Gum Therapy in San Francisco, CA

Gum disease, also called gingivitis, is one of the most common dental conditions that affect patients. It often starts without the patient even noticing. Gum disease is an infection in the gums.
When plaque builds up on your teeth, it can cause an infection. Over time, this infection can destroy the gums and the bone supporting the teeth. This can result in the teeth becoming loose and eventually falling out.

Gum disease is the number-one cause of tooth loss. It affects more than 75 percent of adults and over 35 percent of children. Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on the teeth. Plaque contains millions of bacteria, which produce harmful toxins that irritate the gums. This leads to inflammation, which causes the gums to recede. The bacteria can also enter the bloodstream, which can increase your risk of stroke and heart attack.

The symptoms of periodontal diseases include:

Gum therapy is a form of periodontal treatment that can help to treat periodontal disease. The gum therapy treatment involves cleaning the pockets that fill with plaque and bacteria, as well as smoothing out the surfaces of teeth that are rough due to periodontitis.
During gum therapy, the pockets or spaces between the teeth and gums are cleaned. This is usually done by scaling the teeth. Scaling is a treatment that removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth. This treatment is usually performed under local anesthesia to numb the teeth and gums.
Once the gums are cleaned, the surfaces of the teeth can be smoothed out. This is done through a process called root planing. Root planing is a treatment that smoothes out the rough surfaces of the teeth by getting rid of plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the roots of the teeth.

Gum therapy can help remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your teeth. Patients who have mild to moderate gum inflammation and gum disease can benefit from gum therapy. If you have bleeding, swollen, or tender gums, talk to your dentist about gum therapy. However, if the gum disease has advanced to severe periodontitis, the patient may need surgical intervention.