Periodontal Care
When gums need more than a routine cleaning — a deeper clean that stops the damage and keeps the teeth you have.
What it is
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it's quiet. It doesn't usually hurt until it's been going on for a while. The early sign is gums that bleed when you brush or floss — which a lot of people write off as normal. It isn't.
Periodontal care is treatment for gum disease that has progressed past what a routine cleaning can address. A deeper clean — called scaling and root planing — reaches below the gumline to remove the buildup that's causing the infection and gives the tissue a chance to heal and reattach.
The goal is stabilisation: stop the progression, reduce the pockets where bacteria hide, and get you to a place where regular maintenance keeps things from going backward.
What happens when you come in
- Measuring the pocketsA probe along the gumline at each tooth. The number tells us how much space bacteria have to work in. Anything over 3mm is worth paying attention to.
- Scaling and root planingDone with numbing so you're comfortable. We clean below the gumline and smooth the root surface so gum tissue can heal back against the tooth.
- What comes afterPeriodontal maintenance visits more often than twice a year, until things stabilise. We'll tell you how often and why.
This might be for you if
- Your gums bleed when you brush or floss
- Your gums look like they're pulling back from your teeth
- You've been told you have deep pockets at a previous dental visit
- A tooth feels loose
- You have a family history of gum disease
None of this is a diagnosis — it’s just what tends to bring people in. If you’re not sure whether it applies to you, call and ask.
Questions people ask
Is it painful?
The cleaning itself is done with numbing, so no. Your gums may be tender for a day or two after — that's normal and settles quickly.
Can't I just brush better?
Better brushing helps, but once there's significant buildup below the gumline, a toothbrush can't reach it. That's what the deeper cleaning is for.
Will my gums go back to normal?
With treatment and good maintenance, most people see real improvement — less bleeding, tighter tissue, healthier numbers at the next visit. It's not always a full reversal, but it is a meaningful one.
What it costs
We can’t put a number on this page honestly — it depends on your mouth and your plan. What we can tell you is how it works: we look first, we explain what we think you need, and you get the cost in writing before anything starts. We don’t begin work you haven’t agreed to, and we won’t pressure you into treatment you don’t need.
We're out of network with all insurances. We do file your claims as a courtesy, so the paperwork isn't left to you — but what your plan pays back is between you and them, and we won't guess at a number. Bring your plan and we'll tell you what we know before anything starts.
CareCredit and Sunbit are available if you’d rather spread the cost. If you’d like to ask before you come in, call (903) 856-6688.
Ready when you are
We’ll greet you by name, explain things clearly, and never rush you.