The health of your gums is much more important than people think. Of course, we want our teeth to look great and feel good, but our gums tend to not get the attention they need.
At Robison Family Dental, we think a lot about how your oral health affects the health of your whole body, and vice versa. For example, if your gums are hosting a major bacterial infection, it can influence and harm your overall health.
Our scaling and root planing services include the professional process of cleaning the teeth and gums, freeing them from bacterial buildup using techniques only available at the dental office.
How Can Gum Disease Affect My Health?
If bacteria multiply too much in your gums, they can inflame the gums, even causing bleeding. A concentration of bacteria can then enter your bloodstream and circulate through your body, attacking:
- The Heart: Gum disease may lead to a higher risk of heart attack.
- The Brain: Gum health is linked to cognitive issues, such as stroke, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
- The Uterus: Some birth complications are linked to gum disease
- Tissues: Gum infections can inflame other tissues, leading to arthritis.
- Other Systems: Diabetes and other conditions are linked to gum disease.
Gum disease can damage the surface and roots of your teeth, as bacteria move onto teeth and create tooth-damaging acid.
This is another reason regular dental checkups are vital. Catching gum disease in the early stages or before it starts can protect your teeth and other systems in your body.
Gum Disease Management
We have two levels of gum disease cleaning services.
1. Early-Stage Professional Cleaning
If we find mild gum disease, such as gingivitis, which has not progressed very far, a thorough cleaning might be all you need.
At this stage, plaque and/or tartar from bacteria will have gathered on your teeth, causing potential damage from the acid the bacteria release.
Our team will use cleaning tools to remove the bacterial buildup. This cleaning focuses on the part of your teeth above the gum line, for the most part. We may also need to follow up with you in a few months to make sure the infection doesn’t return.
2. Scaling and Root Cleaning
When gum disease moves past the early stages that respond to a thorough cleaning, it can cause the gums to detach from the teeth, exposing more of the tooth root—the part of the tooth normally hidden under the gums—to further infection.
Bacteria can then damage teeth below the gum line, sometimes beyond repair.
That’s why we offer scaling and root planing, which can protect your teeth and help your gums recover.
Here’s how the process works:
- Scaling: Using cleaning instruments, we clean each affected tooth surface below the gum line, removing bacteria from the tooth root. This can require a local anesthetic to make you comfortable as we clean hard-to-reach places between the gums and teeth.
- Planing: We smooth each tooth surface below the gum line, getting rid of rough areas that tend to attract bacteria. This also encourages your gums to reattach to the teeth.
In some cases, we might also need to administer medication to the affected area that will help prevent another infection.
After these services, your gums should gradually create healthy attachments to your teeth. The damaging bacteria will no longer threaten them. Eventually, your gums will be able to resume their role of protecting and nourishing your teeth.
Clean Your Gums With Scaling and Root Planing in West Jordan, Utah
If you have gum pain, inflammation, bleeding, or even bad breath, you may have gum disease. It’s important to schedule regular dental appointments to help prevent infections from spreading. Contact Robison Family Dental today to set up a visit to our office.
