Gum Disease Treatment

What Is Gum Disease?

The leading cause of adult tooth loss — and highly treatable

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth. It begins as gingivitis — redness, swelling, and bleeding — and progresses to periodontitis, where the infection destroys the ligament and bone holding teeth in place. Left untreated, it is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults.

The disease is often painless, which means many people don't realize they have it until significant damage has occurred. Symptoms like bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession, and loose teeth are warning signs that should be evaluated promptly.

At Wellington Periodontal Associates, gum disease treatment is the core of what we do. Both Dr. Baradarian and Dr. Ceravolo limit their practices entirely to periodontics — meaning every treatment plan comes from a specialist with the depth of expertise to address even complex, advanced cases.

Common Warning Signs

Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
Persistent bad breath or bad taste
Gum recession — teeth appearing longer
Loose or shifting teeth

Treatment Options

Scaling & root planing (deep cleaning)
Antibiotic adjuncts (Arestin)
Periodontal surgery if indicated
Laser therapy (LANAP)

Why a Specialist Matters

General dentists can treat mild gingivitis, but moderate-to-advanced periodontitis requires a periodontist. Our doctors see only periodontal patients — and have the tools and experience to treat cases others cannot.

How We Treat It

A structured approach to restoring gum health

Treatment intensity depends on the severity of your disease. Here is what most patients experience from first evaluation to long-term maintenance.

Comprehensive Evaluation

We measure pocket depths, assess bone loss with X-rays, and document gum recession. This gives us a complete picture of where disease is present and how advanced it is.

Scaling & Root Planing

Using ultrasonic instruments and hand scalers, we remove calculus and bacterial toxins from deep below the gumline. Root surfaces are smoothed to discourage bacterial reattachment.

Adjunctive Therapy

For stubborn pockets, we may place local antibiotic therapy (Arestin) directly into the site. In advanced cases, laser therapy or periodontal surgery may be recommended.

Periodontal Maintenance

Once disease is controlled, we schedule you for regular maintenance cleanings every 3–4 months. This is essential — periodontal disease is chronic and requires ongoing management.

Why Treat It

What effective treatment protects

Keep your natural teeth

Treating periodontitis early stops the bone and ligament destruction that leads to tooth loss — often allowing teeth to be saved that would otherwise need extraction.

Eliminate bleeding and discomfort

Bleeding, soreness, and sensitivity often resolve significantly after a thorough deep cleaning. Most patients notice immediate improvement in how their gums feel.

Reduce systemic health risks

Research links untreated gum disease to heart disease, diabetes complications, and preterm birth. Controlling periodontal infection is good for your whole body, not just your mouth.

Fresher breath

Chronic bad breath is often caused by the bacteria living in diseased periodontal pockets. Treating the infection eliminates the source rather than masking the symptom.

Preserve bone for the future

Stopping bone loss now keeps your options open — whether that means preserving your natural teeth or maintaining enough bone for implants later if needed.

Long-term stability with maintenance

Patients who complete treatment and stay on a 3–4 month maintenance schedule can achieve long-term gum health stability and dramatically slow or halt disease progression.

Signs You May Need Treatment

Periodontitis is more common than most people realize

You should be evaluated if you are experiencing any of the following:

Gums that bleed regularly when brushing, flossing, or eating

Gum recession making teeth look longer than before

Persistent bad breath that doesn't improve with brushing

Teeth that feel loose, shift position, or have changed your bite

A dentist who has recommended a specialist evaluation

Family history or diabetes?

Genetic susceptibility and systemic conditions like diabetes significantly increase periodontal risk. Even patients with good home hygiene can develop serious gum disease. If you have either risk factor, earlier evaluation is always better.

What to Expect

Before, during, and after your treatment

Before

Thorough diagnostic workup

We measure every pocket around every tooth and take full-mouth X-rays to assess bone levels. You'll leave knowing exactly what stage of disease you have and what treatment is recommended — with no pressure and no surprises.

During

Deep cleaning under local anesthesia

Scaling and root planing is performed with local anesthetic so you stay comfortable throughout. Treatment is typically done in two visits, one side of the mouth per appointment. Most patients tolerate it well.

After

Mild soreness, rapid improvement

Some tenderness and sensitivity to cold for 1–2 days is normal. Gums typically look and feel noticeably better within a few weeks. We re-evaluate pocket depths at 6–8 weeks to assess your response and determine next steps.

Common Questions

Frequently asked about gum disease treatment

Can gum disease be cured?

Gingivitis — the earliest stage — can be fully reversed with professional cleaning and improved home care. Periodontitis, the more advanced form, cannot be "cured" in the traditional sense because bone loss is permanent. However, it can be stopped and controlled. With proper treatment and ongoing maintenance, most patients achieve long-term stability and keep their teeth for life.

Is scaling and root planing painful?

The procedure itself is done under local anesthesia, so you should feel pressure and movement but not pain. After the anesthetic wears off, expect mild soreness and sensitivity to cold for 1–3 days. Over-the-counter pain relievers manage this well. Most patients are surprised by how manageable the experience is.

How often do I need to come back after treatment?

After active treatment, most patients are placed on a periodontal maintenance schedule of every 3–4 months. Unlike routine dental cleanings, maintenance appointments involve deeper cleaning of pockets and pocket depth monitoring. Staying on schedule is essential — research shows that patients who skip maintenance visits have significantly higher rates of disease recurrence and tooth loss.

Does my regular dentist's cleaning treat gum disease?

A standard prophylaxis (regular cleaning) removes plaque and calculus from above and just at the gumline. It is appropriate for healthy gums. If you have periodontal pockets deeper than 4mm with bone loss, a standard cleaning does not reach the bacteria and calculus causing the disease. You need scaling and root planing — a different, more intensive procedure — performed by a periodontist.