Bleeding gums are easy to brush off, yet they are often the first sign that bacteria have settled below the gumline and begun to damage the tissue that holds your teeth in place. Gum disease is usually painless in its early stages, so many people in Oak Lawn do not find out they have it until a tooth starts to feel loose.
At Sonrisa Family Dental – Oak Lawn, we check your gum health, treat early and moderate gum disease with scaling and root planing, and refer you to a periodontist when surgery is needed. Our team offers this care as part of our general dentistry services, so you can start with a familiar office and a plan built around your needs.
What Gum Disease Is and How It Progresses
Gum disease starts when plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, collects along the gumline. If it is not removed, it hardens into tartar, which brushing cannot remove. Bacteria then work their way below the gums and form pockets that hold infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 4 in 10 U.S. adults 30 and older had periodontitis in 2009 to 2014, and the rate rises with age. The earliest stage, gingivitis, can often be reversed with professional cleanings and good home care. Periodontitis cannot be reversed, but professional treatment can slow it down and help you manage it. The table below shows how the stages compare.
| Stage | What is happening | Typical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Gingivitis | Red, swollen gums that may bleed, with no bone loss | Professional cleaning and better daily home care |
| Early to moderate periodontitis | Pockets form below the gumline and bone loss begins | Scaling and root planing, with follow-up maintenance visits |
| Advanced periodontitis | Deeper pockets, gum recession, and loose teeth | Referral to a periodontist for evaluation and possible surgery |
A dental exam is the only way to know which stage applies to you.
Warning Signs Worth Checking
Gum disease can become serious before it causes symptoms, so a yearly checkup matters. Call us if you notice any of the signs below.
- Bleeding gums: blood when you brush, floss, or eat
- Red, swollen, or tender gums: tissue that looks puffy or feels sore
- Persistent bad breath: an odor that does not clear up with brushing
- Receding gums: teeth that look longer than they used to
- Loose or sensitive teeth: teeth that shift, feel wobbly, or react to hot and cold
- Bite changes: teeth that no longer fit together the way they did
Any one of these is reason enough to book an evaluation. Our guide to the early signs of gum disease covers each symptom in more detail.
Gum Disease Treatment Options at Our Oak Lawn Office
Treatment depends on how far the disease has progressed, your overall health, and your goals.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing, often called a deep cleaning, removes plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and roots below the gumline. It also smooths the roots so gum tissue can heal. We may use local anesthesia for comfort, and treatment may take more than one visit depending on how much of the mouth is involved. Depending on your case, we may also recommend an antimicrobial rinse or medication placed directly in the pockets.
When Surgery May Be Needed
If deep pockets or significant bone loss remain after non-surgical care, surgery may be the next step. In those cases, we refer you to a periodontist and continue to care for your other dental needs here. Gum disease can also lead to tooth loss, and when a tooth cannot be saved, we offer tooth extractions and dental implants as options to replace it.
Bleeding or swollen gums?
Schedule a gum health evaluation with our Oak Lawn team.
Request an AppointmentWhat to Expect During Treatment
Most patients move through four steps.
Evaluation
We examine your gums and teeth and review your health history.
Treatment plan
We explain your diagnosis and options in plain language.
Deep cleaning
Scaling and root planing, in one or more visits.
Maintenance
Follow-up visits to keep the disease under control.
After a deep cleaning, your gums may feel tender for a few days. Our scaling and root planing aftercare instructions explain how to care for them at home.
Keeping Your Gums Healthy After Treatment
Treatment works best alongside daily habits. Brush twice a day, floss every day, and keep up with professional cleanings. The CDC lists smoking and diabetes among the factors associated with gum disease, so quitting tobacco and managing blood sugar may support your results.
Regular oral exams let us catch changes early, and preventive dentistry visits help keep plaque and tartar from building back up. Because gum disease can return, many patients benefit from maintenance visits on a schedule we set together.
Insurance and Payment
We are in-network with many PPO plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Guardian, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Metlife, Delta Dental, United Healthcare, and United Concordia, and with a range of Medicaid and Medicare plans. Coverage for gum disease treatment varies by plan, so please ask about your benefits when you call. For costs insurance does not cover, we offer CareCredit, Sunbit, and our Open Dental Discount Membership. Our full list of insurance and financing options is available online.
Why Choose Sonrisa Family Dental
Sonrisa Family Dental was founded by Jason Korkus, DDS, a member of the American Dental Association and the Chicago Dental Society. Our practices provide dental education in Head Start programs across the communities we serve. Our website is available in English and Spanish, so more families can find the care they need.
Gum Disease Treatment FAQs
Schedule Your Gum Disease Evaluation With Sonrisa Family Dental
Sonrisa Family Dental – Oak Lawn offers gum disease evaluation and treatment for patients across Oak Lawn and nearby communities. We take time to explain your diagnosis in clear terms and to build a treatment plan around your needs, and we are in-network with many insurance plans.
If your gums bleed, look swollen, or have started to pull away from your teeth, do not wait for pain to start. Contact our office to schedule your evaluation.