Gum Disease Treatment

If you’ve been diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis, gum disease treatment can prevent the issue from worsening and preserve your oral health. At Uptown Dental in Cedar Hill, Texas, general and restorative dentist Jeffrey Belz, DDS, has more than 25 years of experience offering non-surgical gum disease treatment. Dr. Belz offers several types of gum disease treatment, including scaling and root planing and Arestin® antibiotic therapy. Call Uptown Dental today to schedule gum disease treatment or book your appointment online.

Who can benefit from non-surgical gum disease treatment?

You might benefit from non-surgical gum disease treatment at Uptown Dental if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Red or purplish gums
• Bleeding
• Soreness
• Persistent bad breath
• Unpleasant taste in your mouth
• Pain while chewing
• Gum recession

As gum disease worsens, you might have loose teeth or experience changes in the way your teeth fit together (alignment issues).

What is gum disease?

Gum disease occurs when plaque –– a mix of food, saliva, and bacteria –– collects and hardens on your teeth and underneath your gums. As more plaque forms, it irritates your gums, causing them to swell and pull away (recede) from your teeth.

At Uptown Dental, Dr. Belz treats both types of gum disease:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a mild infection that causes your gums to become red and swollen. Early intervention and treatment can prevent gingivitis from worsening and preserve your smile. 

Periodontitis

Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis goes untreated. It’s a more serious infection that erodes the periodontal ligaments –– tough bands of tissue that hold your teeth in place. When these ligaments wear down, your teeth may loosen or fall out.

Gum disease develops slowly over time. You can reduce your risk by brushing and flossing daily and visiting Uptown Dental twice annually for checkups.

What are some examples of non-surgical gum disease treatment?

At Uptown Dental, Dr. Belz offers several types of non-surgical gum disease treatment, including:

Dental cleaning

Mild gum disease often responds to professional dental cleaning. Dr. Belz uses ultrasonic debridement tools and scalers to remove plaque buildup and eliminate harmful bacteria from your mouth. With less bacteria, your mouth begins to heal. 

Scaling and root planing

More serious cases of gum disease often benefit from scaling and root planing (deep dental cleaning). During scaling and root planing, Dr. Belz removes (scales) plaque buildup from beneath your gum line. Afterward, he smooths (planes) the root surfaces of your teeth so your gums can reattach to them. 

Arestin® antibiotic therapy

Sometimes dental cleanings and scaling and root planing aren’t enough to prevent gum disease from worsening. If you have pockets of infection beneath your gums, Dr. Belz prescribes Arestin therapy.

Arestin® is an antibiotic bead that Dr. Belz implants beneath your gum line. It dissolves slowly over time, eliminating harmful bacteria so your mouth can begin to heal. 

Call Uptown Dental today to schedule a gum disease treatment consultation or book your appointment online.