Do your gums look red and inflamed, or do they bleed when you brush your teeth? Do they hurt when you’re not brushing, or are they sensitive to hot and cold? You could be suffering from gingivitis or the more advanced periodontal disease. This inflammatory illness occurs when bacteria become trapped under the gumline and enter the bloodstream.

Not only can gum disease cause damage to the gums, but it can also cause tooth loss and even the loss of bone in the jaw. Worse yet, when that bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can cause a long list of other problems and worsen already serious conditions like diabetes, heart disease and even some cancers.

If you think you have gum disease, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mazhari. Here’s what you can expect at your appointment.

Routine Exam

Before Dr. Mazhari can evaluate your gums, you will likely need a full exam and cleaning so she can properly evaluate you. Once you have had your exam, a gum exam will be performed, during which the severity of your gum disease will be assessed. Treatment may be as simple as brushing and flossing more frequently and increasing the frequency of visits for in-office cleanings, or it could be something a little more in-depth.

Root Scaling and Planing

Root scaling and planing is a procedure that sounds scary, but really isn’t. Simply put, root scaling and planing is a two-step procedure. First, Dr. Mazhari will perform a deep cleaning of your teeth above the gumline. This will remove any tartar that has built up on the teeth where you can’t reach it with brushing alone. Next, she will plane the roots, which means smoothing the tooth roots. This enables your gums to re-adhere to your teeth.

For Periodontitis

If you have full-blown periodontitis, you may still require root scaling and planing, but this may not be enough treatment to correct the damage to your gums, and more intensive treatment may be required. This will be done on a case-by-case basis as prescribed by Dr. Mazhari during your evaluation.

The Good News

The good news when it comes to any type of gum disease is that, depending on how severe the damage is, treatment can be very effective at healing the gums and saving the teeth. So don’t put off your next exam. The sooner Dr. Mazhari catches your periodontal disease, the better the prognosis!

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mazhari, please call the office at (703) 212-9622.