Gum Disease Therapy in Federal Hill

What gum disease is

Gum disease starts as inflammation caused by plaque sitting along the gumline. At that stage the gums are red and bleed easily, and it can be reversed.

Left alone it can progress to the deeper stage, where the infection reaches the bone holding the teeth in place. Bone lost that way does not come back. Treatment then is about stopping it going further rather than undoing it, which is why the early signs are worth acting on.

Signs to take seriously

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss.
• Gums that look red or puffy, or have started pulling back from the teeth.
• Persistent bad breath or a bad taste that brushing does not fix.
• Teeth that feel loose, or that seem to have moved.

Bleeding when you brush is the one people most often dismiss. Gums that are healthy do not bleed.

What treatment involves

Treatment cleans the plaque and hardened deposits from below the gumline, where a normal cleaning does not reach, so the gum can settle back against the tooth. Depending on how much of the mouth is involved, it may be split across more than one visit and done with the area numbed.

Dr. Ellis will measure how deep the pockets around your teeth are, show you the readings, and explain what she is treating and why.

Keeping it under control

Gum disease is managed rather than cured, and the day-to-day part of that happens at home. You will be shown what to do and where you are missing, which is more useful than being told to brush better.

You will also be seen more often than someone with healthy gums, so it gets caught if it starts up again.

Cost and insurance

Most plans cover gum treatment, often at a different rate from a routine cleaning. Check yours on the Insurance Plans Accepted page and we will submit the claim for you.