Gum Disease Treatment in Stafford, VA: Care for Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Bleeding when you brush is easy to ignore, but it is often the first sign of gum disease. Gum disease treatment in Stafford, VA at Rai Family Dentistry addresses both stages of the condition: gingivitis, the early and usually reversible stage, and periodontitis, the more advanced stage in which the bone that supports your teeth begins to break down. Gum disease is common in adults, and it frequently causes little or no pain until it has progressed.

Our general dentists, Dr. Shivaprasanna Rai and Dr. Paulina Oldland, check your gums at every exam. We measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums and use digital X-rays to look for bone loss that cannot be seen from the surface. These measurements tell us what stage you are in and are recorded so we can compare them at later visits. For gingivitis, a professional cleaning and better home care are typically enough. For periodontitis, the standard first treatment is scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning.

Schedule a gum evaluation if you notice any of the following:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Bad breath that does not go away
• Gums pulling away from the teeth
• Teeth that feel loose or a bite that has shifted

A deep cleaning goes further than a regular cleaning. Your gums are numbed with local anesthetic for comfort. Plaque and hardened tartar are then removed from the tooth surfaces above and below the gumline, which is the scaling part. Root planing follows, smoothing the root surfaces so the gums can reattach more easily and bacteria have fewer places to collect. The mouth is usually treated in sections over two or more visits. Several weeks later we re-measure your gum pockets to see how the tissue has responded. Most patients then move to periodontal maintenance cleanings, which are scheduled more often than standard cleanings, typically every three to four months.

Keeping gum disease under control depends heavily on what happens at home:

• Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or another interdental cleaner
• Keep every maintenance appointment, even when your gums feel fine
• Quit tobacco, a major risk factor for gum disease
• Tell us about health changes such as diabetes, which can affect your gums

Most PPO dental insurance plans include benefits for gum disease treatment, though the amount varies. Rai Family Dentistry accepts most PPO plans, files your claims, and reviews a written estimate with you before starting. Financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon Credit, and Cherry payment plans can help with any remaining balance.

If advanced gum disease has led to recession or bone loss, soft tissue grafting and bone grafting are available in our office as well, and your dentist will let you know if your case would be better served by a periodontist. Visit us at 239 Garrisonville Rd, Suite 102, in Stafford, close to I-95 with free parking. We care for patients from Stafford, Aquia Harbour, Garrisonville, Falmouth, and Fredericksburg. Call (540) 657-0867 or book online.