Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is responsible for about 70 percent of tooth loss among adults. Symptoms include swollen, inflamed gums surrounding the teeth. Early treatment can prevent gum disease from permanently damaging tissues, control infection, and prevent tooth loss.
Root planing and scaling is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it becomes severe. This treatment cleans between the gums and the teeth down to the roots. A local anesthetic may be needed to numb your gums and the roots of your teeth. An ultrasonic tool can also be used for gum planing and scaling, which is less uncomfortable than a standard scraping tool, but overall, planing and scaling causes little or no discomfort.
Dr. Fong also uses other ultra-gentle techniques for the treatment of gum disease, including:
- Microsonic scaling: A microsonic instrument with a very small tip is used, making the removal of dental tartar from the pockets of the gums faster and more gentle.
- ARESTIN®: An antibiotic that is placed inside infected gum pockets after scaling and root planing is complete to bacteria for up to 21 days.
