Non-Surgical Gum Therapy

Gum disease is one of the most common yet preventable oral health problems that Canadians suffer from. Gum disease is an oral infection and is caused when plaque builds ups inside the mouth. The first signs of gum disease include inflamed and bleeding gums when you brush or floss. This stage is known as gingivitis and can be stopped or even reversed by proper consistent brushing and flossing.

As the infection progresses and becomes more serious, gingivitis turns into periodontal disease, which starts to impact the underlying tissues supporting your teeth. Common symptoms of this stage include severe gum recession, deep pocket formation, and loose teeth. Eventually, your underlying bone and gum tissues will be so deteriorated that your teeth will fall out.

Depending on the severity of your gum disease, we may recommend non-surgical gum therapy to stop the spread of the infection below the gum line. Non-surgical gum therapy employs a number of more aggressive procedures, such as curettage, root-planing, and local medication. These procedures are often performed at the same time to eliminate the harmful toxins and allow your gums to heal.

Curettage is a procedure that removes the surrounding soft tissues around a tooth to eliminate the chronic source of infection and to promote healing.

Root-planing is also an aggressive procedure that eliminates and smoothes small quantities of the root surface. Root-planing thoroughly cleanses the root surface so that surrounding soft tissues can properly heal and grow.

If the infection is serious, local medication may be given to the infected site to stop the spread of further infection.

Because it takes time to eradicate the infection, your treatment sessions will likely be spread out over a period of time so that we can continue to monitor your condition. During each of your procedures, you will be given an anesthesia so that you will remain comfortable and relaxed.

If your gum disease is severe, we may recommend a periodontist who is a dentist specializing in the surgical removal of gum disease. Dr. Rick Kochman, North York dentist, will examine your mouth so that you receive the appropriate treatment. Contact us at 416-491-5625 to set up an appointment!

Back