Is Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment Painful?

Is Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment Painful?

Dec 01, 2022

Gum disease isn’t all about sensitive and bleeding gums. If not treated promptly, gum disease can progress into an irreversible stage known as periodontitis. The infection severely damages your gums, jawbone, and surrounding tissues supporting the teeth at this stage. Eventually, this can cause wobbly teeth and tooth loss.

Even worse, periodontal bacteria can spread through the bloodstream to vital body organs, increasing your risk of chronic health conditions like diabetes, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. All these complications can hurt your oral health, function, and quality of life.

Fortunately, gum disease is preventable through excellent oral hygiene, regular dental assessments, and cleanings. Similarly, gum disease can be reversed when caught and treated early. Even better, early diagnosis qualifies you for non-surgical periodontal therapy in Wellesley, MA. Therefore, see your dentist as soon as possible if you have the following symptoms:

  • Red, sore, swollen, or tender gums
  • Persistent bad breath or halitosis
  • Receding gums
  • Tooth pain or sensitivity
  • Wobby or falling teeth
  • Gum bleeding when brushing or flossing
  • Pain when chewing
  • Bone loss

Non-Surgical Gum Treatments. Are They Painful?

Common non-surgical treatments for gum disease include:

  • Excellent brushing and flossing

Poor brushing and flossing increase the buildup of bacterial plaque and tartar in the mouth, irritating the gums and causing severe discomfort. Brushing and flossing your teeth reduces bacteria deposits in the mouth, allowing your gums to heal faster and better. Fortunately, normal brushing and flossing can’t be painful.

  • Medications

Unfortunately, bacteria trapped deep below the gums can’t be removed with thorough brushing and flossing. Your dentist can prescribe antibiotics like antimicrobials to eradicate the periodontal disease bacteria deep in the gums. This prevents the infection from spreading to the surrounding tissues. Antibiotic toothpaste and mouthwashes are also available.

  • Regular dental cleanings

In the early stages, your dentist can recommend regular cleanings every 3-4 times a year. These cleanings help minimize bacterial plaque and tartar buildup in the mouth, preventing further infections in the gums and helping you better manage your symptoms. These cleanings are like your normal routine cleanings, only that you’ll have them more frequently. Therefore, you can expect minimal to no discomfort.

  • Scaling and Root Planing (deep cleaning)

If your periodontal disease is advanced, you might have severe gum recession and deep gum pockets. The dentist can recommend a deep cleaning to remove bacterial tartar and plaque from deep under the gums, eliminating the infection and allowing your gums to heal faster and re-attach the teeth snugly.

With scaling, the dentist uses special ultrasonic or handheld tools to scrap off plaque and tartar deep below the gum line. Next, the dentist smoothens the rough areas of the tooth’s roots, making it hard for bacteria and plaque to attach and allowing the gums to re-attach to the teeth firmly.

Since root planing and scaling entail removing plaque above and below the already sensitive gums, the procedure can cause significant discomfort. Fortunately, your dentist will numb your mouth to keep you relaxed and painless throughout the procedure.

The dentist can prescribe pain, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic medications to minimize pain and swelling and prevent new infections after the treatment.

  • Tray periodontal therapy

Tray periodontal therapy involves using custom-made trays to deliver periodontal medications deep under the gum line. The medication is placed in the trays, which should be worn over the teeth and gums. You should wear the trays for about 15 minutes, 2 – 3 times daily. Since the trays are custom-made, they should fit perfectly but comfortably. However, it’s normal to experience minor soreness when first wearing the trays.

  • Laser treatment

Laser gum treatment uses light energy to kill bacteria deep in the gums to restore the health of your gums. Since laser treatment is less invasive, it results in little to no pain. However, the dentist will use local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the procedure.

How to Minimize Pain after Gum Treatment

  • Take medication as prescribed by the dentist.
  • Use a cold compress on your cheeks to minimize pain and swelling.
  • Rest adequately. Limit your physical activity for a few hours. When resting, keep your head elevated.
  • Keep the gauze in place until the pain subsides.

Notify your dentist immediately if you experience severe symptoms like bleeding, swelling, fever, and bleeding.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you experiencing gum disease symptoms like swollen, sore, or bleeding gums? Contact Wellesley Dental Arts for non-surgical periodontal in Wellesley, MA.

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