Your Gum Disease Treatment Journey: What to Expect
At Chic Dental Preston, our experienced team provides gentle, effective gum disease treatment that can save your smile and protect your overall health. Here’s what you can expect during your gum disease treatment in Melbourne.
Step 1. Comprehensive Assessment
Your journey begins with a thorough periodontal examination to determine the severity of your gum disease. This includes:
- Detailed measurement of gum pocket depths around each tooth
- Assessment of gum recession and tooth mobility
- Digital x-rays to evaluate bone levels
- Comprehensive oral health history review
- Discussion of symptoms and concerns
Based on these findings, we’ll classify your condition (gingivitis, early, moderate, or advanced periodontitis) and develop a customised treatment plan addressing your specific needs.
Step 2. Professional Deep Cleaning
The cornerstone of gum disease treatment is a specialised deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. This thorough cleaning goes well beyond a standard dental clean:
- Scaling: Using specialised instruments, we meticulously remove bacterial plaque and hardened tartar (calculus) from above and below your gumline, including deep within the periodontal pockets where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach.
- Root Planing: We carefully smooth the root surfaces of your teeth to remove bacterial toxins and create a clean surface that discourages future bacteria adhesion and promotes gum reattachment.
For your comfort, we typically use local anesthesia and may split treatment into quadrants across multiple appointments.
Step 3. Antimicrobial Therapy
For more advanced cases, we may recommend supplemental treatments:
- Application of antimicrobial solutions to infected pockets
- Placement of time-release antibiotics directly into deeper pockets
- Prescription antimicrobial mouth rinses for home use
These targeted therapies help eliminate bacteria in areas difficult to reach with instruments alone, enhancing treatment outcomes.
Step 4. Follow-Up Evaluation
After allowing time for healing, we’ll reevaluate your gum health to assess your response to treatment. We’ll measure your pocket depths again and check for improvements in gum inflammation and bleeding.
For long-term success, we’ll establish a personalised periodontal maintenance schedule—typically every 3-4 months rather than the standard 6-month recall for patients with healthy gums. These specialised cleaning appointments help prevent reinfection and keep your gum disease under control.