Gingivitis is a disease of the gums that starts with the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth. As tartar builds up and solidifies on your teeth, it creates a positive environment for bacterial growth. This bacteria, left unaddressed, will cause you gums to swell and bleed, and will eventually lead to gingivitis. If you notice bleeding when you brush your teeth or eat, you may have the early signs of gingivitis.
To treat gingivitis, a hygienist will scale and polish your teeth, removing tartar and plaque buildup along the way, then polishing the tooth surface to help prevent plaque buildup moving forward. In serious cases, you may need a non-surgical procedure called scaling, which is the process of smoothing the root surface and removing any damaged parts. Planing is usually performed without an anesthetic, and can be done right in the office.
While these procedures are generally painless, advanced cases may require numbing the area to correct any preset damage. Deep scaling and root planing are generally done my sections of the mouth and spaced over a few appointments. This allows for better healing and shorter individual appointments.
