Do I Have Gum Disease?
You might, and an exam is the only way to know. Gum disease is an infection of the gums caused by bacteria in plaque, and it often starts quietly. D Street Dental Group in San Rafael checks your gums at every exam, and Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, tells you what he sees.
Healthy gums are firm and pink and do not bleed when you brush. When plaque and hardened calculus (tartar) stay along the gumline, the gums react. They swell, bleed, and over time can pull away from the teeth. Catching that early keeps the treatment simpler.
What Are the Signs?
Bleeding when you brush or floss is the most common first sign. Other things worth getting checked:
- Gums that look red or puffy, or feel tender
- Bad breath that lingers after you brush
- Gums that are pulling back, so teeth look longer than they used to
- Teeth that feel loose
Gum disease is often painless in the early stages, so waiting for it to hurt means waiting too long. If any of this sounds familiar, call us.
What Is the Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?
Gingivitis is the early stage, where the gums are inflamed but the bone holding your teeth is still intact. Periodontitis is the advanced stage, where the infection has moved below the gumline and started to damage that bone and the tissue around the tooth.
Gingivitis usually responds to a professional cleaning and good home care. Periodontitis does not go away on its own, and the lost bone does not grow back, but it can be controlled. That is why we look at the stage first and plan treatment around it.
What Does a Deep Cleaning Involve?
A deep cleaning, called scaling and root planing, cleans below the gumline where a regular cleaning does not reach. It is the standard first treatment for periodontitis.
- Exam Dr. Steve looks at the health of your gums and teeth, explains the stage of your gum disease, and lays out the plan before anything begins.
- Numbing for comfort The area is numbed so the cleaning is comfortable.
- Cleaning below the gumline Plaque, calculus, and bacterial buildup are removed from the tooth surfaces and the roots under the gums.
- Smoothing the roots The root surfaces are smoothed so bacteria have a harder time clinging and the gums can reattach to the tooth.
What If I Need a Periodontist?
Dr. Steve tells you and arranges the referral. Some gum disease is advanced enough that it needs a gum specialist (a periodontist). Anything beyond what we treat here goes to a specialist.
Dr. Steve Truman
“I'm not the end of the road, I'm part of the journey.” If Dr. Steve sees something, he says something and starts the referral. You hear it from him directly, with the reason, and you do not have to chase the paperwork. After specialist care, we stay part of your team.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Anyone with bleeding, swollen, or receding gums, or lingering bad breath, should be examined. You do not need to be sure it is gum disease first. Dr. Steve examines your gums and recommends what fits your stage, whether that is a thorough cleaning, a deep cleaning, or a referral.
If your gums are healthy, a routine cleaning and exam is how we keep them that way and catch changes early. Gum health also ties into your health beyond the mouth, which is one more reason not to put it off.
What Is Recovery Like?
Most people go back to their day after a deep cleaning, with a tender mouth for a few days. Your gums may feel sore, look a little swollen, and be sensitive to hot and cold while they settle.
Eat soft foods while the numbness wears off, keep brushing gently, and use over-the-counter pain relief if you need it. Home care matters more now than before, because clean gums are what let the healing take hold. Call us if the soreness gets worse instead of better.
How Do I Keep the Gums Healthy Afterward?
Gum maintenance visits (perio maintenance) happen every 3 months. After deep scaling and root planing, our Perio Maintenance Membership is required, and it covers four perio maintenance visits a year, each with an exam.
Perio maintenance is a therapeutic procedure for patients who have completed active periodontal therapy, and it removes plaque, calculus, and bacterial toxins from above and below the gumline.
How Much Does Gum Disease Treatment Cost?
Cost depends on how far the disease has progressed and what your gums need, so we give you a clear, itemized estimate before treatment. No surprises.
We are out of network with every PPO, and we bill your plan directly. Patients often see 50 to 80 percent of covered services reimbursed. Our in-house "D is for Dental" membership takes 20% off restorative & major work. See membership plans →
Gum Disease Questions
Does a deep cleaning for gum disease hurt?
Your gums are numbed for comfort, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. Deep cleaning reaches below the gumline to remove buildup and smooths the root surfaces so the gums can reattach. Expect tenderness and some sensitivity for a few days afterward. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, at D Street Dental Group walks you through each step before it starts and tells you what to expect when the numbness wears off.
Can gum disease be reversed?
Early gum disease, called gingivitis, usually clears up with a professional cleaning and steady brushing and flossing at home. Periodontitis, the more advanced stage, damages the bone that holds teeth and cannot be undone, but it can be controlled with deep cleaning and regular maintenance. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, at D Street Dental Group examines your gums, tells you which stage you are in, and explains what keeps it from getting worse.
Will I need to see a periodontist?
Sometimes. If your gum disease is advanced enough to need a gum specialist, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, at D Street Dental Group tells you and arranges the referral himself. Maintenance visits afterward can still happen with us. If you are not sure where you stand, an exam is the place to start.
How much does gum disease treatment cost, and does insurance help?
Cost depends on how far the disease has progressed, so we give you a clear, itemized estimate before treatment begins. D Street Dental Group is out of network with every dental PPO, and we bill your plan directly. Patients often see 50 to 80 percent of covered services reimbursed. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, goes through the estimate with you. Call (415) 453-0744 and we will walk through your options.
Request Your Appointment
Tell us what you need and we'll reach out within one business day. Prefer to talk now? Call (415) 453-0744.
Noticing Bleeding Gums? Let's Take a Look.
New patients are always welcome. We'll reach out within one business day.