Gum Disease Treatment near Dixon

Nearly half of American adults over 30 have some degree of periodontal disease, and most do not know it because it rarely hurts until it is advanced. It begins as gingivitis, the red, puffy, easily bleeding gums caused by plaque along the gumline. Left alone, bacteria migrate below the gums, the bone that anchors your teeth starts to dissolve, and teeth eventually loosen. Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and research continues to link it with diabetes control, heart disease and pregnancy outcomes.

The good news is that early gum disease is reversible and moderate disease is very manageable. At Regency Dental Group, every exam includes periodontal charting: we measure the pocket depth around each tooth and note bleeding, so we can see change year over year rather than guessing. Gingivitis usually resolves with a professional cleaning and better home care. When pockets are deeper, we recommend scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning. Your hygienist numbs the area, removes tartar and bacteria from below the gumline, and smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach. It is typically completed in one or two visits, a quadrant or half of the mouth at a time.

After treatment, most patients move to periodontal maintenance visits every three or four months instead of the standard six. That interval is not upselling; it is the interval at which the bacteria that cause the disease re-establish themselves, and it is what keeps the disease from progressing. Between visits, we will coach you on the specific tools that work for your mouth, whether that is a water flosser, interdental brushes or a prescription rinse.

Periodontics is a recognized dental specialty. Dr. Lance Carter is a general dentist, and our hygienists perform non-surgical periodontal therapy in this office. Advanced cases that need gum surgery, bone grafting or regenerative procedures are referred to a periodontist, and we coordinate that care with you.