Gum Disease Treatment Explained
In this video, Raymond G. Hatland, DDS, explains his non-surgical approach to managing gum disease and how he helps patients regain control of their oral health.
I’d like to explain my gum disease program. Gum disease is one of the most destructive oral conditions because it damages the soft tissue and the bone beneath it. It’s a chronic bacterial infection marked by ongoing inflammation, and the most dangerous part is that it usually doesn’t hurt. As the pockets around the teeth deepen, from 5 millimeters to 6, 8, 10, or even 13 millimeters, you may not feel anything. The infection drains through the top of the gum, so you don’t experience the swelling that typically causes pain.
My approach is non-surgical. Treatment begins with scaling and root planing, or deep cleaning, performed with an anesthetic to clean the root surfaces under the gums. After that, I teach patients how to use a Hydro Floss or, in some cases, a Waterpik. When used correctly, these devices flush debris and bacteria from deep pockets that floss can’t reach. Once the area is cleaned and the bacteria are controlled, the gums can reattach from the base of the pocket upward.
Ongoing monitoring is essential because gum disease often lacks the usual symptoms, and it’s easy to think everything is fine when it’s not. My job is to probe and evaluate the pockets to make sure you remain in control.
If you’d like to learn how a non-surgical approach can help reverse your gum disease and reduce pocket depths, come in for an appointment and I’ll show you exactly what to do.
