Gum Disease Therapy

Bleeding, swollen, tender gums are warning signs that many patients tend to ignore, but not anymore. At Harvey Dental, we partner with each patient to advance their health and fight gum disease; together, we can make a difference.

With over 65 million people in the United States currently suffering from the condition, we want to make sure you are well educated on recognizing the symptoms of gum disease. The disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, primarily due to the fact that symptoms go unnoticed until they begin targeting bone tissue. 

Don’t let gum disease take your smile away! Call our office in Kinston, NC, today to schedule an appointment or book online! Rely on the experts to keep your health on track. 

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a condition resulting from poor oral hygiene, smoking or chewing tobacco, or certain medications that cause dry mouth; in most cases, the condition develops due to the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth and gum line. This acidic film is composed of leftover food deposits, bacteria, and saliva that break down the enamel, leading to tooth decay and gum inflammation. 

Once gums have become infected, they will begin retreating from the tooth surface, creating pockets between the gums and tooth. Plaque and tartar can accumulate in these pockets, but they are unreachable by a toothbrush. Over time, this leads to bone loss and further recession of the gum tissue. As a result, teeth tend to be less supported and may become mobile or detached from their sockets. 

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gum disease occurs in three separate stages, each becoming more severe as the condition progresses.

• Gingivitis – This is the first stage of gum disease, characterized by tender, swollen, bleeding gums.
• Periodontitis – At this stage, the disease becomes incurable but can still be managed by dental experts. Symptoms include gum recession, slight bone loss, gum pockets filled with pus and bacteria, and gum bleeding.
• Advanced periodontitis – The final stage of gum disease; symptoms include tooth loss, temperature sensitivity, painful chewing, and swollen gums leaking pus and blood.

Scaling & Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a type of treatment we offer at our practice to control the advancement of gum disease. This procedure is usually referred to as deep cleaning; a procedure very similar to what you would receive during a routine visit but more extensive.

In order to fight the disease and improve the condition of your gum tissue, the bacteria responsible for the infection must be eliminated. This is accomplished by using small tools to scrape away plaque and tartar on the crown of each tooth and the bone below the gumline. 

• We will tediously clean the bacteria from each gum pocket. 
• As a result, the gum tissue will be able to reattach to the teeth and support them properly, reducing the depth of the gum pockets.