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Dentist and patient reviewing gum disease treatment options

Scaling & Root Planing

Gum disease usually develops because harmful bacteria and plaque have built up below the gum line, leading to irritation and inflammation, and scaling and root planing are specifically designed to remove them. With scaling, the roots of the teeth are thoroughly cleaned, and then they are slightly reshaped and smoothed out, or “planed.” This kickstarts the healing process while also lowering the risk of future infections.

Antibiotic Therapy

Because gum disease is a bacterial infection, antibiotics offer another effective way to fight it. Rather than having a patient take oral antibiotics, we can instead apply a topical solution right where it’s needed on the gums. This will eliminate any bacteria missed by scaling and root planing, plus this treatment will shrink the small pockets between the gums and teeth where the bacteria primarily likes to accumulate.