum Disease?
Wondering how a dentist finds gum problems? I’ve seen it myself—the process is simple but careful.
Looking in Your Mouth
The dentist first does a visual check for bleeding, swollen gums, or gums that are pulling away. They might even see teeth that move a little.
Measuring Pocket Depths
Then comes the periodontal probe. It looks like a small ruler. The dentist checks how deep the little spaces are between your teeth and gums. Healthy gums have shallow spaces (1-3mm). If they’re deeper, that’s a problem.
Dental X-rays
Dentists also use X-rays (pictures of your teeth) to see if the bone is starting to go away. This tells them how bad your gum disease is.
Checking Your Risks
They ask about your health and your habits. Smoking, diabetes, hormone changes, and even your family history can make gum disease more likely.
What Treatments Do Dentists Use for Early Gum Disease?
If you catch gum disease early, it’s pretty easy to fix! Here’s what your dentist might do.
Professional Dental Cleaning
This isn’t your usual toothbrush cleaning. The dental hygienist uses special tools (like ultrasonic scalers and hand scalers) to scrape sticky stuff and hard buildup off your teeth, right above your gums.
- Who needs it? People with mild gingivitis.
- How often? Usually every 6 months, sometimes more if your dentist says so.
Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
If the gum disease has gone a bit deeper, you might need scaling and root planing (SRP). This is when dentists clean under the gums and smooth out the sides of your teeth roots so germs can’t stick.
Why Is Root Planing Helpful?
When the roots are smooth, germs and tartar have a harder time sticking. Your gums can heal and grab back onto your teeth.
Here’s a quick look at both types of cleaning:
| Cleaning Type | Where It’s Done | Tools Needed | Pain Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional cleaning | Above gum line | Scalers, polishers | None or just a little |
| Scaling & root planing | Below gum line | Ultrasonic, curettes | A bit, but numbed first |
How Do Dentists Treat Periodontitis?
So, what if your gum disease is worse? Periodontitis needs stronger treatments.
Aggressive Deep Cleaning
The dentist will likely start with scaling and root planing, maybe over a few visits. They may use numbing shots to keep you comfy.
Maintenance
After the first treatment, you’ll need regular checkups—often every 3 or 4 months—to spot problems early. Dentists call this “periodontal maintenance.”
What About Antibiotics, Mouthwashes, and Lasers?
Dentists have some cool tools for tough cases.
Antibiotics
- Pills: Medicines like doxycycline or amoxicillin kill bad germs from the inside.
- Antibiotic gels or powders: Sometimes, dentists put medicine (Arestin, PerioChip, Atridox) straight into deep gum pockets.
Strong Mouthwashes
Chlorhexidine mouthwash is really good at killing germs. Sometimes dentists tell you to use it after deep cleanings or if your gums are extra sore.
Lasers
Laser treatment (like LANAP) can zap germs deep in the gums with less pain and heals faster. Not every dentist has these, but they’re getting more common.
Do You Need Gum Surgery?
Sometimes, even with a deep cleaning, those deep spaces or messed up bone just won’t get better. Then the dentist might talk about surgery.
Flap Surgery
This is called pocket reduction surgery. The dentist lifts up your gums, cleans out the big infection, and sometimes shapes the bone to make cleaning easier. Then they put the gums back so they fit tighter around your teeth.
Bone Grafts and Gum Grafts
Lost some bone or gums? Dentists can do bone grafts or gum grafts to help keep your teeth strong. They might use your own tissue or a special material made for this.
Regeneration
Dentists can use stuff like Emdogain to help your gums and bone heal and grow back, at least a bit.
Here’s a table showing the surgery options:
| Surgery | What It Does | Recovery Time | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flap surgery | Cleans deep spaces, shapes bone | 1-2 weeks | 80%–90% |
| Bone graft | Regrows lost bone, holds teeth | Weeks to months | 50%–80% |
| Gum graft | Covers roots, adds gum | 1-2 weeks | 80%–95% |
| Regeneration (GTR/EMD) | Helps gum and bone grow | Varies | Depends |
How Can You Keep Your Gums Healthy After Treatment?
Dentists can do a lot, but what you do later matters.
Go Back for Cleanings
Plan on seeing your dentist every 3-4 months for cleanings and checkups. Skipping these puts you back at risk again.
Take Care of Your Mouth at Home
- Brush two times a day: Use a soft toothbrush or an electric one.
- Floss every day: Floss or tiny brushes to clean between teeth.
- Try a water flosser: Good for folks with braces or sore gums.
- Use mouthwash: Helps keep germs down.
Make Healthy Choices
- Quit smoking. It’s one of the biggest reasons people get gum disease.
- Take care of health problems like diabetes, which can hurt your gums.
- Eat a healthy diet and get enough vitamin C.
What Can You Do at Home to Prevent Gum Disease?
You don’t have to wait for trouble. Here’s how to keep your gums healthy every single day.
Top Tips:
- Brush and floss every day.
- Change your toothbrush every 3–4 months.
- Stay away from too many sweet snacks or drinks, especially between meals.
- Use mouthwashes if your dentist tells you to.
- Watch for early signs: red, puffy gums or bad breath.
How Much Does Gum Disease Treatment Cost?
Money is important. Here’s what you might pay:
| Treatment | Cost Range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | $75–$200 | Insurance often pays for this |
| Scaling & Root Planing | $200–$500/quadrant | More for the full mouth |
| Local antibiotics | $50–$100/site | Extra after deep cleaning |
| Laser therapy | $1,500–$6,000 | For the whole mouth; you might not need all |
| Flap surgery | $500–$1,500/quadrant | More expensive, but fixes bigger problems |
| Bone/gum grafts | $400–$3,000/site | Only for tough cases |
Dentists will explain your choices, and most offices try to help with payment plans or work with insurance.
How Do Dental Labs Help With Gum Disease?
Most people don’t think about dental labs, but I know they matter a lot. If gum disease gets really bad and you lose teeth, a removable denture lab can make you dentures that look like real teeth and fit the new, healthy you. Or, you might need a crown or bridge from a crown and bridge dental lab if teeth are damaged. These labs work right with your dentist so stuff fits and doesn’t hurt your gums. Some labs, like a digital dental lab, use 3D printers for super exact and comfy fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can gum disease go away by itself?
No. Gingivitis can get better with better brushing and flossing—but periodontitis needs a dentist.
Q: Will I lose my teeth if I have gum disease?
Not if you get it treated early. If you don’t, you could lose teeth.
Q: Is gum disease painful?
It often starts without pain, but can hurt if it gets bad.
Q: Do only old people get gum disease?
Nope. Anyone can get it—even kids—if they don’t take care of their teeth and gums.
Summary: Key Points to Remember
- Gum disease starts as gingivitis and can get worse as periodontitis.
- Dentists check your gums with a probe, X-rays, and a close look.
- Deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, and sometimes antibiotics help in early stages.
- Surgery (flap surgery, bone graft, gum graft) is for tough cases only.
- You play a big part: Brush, floss, visit the dentist often, eat well, and quit smoking.
- Dental labs, like china dental lab, make dentures, crowns, bridges, and more when gum disease has hurt your teeth.
- Catch gum disease early for the best and cheapest fix.
- For the best results, trust your dentist and follow their advice.
Don’t ignore bleeding or sore gums. Take care now, and keep your smile safe for life!
