If you have infected gums, you likely want them treated as soon as possible. That’s only natural – no one enjoys living with bleeding, receding, and swelling gum tissues! Even so, don’t be hasty; you’ll need to address some points with your dental practice before your procedure. Doing so will make your final care much smoother and easier. As for what the relevant points are, here are four questions to ask your dentist about gum disease treatment.
“Will I Need Follow-Up Appointments?”
To begin with, ask whether your care will require follow-up visits. Confirming that point will help you leave enough time in your schedule.
The fact is that gum disease treatment often takes more than one appointment. After all, scaling and root planing usually involves two sessions; a dentist performs the scaling first and the planing second. The dental practice will also monitor your gums to ensure your infection is fully treated. In most cases, said monitoring involves check-in visits every three months or so.
“Do You Have Sedation Options?”
Since treating gum disease can get invasive, you should also ask your dentist about sedation options. They’d allow for a more relaxing procedure.
For instance, you could inquire about oral conscious sedation. This option relies on a pill you take before your appointment even starts. Once this medicine “kicks in,” you’ll feel profoundly calm, relaxed, and at ease with your dentist’s care. That means you’d have a stress-free treatment of your gums.
“Do You Use the Latest Dental Technologies?”
Effective gum disease treatments rely on cutting-edge tools. So, see if your dentist uses the latest dental technologies.
A good example of such technology would be a soft tissue dental laser. Using this device, a dentist can treat infected areas without causing pain or scarring. This laser would also prevent bleeding during the procedure, and preserve more of your healthy gum tissues. Such effects are worth serious consideration, so you’d do well to ask your dentist about laser options.
“Can Gum Disease Come Back?”
Lastly, discuss with your dentist whether gum disease is likely to recur. Their answer will impact your long-term oral care habits.
As it happens, gum disease can return if you aren’t diligent about oral hygiene. Only brushing your teeth won’t remove enough plaque to prevent a relapse, as it’ll leave 40% of your tooth surfaces uncleaned. You’ll also need to floss between your teeth to avoid another infection, as doing so eliminates bacteria around your gumline.
Asking these questions about gum disease treatment is a smart move. Given that fact, remember to bring them up during your consultation!
About the Practice
Beacon Dentistry of Weatherford is based in Weatherford, TX. Led by Drs. Novak, Johannsen, and Collins, our practice is a proud source of bespoke dental care. We tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative procedures to each patient’s smile, ensuring the best results possible. Combined with our warm and friendly attitude, this approach makes every appointment excellent For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (817)-594-7302.