Periodontics – Gum Treatment
Gums are the foundation everything else in your mouth sits on. Even beautifully made crowns and fillings cannot last if the tissue and bone holding them are breaking down — and early gum disease is almost silent, which is why we check your gums at every visit rather than only when something hurts.
Gingivitis — gums that look red or puffy and bleed when you brush — is the reversible stage, and a thorough cleaning plus better home habits usually turns it around. Allowed to progress, it becomes periodontitis: supporting bone erodes, gums pull away, and teeth loosen. Research also links advanced gum disease to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
When disease has moved past the early stage, treatment generally begins with scaling and root planing, a careful cleaning below the gumline that removes hardened deposits and smooths the root surfaces so tissue can reattach. Most patients then shift to periodontal maintenance visits every three to four months instead of twice a year, which is what keeps the condition from returning.
Gum care we provide
- Gum evaluations with pocket measurements at every exam
- Scaling and root planing (deep cleanings)
- Ongoing periodontal maintenance visits
- Practical coaching on brushing and flossing technique
- Coordination with your physician when gum and medical health overlap
Questions about periodontics – gum treatment?
Call Total Smiles Dentistry at (804) 510-0433 or request a visit online — new patients are always welcome in Richmond, VA.