Gum Disease Treatment in Aurora, IL
Gum disease is an infection of the tissue around your teeth. It begins as plaque bacteria at the gum line, and if it is not disrupted it works its way below the gum, where brushing cannot reach and where it slowly destroys the bone holding the tooth.
It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it is largely silent. Most people have no pain until a tooth is already loose.
The two stages
Gingivitis — reversible
Inflammation of the gum only. Gums look red or puffy and bleed when brushed. No bone has been lost yet. With professional cleaning and a corrected home routine, gingivitis resolves completely and leaves no lasting damage.
Periodontitis — controllable, not reversible
The infection has moved below the gum line and started to destroy bone. Pockets form between the tooth and gum, which are impossible to clean at home and which harbour more bacteria. Gums recede, teeth loosen and eventually drift or are lost.
The bone already lost does not regrow by itself. Treatment stops the process and holds it there; in selected sites, regenerative grafting can rebuild some of what was lost.
Signs to act on
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing — the earliest and most ignored sign
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gums that have pulled back from the teeth
- Pockets of 4 mm or more recorded by your dentist
- Teeth that feel loose or have moved
- A change in how your teeth meet, or in how a partial denture fits
- Pus at the gum line — this needs an appointment now, not next month
How we treat it
Step 1 — Assessment
A full periodontal chart with six measurements per tooth, plus x-rays to show the bone level. This becomes the baseline that every later visit is compared against.
Step 2 — Scaling and root planing
The core non-surgical treatment, often called a deep cleaning. Plaque and hardened tartar are removed from the root surfaces below the gum line, and the roots are smoothed so the gum can reattach. Done under local anaesthetic, usually across two visits.
For many patients this is the whole treatment. Pockets shrink, bleeding stops, and the case moves to maintenance.
Step 3 — Re-evaluation
Four to eight weeks later we re-chart and compare. This is the step that decides whether anything further is needed, and it is the step most often skipped elsewhere.
Step 4 — Where pockets remain
- Laser therapy for deeper pockets, with less bleeding and swelling than conventional surgery. See laser gum surgery.
- Flap surgery to fold the gum back, clean the root thoroughly and reposition the tissue at a healthier level.
- Regenerative grafting where a bony defect can be rebuilt. See bone grafting.
- Gum grafting where recession has exposed root surface. See gum recession treatment.
Step 5 — Periodontal maintenance
Cleanings every three to four months rather than every six. Periodontitis recurs in patients who return to a standard six-month hygiene schedule, and the maintenance interval is the single strongest predictor of whether treatment holds.
What makes it worse
Some risk factors you can change and some you cannot, but all of them are worth knowing:
- Smoking. The strongest modifiable risk factor. It also masks bleeding, so disease looks quieter than it is.
- Diabetes. The relationship runs both ways — gum disease makes blood sugar harder to control.
- Genetics. Some people are simply more susceptible, which is why a diligent brusher can still develop it.
- Grinding. Adds mechanical load to teeth whose support is already reduced.
- Certain medications. Some cause gum overgrowth or dry mouth.
Gum disease and implants
If you are considering dental implants, gum disease is treated and stabilised first. Implants placed into active periodontal infection are at high risk of peri-implantitis and failure. Treating first costs months; not treating first can cost the implants.
Frequently asked questions
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis, yes — completely. Periodontitis can be stopped and controlled, but the bone already lost does not come back on its own and the condition needs lifelong maintenance.
Is a deep cleaning the same as a regular cleaning?
No. A regular cleaning works above the gum line. Scaling and root planing cleans the root surfaces below the gum, under local anaesthetic.
How many visits will I need?
Scaling and root planing is usually two visits, then a re-evaluation four to eight weeks later. Anything beyond that depends on what the re-evaluation shows.
Will my gums grow back?
Gum tissue does not regrow on its own once it has receded, but grafting can cover exposed root surface where that is appropriate.
Does gum disease affect the rest of my health?
Research links periodontal disease with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other conditions. We treat the gums; your physician manages the rest, and the two are worth keeping in touch.
How often will I need cleanings afterwards?
Every three to four months in most cases, rather than every six. This is what stops it coming back.