Gum care
Gum disease treatment
Gum disease is an infection of the tissue and bone that hold your teeth. This is for anyone whose gums bleed, whose dentist found deep spaces around a tooth, or who has been told they need a deep cleaning.
Dr. Wade measures the space between each tooth and gum, charts it and explains it on a model before she suggests anything. Treatment cleans the roots of the teeth under the gumline. Some people also need a small procedure to reach deeper areas, and she tells you if you do.
Who it is for
Bleeding or tender gums
Deep spaces found at a dental visit
A loose tooth or gums that have pulled back
What happens
Plan on two to four visits, depending on what the exam shows.
- 01
Step 1: Exam and chart
About an hour. We measure the gums, take X-rays only if needed and explain what we find.
- 02
Step 2: Deep cleaning
Usually two visits, a week or two apart, one side of the mouth at a time, with the area numbed.
- 03
Step 3: Recheck
A few weeks later we measure again and tell you what changed.
- 04
Step 4: A plan to keep going
Maintenance visits every few months, set by Dr. Wade, alternating with your dentist's if you like.
Some people need a small procedure afterward. If so, it is explained, with its own estimate, before it is booked.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
We numb the area with a local anesthetic and check that it has taken before we start. Most people feel pressure, then some tenderness for a day or two. Raise a hand and we stop.
If you wait
Gum disease often doesn't hurt until it is advanced, and left alone it can loosen teeth over time. You can also choose to wait, or to do part of the plan. Dr. Wade tells you what she would watch for.
Risks and after-care
Gums can be sore for a few days, and teeth may feel sensitive to hot and cold. Eat soft food and rinse as we show you. Call us for swelling that grows, bleeding that won't stop or a fever.
How it's billed
Many dental plans pay part of gum treatment, and some of it can be billed to a medical plan. We file the claim for you and give you a written estimate before treatment.
How fees work
Questions about gum disease
How many visits will I need?
Usually two for the deep cleaning and one to recheck. Dr. Wade decides after the exam.
Do I need my dentist to send me?
No. If your dentist did send you, we send a summary back with your permission.
Will I need surgery?
Some people do, and many don't. Dr. Wade tells you after the exam and the recheck, and the decision is yours.
Can I keep my regular cleanings?
Yes. After treatment, maintenance visits take the place of routine cleanings, and you can alternate them between our office and your dentist's.
Provided by a periodontist
Dr. Etta Wade, DDS, licensed in Missouri. The practice is limited to periodontics.