Gum disease treatment in Newport
Newport Family Dentist provides gum disease treatment in Newport, VIC, including professional cleaning, scaling and root planing, and ongoing maintenance.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease affects the gums and, in more advanced disease, the bone supporting teeth. Plaque bacteria can cause gum inflammation. Plaque that hardens into tartar needs professional removal.
Signs to have checked include:
- Gums that bleed when brushing or cleaning between teeth
- New redness, swelling or tenderness; healthy gum colour varies
- Persistent bad breath
- Gums pulling away from teeth
- Loose or shifting teeth
Early gum disease may not hurt. Untreated periodontitis can damage supporting bone and lead to tooth loss. Arrange a check-up if you notice changes.
How do we manage gum disease?
Your dentist checks the gums and supporting tissues, explains the findings and plans treatment around the severity of disease and your health. Home care and ongoing review are part of the plan.
Professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar. Scaling and root planing cleans below the gumline when indicated for periodontitis. You may need local anaesthetic and more than one visit. After treatment, your dentist checks healing and whether you need further treatment.
Your dentist may recommend an antibacterial mouthwash or antibiotics in selected cases. However, they do not replace cleaning and ongoing gum care. Your dentist explains whether you need medication and how to use it.
Maintenance visits monitor the gums, remove deposits and help control disease. The review interval depends on your gum health, response to treatment and cleaning at home; it may change over time.
Your dentist explains brushing and cleaning between teeth for your mouth. Tell us about smoking, diabetes, other health conditions and medicines so your dentist can consider them in your care.
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of gum disease?
Common signs are gums that bleed when you brush or floss, red or swollen gums, bad breath that doesn’t go away, gums pulling back from the teeth, and teeth that feel loose. Early gum disease often doesn’t hurt, which is one reason regular check-ups matter.
Can gum disease be reversed?
Professional cleaning and effective daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can usually reverse early gum disease (gingivitis). Periodontitis damages the tissues and bone supporting teeth. Treatment aims to control disease and limit further damage; maintenance and home care remain important even when symptoms improve.
Treatment and ongoing care
What is scaling and root planing?
Scaling and root planing is cleaning below the gumline to remove bacterial deposits and hardened plaque from tooth roots. Your dentist uses it when indicated for periodontitis. Treatment may involve local anaesthetic and can take more than one visit. Your dentist checks healing and explains the next steps.
How often will I need maintenance visits?
People treated for gum disease often need maintenance more frequently than a routine check-up. The interval depends on disease severity, response to treatment and plaque control at home. Your dentist sets a review schedule and may change it over time. Keep attending even if your gums no longer feel sore.
Is gum disease linked to other health problems?
Research links gum disease with other conditions. Diabetes raises the risk of gum disease, and gum disease can make blood sugar harder to control. Research has found links with heart disease, but has not shown that gum disease causes it. Tell your dentist about your medical history and any medicines you take.
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