Gum Disease Treatment in East Las Vegas.

Periodontal Care

From a routine cleaning to treatment for gum disease, we start with what your gums need. Not the same visit for everyone.

Common, and easy to miss.

It's very common: in the U.S., about half of people 30 and older have some form of gum disease. The first stage, gingivitis, often doesn't hurt at first: gums turn red and puffy and bleed when you brush.

Left alone, the infection can progress to periodontitis and start damaging the gums and the bone around your teeth. It's a big reason adults end up losing teeth. Studies have also found links between gum disease and conditions like diabetes and heart disease. The sooner it's caught, the more a proper cleaning can do to keep it in check.

Which cleaning do you need?

A routine cleaning and gum disease treatment aren't the same thing. Here's how they differ.

Regular Cleaning

(Prophylaxis)

A preventive cleaning for people with healthy gums. It cleans the parts of your teeth you can see, above the gumline.

When is it needed?

Usually every 6 months

When gums look healthy: firm, pink and not bleeding

When gum pockets measure 1 to 3 mm

Deep Cleaning

(Scaling & Root Planing)

This one treats an infection rather than preventing one. We work under the gumline, where hardened tartar and the bacteria that harm gums and bone collect, and remove them.

When is it needed?

If your gums are red and puffy or bleed with brushing

If your X-rays reveal the bone is thinning

If the gaps between gum and tooth measure 4 mm or more

How does a deep cleaning work?

In scaling and root planing (SRP), we clean the infected pockets that form between gums and teeth. The goal is to help keep gum disease from getting worse and give your gums a chance to heal and fit snugly around your teeth again. We check in with you during the visit to keep you comfortable.

Numbing

First comes a local anesthetic to numb the area, since the cleaning goes below the gumline. What most people notice is pressure.

Scaling

Using special instruments, we scrape the hardened tartar and bacteria off the teeth below the gumline and clean out the pockets.

Root Planing

Then comes root planing: polishing the roots until they're smooth. Rough spots give bacteria a place to hang on, and a smooth, clean root gives the gum something to heal snugly against.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once gums are diseased, can they be fixed?

That depends on how far along it is. If it's still gingivitis, a professional cleaning and steady care at home usually clear it up. Periodontitis, the later stage where bone has been lost, can't be cured, but it can be managed. Treatment begins with scaling and root planing, followed by regular maintenance visits to help keep your gums stable.

My teeth have been touchy since the deep cleaning. Normal?

Yes, for a few days it's common to feel some sensitivity to hot and cold and a little gum soreness. That's because root surfaces that were under tartar are now uncovered. To ease it, brush with a toothpaste made for sensitivity and skip icy or very hot foods for a few days.

Why are my gum cleanings now every 3 to 4 months?

Once you've had a deep cleaning, you switch from cleanings every 6 months to periodontal maintenance visits. By about 3 to 4 months, bacteria have usually built up again in the deeper pockets. Keeping to that schedule is how we help stop bone loss from starting up again.

Do you deep-clean both sides of my mouth at one visit?

Usually not. Because we numb the area, we typically treat one side of your mouth at the first visit and the other side a week or two later. That way you're not numb on both sides at once.

Request an appointment or call (702) 641-8868.