Gum Disease Treatment in Southfield, MI

When we think about a healthy smile, most of us focus on our teeth. It’s easy to overlook the gums, but they play a much bigger role than we often realize. Your gums are the foundation that keeps your teeth strong and supported. When they’re neglected, problems like gum disease can develop without much warning and compromise your smile. The truth is that gum disease is very common, and many people don’t even know they have it. At Aesthetic Dental, we know gum health isn’t always top of mind, which is why we make it simple and comfortable to give your gums the attention they deserve. If you need gum disease treatment, we can help!

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is progressive, meaning it develops slowly over time. Unfortunately, in this case, it means the disease gets worse. It usually begins with mild symptoms that may not seem like a big deal at first. But as the condition advances, the impact on your gums, teeth, and overall health can become much more serious.

The earliest stage is called gingivitis. At this point, the gums may look a little red or puffy and might bleed when you brush or floss. With proper care, gingivitis is reversible.

If it isn’t addressed, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis. In this stage, the gums start to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets where bacteria can collect. Over time, this can damage the bone and supporting structures that keep your teeth in place.

In the most advanced stage, sometimes called advanced periodontitis, the support for your teeth weakens severely. This can cause teeth to loosen, shift, or even fall out.

The good news is that gum disease doesn’t progress overnight, and with regular dental care, it can be caught early and managed effectively. At Aesthetic Dental, our goal is to help you recognize the signs early and keep your gums healthy before serious problems develop.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

You brush, you floss, and you don’t feel any pain, so your gums must be healthy, right? Not always. Gum disease is often called a “silent” condition because it can develop quietly without obvious symptoms, yet it has a major impact on your smile and overall health.

It’s easy to shrug off a little blood in the sink after brushing or flossing, but it can be one of the first warning signs of gum disease. What seems small at first could actually be your body’s way of asking you to pay closer attention.

As gum disease progresses, the signs can become harder to ignore. Some of the most common symptoms people eventually notice include:

• Gums that look red, swollen, or puffy
• Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
• Breath that smells bad or a mouth that has a constant unpleasant taste
• Gums that feel tender or sore
• Teeth that feel loose or begin shifting out of place
• Gums that recede, making the teeth look longer
• Gums that release pus

The earlier we catch gum disease, the easier we can treat it. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to these warning signs and to maintain your regular checkups at Aesthetic Dental.

Diagnosing Periodontal Disease

To diagnose gum disease or monitor its progression, we will visually examine your gums for common symptoms. We then check the stability of your teeth and note any plaque buildup.

We’ll also use a small dental probe to measure the depth of the pockets between your teeth and gums:

• Healthy gums: Pockets of 3 mm or less
• Mild periodontal disease: Pockets of 4-5 mm
• Moderate periodontal disease: Pockets of 6-7 mm
• Advanced periodontal disease: Pockets greater than 7 mm

Dental X-rays can also show us bone loss around your teeth, which signals more advanced gum disease.

Gum Disease Treatment

The best gum disease treatment is prevention. Good daily habits (like brushing, flossing, and keeping up with regular dental checkups) are your first line of defense. Prevention makes a big difference, but if gum disease does develop, there are several ways we can treat it based on how advanced it is.

For patients with early signs of gum disease, a professional dental cleaning is often enough to remove plaque and tartar and give the gums a chance to heal. When the disease is more advanced, we may recommend a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing. This procedure goes below the gumline to remove bacteria and smooth the tooth roots, making it harder for plaque to build up again.

If we detect early bone loss, we can place a locally applied antibiotic called Arestin underneath the gums. This medicine targets the infection directly and helps stop the progression of periodontal disease.

Once your gums are healthy again, maintenance visits are key. Many patients do well with visits every six months, but if you’ve had gum disease, we may recommend checkups every four months to make sure it doesn’t return.

In more severe cases, we may recommend oral surgery to repair the damage and restore gum health. While surgery isn’t always necessary, it can be an important step for advanced disease.

No matter where you are in your gum health journey, we’ll work with you to create a plan that’s comfortable, effective, and focused on protecting your smile for the long run.

Restore Your Gum Health at Aesthetic Dental

Healthy gums are the key to a strong, confident smile. The good news is that gum disease can be prevented and treated with the right care. At Aesthetic Dental, we’ll listen to your concerns, clearly explain your options, and create a treatment plan that feels right for you. If you’ve noticed changes in your gums, or if it’s just been a while since your last checkup, now is the perfect time to take action. Book a free consultation today, and let us help you protect your smile!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What Is the Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Health?
• What Is Periodontal Disease?
• Symptoms of Gum Disease
• Signs of Tooth Infections and What To Do About Them