Restoring Gum Health with Non-surgical Scaling and Root Planing (SRP) Services Near Me

Gum health is essential for oral health and a beautiful smile, but it’s often overlooked, resulting in periodontal/gum disease. Dr. Yvonne Szyperski of North Bay Smiles in Petaluma, California, screens all patients for gum disease to ensure they maintain a healthy smile at all times. Where necessary, we offer scaling and root planing (SRP) services to restore your gum health. 

What causes gum disease

The primary cause of gum disease is plaque buildup in the mouth — a mixture of food deposits, bad bacteria, and saliva that forms when you fail to brush and floss your teeth properly. Plaque contains toxins that inflame your gums, causing redness, swelling, and bleeding. When you don’t treat early-stage gum disease (gingivitis), it progresses to periodontitis, which causes gum recession, unstable bite, and even tooth loss!

Other factors that may cause plaque buildup include:

• Poor genetic predispositions
• Hormonal changes
• Immune-suppressing diseases like HIV/AIDS and diabetes
• Stress
• Tobacco use/smoking
• Certain medications

Treating gum disease with SRP

The earlier gum disease is treated, the easier and more conservative the treatment is. In fact, some forms of gum disease, like gingivitis, only require diligent brushing and flossing alongside standard cleanings to reverse the condition. However, if plaque and dental calculus buildup are significant, you need root surface debridement to overcome gum disease.

Also known as deep teeth cleaning, scaling and root planing are administered under local anesthetics. Scaling removes accumulated tartar and unwanted bacteria stuck above and beneath the gums. Then, after a thorough cleaning, we polish the tooth roots to promote healing and discourage the reattachment of bacteria to rough spots. 

Periodontal cleanings require two to three visits, depending on your infection’s severity, and sometimes we complement it with antibiotics to prevent re-infection.  

Dental care after deep dental cleaning

Once you overcome gum disease, we’ll show you how to maintain healthy teeth and gums with diligent brushing, flossing, and oral rinsing. We also expect to see you in three months to monitor your progress and to carry out a standard cleaning, the frequency of which will increase to three to four times annually from the usual two. 

Scaling and root planing services near me

Do you suspect gum disease in Petaluma, CA? Please contact North Bay Smiles at (707) 306-8001 for periodontal disease treatment. You can also request an online appointment.