Your Gum Disease Treatment Guide: Options, Recovery, and Cost

May 20

Finding out you have gum disease can be quite a shock. The experience tends to create a lot of anxiety and stress. We decided to write this guide to provide information and set your mind at ease.

First, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Far from it! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that almost half of all Americans over 30 years old have some form of gum disease. Unless you are suffering from advanced gum disease, imminent tooth loss is not something that should keep you up at night. Effective solutions exist that can treat your existing gum disease and prevent many of the consequences from affecting your life negatively in the future.

Let’s dig in and discuss how to solve your gum disease problems.

Gum disease treatment guide

What is gum disease?

Gum disease (also called “periodontal disease” or “periodontitis”) is a bacterial infection that attacks your gum tissue and bone. It’s critical that your gum tissue and bone remain strong and intact because collectively, they support your teeth and keep them in place.

Gum disease stages

There are three stages of gum disease:

1) Gingivitis,
2) Periodontitis, and
3) Advanced Periodontitis

Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease and often presents as red, inflamed, and irritated gum tissue. If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, a condition characterized by deep pockets below the gum line and decay of connective gum tissue and bone. Advanced periodontitis is the final stage, where gum tissue and bone are substantially decayed and the teeth begin to loosen, shift, and fall out or require extraction.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

• Red, swollen, or tender gums: If your gums have changed color over time or are inflamed and sore, there is a good chance that you have some form of gum disease.
• Bleeding gums: Gums are not supposed to bleed on a regular basis. While it is not cause for concern if your gums bleed every once in a long while, they definitely should not bleed regularly when you brush or floss, for instance.
• Halitosis (bad breath): We aren’t talking about your standard garlic or onion breath here. Halitosis resulting from gum disease is characterized by constant bad breath, which often smells as if the patient is sick.
• Gum recession: Gum recession is gum tissue decay. Most people notice it when their teeth start looking longer than they have in the past. In reality, the teeth look longer because they have less gum tissue covering them than before.
• Loose teeth: In advanced cases of gum disease, the teeth loosen and shift. This development is concerning because it means the tissues supporting your teeth no longer function properly.

How is gum disease diagnosed?

There are several ways to diagnose gum disease. The most common are visual inspection, periodontal probing to measure pocket depth, and x-rays to determine if bone loss has occurred. In our practice, we prefer to use all of these methods in combination to ensure we have a complete picture of your oral health before starting treatment.

Gum disease treatment options

Let’s start with an important caveat - gum disease treatment must be tailored to your individual case and personal circumstances. As a result, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, the following are some of the most effective gum disease treatments available today:

• Periodontal cleanings (also called “periodontal maintenance”): Periodontal cleanings are designed to remove built-up plaque and tartar from your teeth and below your gumline. Gum disease can be treated with regular cleanings if caught in the earliest stages.
• Antibiotics: Gum disease starts with the growth of bacteria. As a result, it is often treated with antibiotics, typically in combination with one of the other treatments listed in this section.
• Root planing: Root planing is sometimes called “deep cleaning” because it is more thorough than the standard periodontal cleaning discussed earlier. It involves the planing of the tooth roots to make them smooth and discourage the growth of bacteria. It also helps encourage damaged gum tissue to reattach to the teeth.
• LANAP laser treatment (also called “laser periodontal therapy”): LANAP uses laser technology to remove the bacteria and damaged tissue from below the gumline. LANAP is a revolutionary new treatment because it does not involve any cutting or sewing of the gum tissue, resulting in less pain and faster recovery for you. It is worth noting, however, that only a handful of periodontists offer LANAP treatment due to the large upfront cost of purchasing the laser equipment.
• Periodontal surgery: In some cases, traditional periodontal surgery is still the most effective treatment. While it does involve a longer recovery time compared to LANAP treatment, it can provide excellent results in the fight against gum disease. We may also combine LANAP and traditional periodontal surgery when if believe that would be the most effective treatment for you.
• Bone graft: Dental bone grafts help build back the lost bone that often results from advanced cases of gum disease. Over time, the bone graft material is absorbed and stimulates new bone growth. Common bone graft procedures include the sinus lift and ridge augmentation.
• Gum graft: Gum recession often occurs in gum disease cases. When possible, we prefer to use a gum graft to cover the area where the gum tissue has already been lost. We accomplish this by harvesting a section of tissue (either from a donor or the patient themselves) and grafting it over the recession area. With time, the grafted tissue attaches to surrounding tissue, covering the aesthetically imperfect area and protecting the exposed tooth roots.

Gum disease treatment recovery

The recovery process for gum disease treatment varies based on your treatment. Non-surgical treatments, like periodontal cleanings and root planing often involve minor sensitivity for a day or two. Surgical treatments, like traditional periodontal surgery and bone grafts, involve more tenderness and swelling. They also come with more elaborate postoperative instructions. Most patients recover from surgery in 5-10 days. LANAP laser treatment does not require incisions or sutures, so recovery is relatively fast, typically only a day or two.

Can gum disease return after treatment?

Absolutely, yes, gum disease can return after treatment. We recommend excellent dental hygiene home care (brushing, flossing, etc) as well as routine periodontal cleanings (periodontal maintenance) to make sure that it doesn’t.

Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue that often results from a buildup of plaque, tartar, and bacteria on the surface of the teeth and below the gumline. After treatment, we must ensure that the bacterial infection does not return.

Some people are just more likely to get gum disease than others. Whether it's genetics or lifestyle choices, you will just need to be extra vigilant about your periodontal care. But that’s not a problem - we are here to help and will work with you to ensure gum disease stays away for good.

What is the cost of gum disease treatment?

As you might expect, gum disease treatment costs depend on the extent of your gum problem. If we catch it early, periodontal disease treatment can be relatively minor and rather inexpensive compared to treatment for other medical issues. Advanced cases of gum disease are different and may involve more extensive treatment and expense.

While a periodontist will need to assess your condition before providing a detailed estimate, the following costs may give you a general idea of what to expect.

• Root planing: Root planing typically costs $150 - $450 per quadrant. Many patients only need root planing in a small area rather than the entire mouth.
• Traditional gum surgery: Traditional gum surgery costs $1,250 - $3000 per quadrant.
• LANAP laser treatment: The cost of traditional gum surgery and LANAP laser treatment is about the same, $1,250 - $3,000 per quadrant. While it is not the best solution in every case, LANAP does cause less pain and allows for faster recovery than traditional gum disease surgery.
• Periodontal cleanings (periodontal maintenance): Periodontal cleanings cost $100 - $350 per session.

When considering these figures, it’s important to remember that your dental insurance may cover some or all of the cost. We believe in transparent pricing and are happy to provide a cost estimate before your treatment begins.

Don’t worry, Sacramento Periodontics has your back

Our doctor has decades of experience treating gum disease. We understand that gum problems can be stressful, but we can help you get through them and get you back on track to oral health. Contact us today to schedule a consultation - let’s start solving your gum issues.

Shaunda Thomas