Gum disease treatment to restore the healthy, happy smile that you deserve

It depends. Dr. Shah’s recommendations for treatment are based on the extent or severity of the disease. Scaling and Root Planing is a service that conservatively yet effectively stops the disease from getting worse. When he detects and treats gum disease early, its effects can be reversed. More advanced disease (periodontitis) is avoided. Gum disease in its more severe form is characterized by the loss of the soft and hard tissues. When the bone and gums are lost, they are gone for good, and dentists generally need to perform special treatments that rebuild these tissues.

SRP is a type of dental cleaning. It is different from the professional cleaning that you may know, the one usually done every six months during your regular checkup. Routine cleanings involve our hygienists using special tools to lift stubborn plaque build-up or tartar from the teeth and at the gumline. SRP is often referred to as a “deep cleaning” because it removes bacteria, toxins, and plaque from under the gums. All this bad, disease-causing stuff tends to collect in these spaces or pockets that form as the gums pull away from the teeth.

This process, known as “gum recession,” makes the disease worse. These periodontal pockets are a breeding ground for bacteria. Because the roots of the teeth are rough, germs also readily attach to these surfaces. SRP goes one step further than a typical cleaning by creating a smooth root surface. Germs are less likely to fix themselves to smooth surfaces.