Gum Disease FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I having these problems?

Gum disease, also known as “periodontal disease”, is a chain reaction of your body’s response to bacteria. The bacteria in dental plaque and tartar signal your body to dissolve away bone and you’re left with pockets in the bone that are too deep to clean. This leads to more space for more bacteria to grow. Gum disease is often due to bacteria, plaque, tartar, smoking, and your genetic response to all of these.

Will I need gum surgery?

If bone loss is in its early stages, we try to conservatively treat periodontal disease without surgery. Sometimes, bone loss is advanced and requires surgery to access the bacteria deep beneath the gums. We have different options and techniques to get the best outcomes in advanced bone loss situations.

Will gum surgery hurt?

We take pride in providing our patients with maximal benefit with as little pain as possible. We are as gentle as possible during the procedures to minimize trauma and we offer IV sedation to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. Post-operative inflammation and swelling can be minimized by following post-surgical instructions and taking the medications prescribed.

What if I don’t treat my gum disease?

Gum disease is a chronic, progressive problem. With no treatment, bone loss will continue and teeth will eventually be lost.

Why do I need more frequent teeth cleanings?

Patients who are susceptible to gum disease require more frequent maintenance and more frequent monitoring. Since your body is primed to dissolve away bone when there are bacteria present, cleanings are recommended more frequently to minimize the amount of bacteria on the teeth and to more frequently monitor for changes in the signs and symptoms of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.