+ 1 415-499-1717
appointments@evosmile.com
750 Las Gallinas Ave, Suite 210
San Rafael, CA 94903
Open Monday - Thursday
Closed Friday - Sunday
Gum Disease Treatment
DR. IGOR OCHEV, SAN RAFAEL DENTIST
“If I have gum disease, what kind of treatment do I need?”
The right type of treatment for you all depends on the severity of the disease. Here at EvoSmile, we think it helps to explain the basics of how gum disease starts in the first place. Your jawbones support your teeth and your gums protect these bones as well as the roots of your teeth from bacteria and trauma. Some of the bacteria in your mouth creates plaque and if you don’t remove the plaque by brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar. Gum disease starts when bacteria, plaque, and tartar fill the pockets or spaces between your teeth and gums, causing irritation. As it progresses, these irritants build up and begin to damage your gums and eventually, your bones.
TREATING GUM DISEASE
What to Expect
After a periodontal exam as part of your routine checkup, Dr. Igor Ochev or one of our registered dental hygienists recommends the appropriate gum disease treatment for you based on what stage it’s at.
Cleanings
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. If the disease is caught early and no damage has been done, then we recommend regular cleanings twice a year. We speak with you about your daily oral hygiene habits and challenges, and give you instructions on how to improve your oral health at home.
Scaling & Root Planing
If the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, we recommend a special periodontal deep cleaning called scaling and root planing. It’s usually done one quadrant of the mouth at a time. While the quadrant is numb, we remove tartar, plaque, and toxins from above and below your gum line (scaling) and smoothen rough spots on the root surfaces (planing). This procedure helps gum tissue to heal and pockets to shrink. We may also recommend medications, special medicated mouth rinses, and an electric toothbrush to help you control infection and healing.
Arestin Therapy
A combined therapy of Arestin plus scaling and root planing is more effective at fighting gum disease than scaling and root planing alone. Arestin, which contains a potent but low-dose antibiotic (minocycline 1 mg) is administered locally, directly into the infected pockets between your teeth. When used together with scaling and root planing, Arestin significantly reduces the depth of infected pockets and helps prevent disease progression. Arestin has been shown to be particularly effective in the more difficult to treat patients, i.e. those that are at a higher periodontal risk such as smokers or people who have cardiovascular disease.
Surgery
If your pockets don’t heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce the pocket depths, making your teeth easier to clean. We may recommend you see a Periodontist who specializes in treating gums and the supporting bone.
Because oral hygiene affects your overall health, everyone here at EvoSmile would like to help you succeed. Beyond our treatments for gum disease, we hope you’ll choose us as your partner in your overall oral health.
Related to Gum Disease Treatment
Periodontal Dentistry
Warning signs and symptoms of gum disease. Plus, the connection between this disease and other ones.
Find Out MoreGum Disease Diagnosis
Allow us to make a diagnosis to see if you're free of gum disease, or have early or advanced stages of it.
Find Out MoreGum Disease Control
While gingivitis is reversible, periodontitis is not. Let us help you reverse or manage your gum disease.
Find Out MorePatient Savings & Financial Options
At EvoSmile, dental care is empathy care.
Your oral health profoundly affects your overall health. For this reason, we would never want you to hold off on your dental care because of cost — whether or not you carry insurance. This is why we offer the following solutions to ease your worry and your pocketbook.
New Patient Offer
Get a comprehensive dental exam including necessary X-rays, an oral cancer screening, a periodontal exam, a TMJ evaluation, and a regular cleaning.
Learn About This & Your First VisitNo Insurance? Save with Us
If you don’t have insurance, you'll want to take a look at our very own savings plans. We designed them with your dental needs in mind.
Discover our Dental Savings PlansFinancing & Payment Options
If you’re interested in affordable financing and monthly payments, we offer options from CareCredit and Cherry.
Find out if you pre-qualifyInsurance Benefits
We’re an out-of-network dental office that accepts insured patients with PPO plans. Get answers to commonly asked questions.
Check out our Insurance FAQs