I Have Signs of Gum Disease: What Are My Treatment Options?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can lead to swollen, bleeding gums, bad breath, and even tooth loss if left untreated. 

The good news is that effective treatment options are available to restore your gum health and protect your smile. Dr. Jenny Herman and her team offer a range of treatments based on the severity of your condition.

Your potential treatment options at Baton Rouge Periodontics & Implants include:

At-home oral care for gum disease

Gum disease is common and affects more than 42% of adults over the age of 30. The good news is that managing gum disease — and even preventing it — starts with good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and routine dental cleanings help keep your gums healthy. 

If you have gingivitis — the earliest form of gum disease — your at-home care routine can help you avoid advancing to more serious forms of gum disease. 

Pro tip: Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle so you can clean thoroughly against your gum line. 

In many cases, at-home care alone isn’t enough to treat gum disease once it develops.

Scaling and root planing

Scaling and root planing is a procedure that removes plaque, bacteria, and tartar from beneath your gums. Our team uses specialized dental tools, including lasers or ultrasonic devices, to smooth your root surfaces. This helps your gums reattach and heal.

Antibiotics

If bacteria are contributing to your gum disease, you may need oral or topical antibiotics to reduce infection and inflammation. These medications can be used alone or alongside other treatments. 

Because antibiotics are given along with mechanical treatments (like scaling and root planing), you may hear antibiotic therapy referred to as adjunctive therapy. The goal of antibiotic therapy is to halt your infections and reduce the bacterial load in your mouth, so be sure to take all of your medication even if you feel fine.

Dental implants

If you've already lost a tooth, a dental implant may be part of your overall restoration plan. A dental implant can replace a single tooth, but implants can also support bridges and dentures to replace multiple teeth. 

Gum and bone restoration

If gum disease has caused significant damage to your gums or jawbone, you may benefit from gum or bone restoration. 

The Baton Rouge Periodontics & Implants team offers advanced techniques such as:

• Pocket reduction procedures to remove bacteria and reduce gum pockets
• Bone grafting to rebuild lost bone structure
• Soft tissue grafts to restore receding gums
• Guided tissue regeneration to encourage new bone and gum growth

If you’re interested in a dental implant to replace a missing tooth but don’t have adequate jawbone tissue, you may need a bone graft as the first phase of getting your dental implant. 

Advanced laser treatments

We use the latest laser technology to provide minimally invasive options for gum restoration, including:

• Pinhole surgical technique (PST™), a procedure that creates tiny holes in your gum tissue to stimulate natural healing and gum cell growth
• Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP®), a laser treatment that removes diseased tissue while promoting healthy gum regeneration
• Laser-assisted perio-implant procedure (LAPIP®), a laser treatment that helps with gum disease around a dental implant 

Dr. Herman may so recommend antibacterial mouthwashes after laser treatments to reduce your risk of post-procedure infection. 

Which periodontal maintenance treatment is best for you?

Dr. Herman determines the right periodontal maintenance treatment after examining your mouth, assessing your periodontal pocket depth (deeper pockets mean that your gum tissue is pulling further away from your teeth), and your overall oral health. In most cases, you benefit from multiple treatments such as improved at-home care, antibiotic therapy, and scaling and root planing.