If it is not removed with brushing and flossing, minerals in saliva cause it to harden into a stubborn deposit called calculus, often referred to as tartar. Once plaque hardens into calculus, it can no longer be removed with routine home care and requires professional removal.
When the foundation supporting your teeth is in jeopardy, periodontal therapy from our Grandville dentist focuses on controlling the infection so the disease can be stabilized and prevented from progressing further.
Signs of Periodontal Disease
Gum disease does not always cause pain, but certain changes can indicate infection beneath the gums. These may include:
- Persistent bad breath
- Red or swollen gums
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Gum recession
- Teeth appearing longer
- Teeth that feel loose or begin to shift
During your periodontal evaluation, we measure the depth of the spaces between the teeth and gums. With healthy gums, brushing and flossing can clean slightly beneath the gumline, generally up to about three millimeters. When gums become inflamed and infected, these spaces deepen into periodontal pockets where routine home care can no longer reach the bacteria below the gumline.
Left untreated, periodontal disease can gradually weaken the bone supporting the teeth and increase the risk of tooth loss.
How Periodontal Disease Is Treated
When infection is identified, periodontal treatment focuses on removing bacterial deposits beneath the gums so the tissues can heal and the disease can be stabilized.
The most common initial therapy is scaling and root planing, a non-surgical procedure that removes plaque and tartar from infected root surfaces beneath the gumline. This treatment is typically performed with local anesthesia so the area can be cleaned comfortably.
After treatment, patients are usually placed on a periodontal maintenance schedule, often about every three months. Harmful bacteria can gradually repopulate periodontal pockets over time, so these visits allow us to disrupt the bacterial colonies before the infection has an opportunity to become established again.
In more advanced cases, additional treatment or collaboration with a periodontal specialist may be recommended to restore support around the teeth.
Periodontal disease is a chronic condition. Once it develops, it cannot be completely reversed, but it can often be controlled successfully with appropriate treatment and ongoing periodontal maintenance.
