Preventive
Gum disease treatment in Billerica
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and for most of its course it doesn’t hurt at all.
Why bleeding gums matter
Gums that bleed when you brush are not normal, and they are not a sign that you’re brushing too hard. They’re inflamed, and inflammation is the immune system responding to bacteria along the gumline.
At the early stage — gingivitis — this is entirely reversible with a professional cleaning and better technique at home. Left alone, the inflammation works downward and begins destroying the bone that holds your teeth in. That stage, periodontitis, cannot be undone. Bone does not grow back. It can be stopped, and stopping it early is the whole game.
What to watch for
Bleeding when you brush or floss
The earliest and most reliable sign.
Persistent bad breath
A taste or smell that doesn’t clear with brushing often comes from bacteria below the gumline.
Gums that look red or puffy
Healthy gums are firm and pale pink, and sit tight against the tooth.
Receding gums
Teeth that look longer than they used to, or new sensitivity at the gumline.
Loose teeth, or a changing bite
A late sign, and a serious one — it means bone support has already been lost.
Nothing at all
Which is the difficulty. Most people with early gum disease have no symptoms they’d notice.
How we treat it
Treatment is matched to how far it has gone.
1
Measure
We chart the depth of the pocket around each tooth. Those numbers tell us exactly where you stand, and repeating them later tells us whether treatment is working.
2
Scaling and root planing
A deep cleaning below the gumline, done under local anesthetic, usually across two visits. Hardened deposits are removed and the root surfaces smoothed so the gum can reattach.
3
Reassess
We remeasure a few weeks later. Most pockets shrink and most bleeding stops. If some sites don’t respond, we’ll discuss what’s next, including referral to a periodontist.
4
Maintenance
Once you’ve had periodontitis you stay susceptible, so cleanings typically move to every three or four months rather than six. This is the part that actually keeps the teeth.
It isn’t only about your mouth
Gum disease is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and complications in pregnancy. The relationship runs both ways with diabetes in particular: uncontrolled blood sugar makes gum disease worse, and untreated gum disease makes blood sugar harder to control.
That’s worth knowing, not worth panicking about. Tell us what you’re being treated for and what you take, and we’ll factor it in.
Common questions
Is bleeding when I brush normal?
No. It's the most common early sign of gum disease. It's also very treatable at that stage, which is exactly why it's worth mentioning to us.
What's the difference between a cleaning and a deep cleaning?
A routine cleaning removes deposits at and just below the gumline. A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) goes further down the root surface, is done under local anesthetic, and treats active disease rather than preventing it.
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis, yes — fully reversible. Once bone has been lost, the disease can be halted and kept stable, but the lost bone doesn't return. That's the argument for treating it early.
Does treatment hurt?
Deep cleaning is done with the area numbed. Gums are usually tender for a day or two afterwards and teeth can be temporarily sensitive to cold.
Related treatments
Checkups & cleanings
The twice-yearly visit that prevents the rest.
Tooth extractions
When a tooth genuinely can’t be saved.
Dental implants
Replacing a tooth root and all, so the bone keeps working.
Have a question about your gums?
Call and we’ll talk it through — no appointment needed to ask.