How do dentists treat gum pockets?

Scaling and Root Planing

This procedure removes the plaque and bacteria on the tooth and underneath the gum line. Scaling and root planing helps to shrink periodontal pockets and can heal gum tissue. This treatment prevents further infection, and keeps your teeth and gums looking and feeling great.

Can you heal deep pockets in gums?

Periodontal pockets are a symptom of periodontitis (gum disease), a serious oral infection. Periodontal pockets can be treated and reversed with good oral hygiene or with dental treatment.

How do you treat deep periodontal pockets?

If the periodontal pockets are deep and the supporting bone is lost, surgery may be necessary to help prevent tooth loss. You may be referred to a periodontist, a den- tist who specializes in the treatment of diseases that affect the supporting structures of the teeth—the gum and bone tissue—for treatment.

How do you get rid of gum pockets without surgery?

Besides better brushing and flossing, root planing and scaling is the best way to remove plaque buildup below the gum line. This non-surgical therapy shrinks your gum pockets, closing gaps between your teeth and gums--the very place bacteria hide to do the most damage to your smile.

What is considered a deep gum pocket?

In a healthy mouth, the pocket depth is usually between 1 and 3 millimeters (mm). Pockets deeper than 4 mm may indicate periodontitis.

Gum Disease: What are gum pockets and how do I treat them?

Can 5mm gum pockets be reversed?

In most cases, the damage will not be completely reversible, but if you follow the treatment and prevention plan laid out by your dentist, you should be able to see significant improvement. Most people are able to reclaim a 4mm to 5mm pocket depth with proper treatment and ongoing periodontal maintenance.

How long do gum pockets take to heal?

The length of time it will take your gums to heal depends on the severity of your gum disease. It can take anywhere from 2 – 4 weeks, while deeper pockets can take months to completely heal. Because your mouth will be tender and inflamed, a soft food diet is advised for the first few days.

Do periodontal pockets hurt?

Periodontal abscesses usually occur in areas with periodontal pockets, in which deep spaces are generated around the teeth. They cause a dull, gnawing, localized pain but are not painful to percussion. The discomfort ranges from low intensity aches to severe acute pain.

Do gums reattach after deep cleaning?

While any gum loss experienced due to gum disease will not grow back, the majority of patients can expect their gums to reattach after undergoing a deep cleaning. This is because all of the harmful bacteria has been removed, allowing the gums to once again be healthy.

How do you clean periodontal pockets at home?

Does Waterpik help periodontal disease?

Dentists also recommend Water Flossing as a gentle and effective way to continue to treat your periodontal disease at home: 1, Use a Water Flosser at least daily. Water Flossing is easier on the gums and 29 percent more effective at removing plaque than string flossing.

Is pocket reduction surgery necessary?

Pocket reduction surgery is usually only required in advanced cases of periodontal disease. Early intervention with a treatment such as scaling and root planing can often prevent the need for pocket reduction surgery. A periodontist, such as Dr. Audra Ward, will determine if pocket reduction surgery is necessary.

Is it painful to get a deep cleaning at the dentist?

Deep teeth cleaning can be uncomfortable, but it shouldn't be painful. You dentist will give you a local anesthetic, either in the form of a gel or an injection, so you shouldn't feel any pain during the procedure.

Does deep cleaning reduce pockets?

Deep teeth cleaning can help reduce the size of the pockets and slow or halt the progression of gingivitis gum disease.

Are deep cleanings worth it?

Left untreated, the pockets in your gums will continue to grow, as will the buildup of plaque and tartar and your risk of bone loss. Short of surgery, deep cleanings are the best way to reverse the negative effects of periodontal disease.

Will I lose my teeth if I have periodontal disease?

Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications. Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

Why do I have pockets in my gums?

When gum tissue begins to separate or pull away from the teeth, it leaves a larger space between the tooth and gums where harmful bacteria can thrive. At this point the space is called a "pocket." Inflammation is present, and the once healthy sulcus has become deeper because it is diseased.

Is gum grafting painful?

The actual gum grafting procedure is painless. This is because a local anesthetic is used to numb the affected area. A periodontist, who is a dental specialist in gum disease and the gums, typically performs this procedure. You may instead feel some movement or pressure as your periodontist performs the procedure.

Is laser gum surgery painful?

Does laser gum surgery hurt? Laser gum therapy is almost always nearly pain-free. Typically, we use local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during the procedure.

Do I need periodontal maintenance forever?

Instead, you will require special ongoing gum and bone care procedures, known as Periodontal Maintenance Therapy, to keep the disease under control and keep your mouth healthy. In most cases, Periodontal Disease is a lifelong disease that never goes away.

Can Waterpik damage gums?

3. Can a Water Flosser damage teeth or gums? Though some may find that their gums bleed when they first use one, a Water Flosser does not damage teeth or gums. It is gentle on the oral cavity and acts similar to flossing.

What does a gum score of 4 mean?

Healthy gum tissue will usually yield numbers of less than 4 mm. Higher numbers indicate that the tissue is inflamed and some dental treatment may be necessary." Typically, 1 – 3 mm is healthy, 4 is a warning and anything over 5 is a call to action to prevent disease.

Can I be sedated for a deep cleaning?

Typically, a dental cleaning does not involve the use of sedation because many patients are able to sit through a cleaning with little or no pain and/or anxiety. However, in certain cases, yes, sedation can be used for cleaning a patients teeth.

Does the dentist numb you for a deep cleaning?

Since deep cleanings are more thorough, and go further below the gumline than regular cleanings, they can potentially cause some discomfort or pain. To ensure your comfort during your deep cleaning, your dentist will numb the treatment site before beginning.

What type of anesthesia is used for deep cleaning?

That's how invested we are in this essential component of periodontal health. At your appointment, our registered dental hygienists will use local anesthetic (i.e., Novocaine) to assure your comfort during the procedure. Of course, nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) and other levels of sedation are available for you.