Gum Disease Treatment in Letterkenny
What is it?
Root planing is ‘deep’ scaling to clean parts of teeth below the gum-line which cannot be reached with a toothbrush.
Gums can become diseased so that they look red and puffy. They will probably bleed when you brush. Painless gum ‘pockets’ start to form around the teeth and bone supporting the teeth is slowly lost.
Root planing cleans out these pockets and removes plaque and hard tartar from the tooth roots. It takes longer than a scale and polish and is often done under a local anaesthetic. Your mouth might be treated in sections, at more than one visit.
What does the dentist or dental hygienist do?
Dentists and hygienists use two types of tool for root planing:
Hand scalers come in different sizes and shapes to reach different parts of the teeth. This is why you will see the dentist or hygienist changing instruments quite often. Electric scalers vibrate very fast with water. The water is removed from your mouth using suction. A hand scaler is used to check whether the roots are completely clean.
After a tooth has been root planed, the pocket should shrink, making the gum sit closer to the tooth. You then need to be especially careful about cleaning the teeth above the gum-line. Root planing will probably need to be repeated regularly.
Treatment for Gum Shrinkage
What is gum shrinkage?
Unfortunately as we age our gums shrink, even in a healthy mouth. There are a number of reasons why this process might be accelerated, for example if you have periodontal (gum) disease caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar, if you are grinding your teeth, if you have crowded teeth or you are cleaning your teeth too aggressively. Some diseases are responsible for gum loss too, and genetics can play a role.
What can be done to remedy gum shrinkage?
We can advise you on all the best ways to change your lifestyle to avoid gum shrinkage wherever possible. We will establish a healthy cleaning routine and perhaps fit you with a night guard against grinding. We can advise you on the particular foods you should avoid and give you a deep clean to prevent further periodontal disease diminishing what is left of your gums.
Gum Enhancement in Letterkenny
Are you afraid to smile because of uneven or oversized gums or what appear to be teeth that are too short? Do you feel self-conscious when you talk to others?
To achieve the ideal proportions between teeth and gum we sometimes need to alter the contour of the soft tissue around the necks of some teeth. This will have the effect of lengthening your teeth and creating a balanced and beautiful smile.
Will it be painful?
Our main concern is your comfort. We can provide local anaesthetic for this procedure and then sculpt a beautiful gum line that complements your teeth. We use a device that cuts into the soft tissue and cauterises as it goes, meaning there is hardly any pain or bleeding and far less risk of post-operative infection than with the conventional scalpel. In more complex cases we may need to do some slight alteration to the underlying bone support in order to remodel the tissues. Every case is individual. We will discuss all options with you thoroughly.
What are the benefits?
Gum disease will get worse if it is not treated. Because it is painless, it can become very bad without you noticing. When there is not enough supporting bone left, teeth become loose and eventually have to be taken out. Root planing can stop gum disease becoming worse and prevent tooth loss.
Like scaling and polishing, root planing helps you to keep your teeth and gums clean at home. Dentists and dental hygienists cannot keep your mouth healthy by themselves. Your own cleaning is just as important.
“Finally! I’ve been a client here for the past 3 years getting a lot of much-needed work done. Damien & Leona make a great team and take great care to make you as comfortable as possible. Today, I got my new crowns and have been beaming a smile since. I honestly did not realise how much of a difference it was going to make to have such precise work done in comparison with what was there before. Good dental care is essential, but if you need any kind of work done I couldn’t recommend this place enough. If you’re wary or anxious about dental appointments, this is the place for you. Thanks a million, folks!”
“I can’t say enough about 03 Dental Letterkenny Damian and Leona. I feel like shouting from the roof tops for all those that have a phobia like me. I have been to other dentists but by far Letterkenny 03 are the most companionate, caring and professional not to mention the fantastic job they did on my teeth, I had conscious sedation and remember nothing! Very happy to have found my future dentist.”
Frequently Asked Questions
