Gum Disease Treatment

Dr. Robert P. Choi | San Mateo Dentist

 

Dr. Choi will develop a treatment plan for gum disease depending on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health. We offer non-surgical therapies that control bacterial growth as well as surgery to restore supportive tissues.

 

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Non-Surgical Treatments
Professional Dental Cleaning 

During your regular checkup, the plaque and tartar is removed from above and below the gum line of all your teeth. If you have early signs of gum disease, Dr. Choi may recommend that you have a cleaning more than twice a year.

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Scaling and root planing 

Dr. Choi may recommend scaling and root planing, a deep-cleaning performed under a local anesthetic, to remove significant plaque and tartar below your gumline. After removing the plaque and tartar (scaling), Dr. Choi will smooth the tooth root surface (planing). By smoothing the surface, the gums are able to grow over the exposed tooth root.

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Surgical Treatments for Gum Disease
Flap surgery/ Pocket Reduction Surgery

In order to reduce the size of the space between the gum and tooth, Dr. Choi may recommend flap surgery, or pocket-reduction surgery. The gums are lifted back and the tartar is removed, and in some cases, irregular or rough surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed. The gums are then. This method reduces the gaps where harmful bacteria can grow and decreases the chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease.

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Bone Grafts 

Using fragments of your own bone, synthetic bone, or donated bone, bone in your jaw, lost because gum disease, can be restored. The fragments or grafts serve as a platform for your bone to regrow, which will strengthen your jaw and give your teeth a stable foundation.

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Soft Tissue Grafts

This procedure reinforces thin gums or fills in places where gums have receded. Grafted tissue, most often taken from the roof of the mouth, is stitched in place, adding tissue to the affected area.