Protect Your Gums, Protect Your Smile
Healthy gums keep your teeth firmly anchored. Non-surgical gum therapy clears infection from below the gumline so your gums can heal and tighten. Many patients see real improvement with this gentle approach alone.
Treatment Matched to Your Needs
Your plan is based on your gum measurements, so you receive the care that fits your stage. Scaling and root planing cleans below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces so your gums can reattach. Medication placed directly into the gum pockets helps deeper areas heal, and pain-free laser therapy helps clean infected pockets and supports comfortable healing.
Comfort You Can Count On
Gum therapy works below the gumline, so comfort comes first at every step. Topical numbing gel is applied before any freezing, and we check in often so you can ask for a break whenever you need one. Laughing gas is available if you're feeling anxious, and pillows, blankets, and ceiling-mounted TVs help the appointment pass easily.
Fewer Costly Problems Later
Dr. Manor focuses on prevention because it keeps your lifetime dental costs as low as possible. Treating gum disease early protects the bone that holds your teeth in place, which lowers your chances of needing extractions, bridges, or implants later. A steady maintenance routine after therapy helps keep your results stable year after year.
The Top Cause of Adult Tooth Loss
The good news is that it's largely preventable, and the early stages respond well to treatment. Here's how it usually progresses:
- Gingivitis: The earliest stage. Plaque irritates the gums, making them red, puffy, or prone to bleeding. Damage at this stage can be reversed with professional cleaning and good home care.
- Early periodontitis: Infection moves below the gumline, and the gums start pulling away from the teeth to form pockets. Tartar and bacteria collect in these pockets, where a toothbrush can't reach.
- Moderate periodontitis: Pockets deepen, and the bone around the teeth begins to break down. Teeth may feel sensitive or start to shift.
- Advanced periodontitis: Bone loss becomes significant, and teeth can loosen until they need to be removed.
Research has also linked gum disease with other health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, which is one more reason to treat it early.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Gum disease often develops quietly, so its early signs are easy to overlook. Book a visit if you notice any of the following:
- Bleeding when you brush or floss: This is one of the first signs that your gums are inflamed.
- Red, swollen, or tender gums: Healthy gums look pink and feel firm.
- Bad breath or a bad taste that lingers: Bacteria trapped in gum pockets are a common cause.
- Teeth that look longer: This can mean your gums are pulling back from the teeth.
- Loose teeth or a bite that feels different: These can be signs of bone loss around the teeth.
- Pus around the gums: A sign of active infection that needs prompt care.
Some people have no symptoms at all, which is why we measure your gums at regular visits.
Maintaining Your Results
Gum disease can be controlled for the long term, and regular maintenance is what keeps it that way.
- More frequent cleanings: Many patients come in every three to four months after therapy. Your hygienist will recommend a schedule based on how your gums respond.
- Pocket measurements at each visit: Comparing the numbers shows whether your gums are holding steady.
- Home care coaching: Your hygienist will show you tools and techniques for the areas that need extra attention.
- Prompt follow-up: If a pocket starts to deepen again, we can treat that area early.
If your gum disease is advanced, we'll refer you to a gum specialist and keep your care coordinated with our team.
We've got you covered
We work with all providers and follow Ontario's fee guide at both locations, so there are never any surprise costs. Give us a call or book online and we'll happily sort out the details with you.
How Gum Therapy Works at Headon
Measure and Map Your Gums
Your hygienist gently measures the space between each tooth and the gum, called a pocket. Shallow pockets are healthy, and deeper readings show where infection has settled. X-rays show your bone levels, and your digital scans help us track gum recession over time.
Review Your Plan Together
Your dentist explains what your measurements mean, which treatments are recommended, and why. Costs are reviewed before anything is booked. You set the pace.
Deep Clean Below the Gumline
Scaling and root planing (a deep cleaning) removes buildup from the roots of your teeth and smooths them so your gums can reattach. Topical gel goes on before any freezing, and treatment may be split into sections of the mouth, depending on your case.
Targeted Medication and Laser Therapy
Where pockets are deeper, medication may be placed directly into the pocket. Pain-free laser therapy may also be used to clean the area and support healing. Your dentist will recommend what suits your gums.
Recheck and Plan Your Maintenance
After your gums have had time to heal, we measure your pockets again to see how they responded. From there, you'll move into a maintenance schedule built around your results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does scaling and root planing hurt?
How is a deep cleaning different from a regular cleaning?
Can gum disease be reversed?
How do I know if I have gum disease?
What does laser therapy do for my gums?
Why is medication placed in the gum pockets?
What is recovery like after gum therapy?
Will my gums grow back after treatment?
How often will I need cleanings after gum therapy?
Is gum therapy covered by insurance?
We would love to meet you
Whether you're looking for a new dental home, coming back after a while away, or just finally ready to book that appointment, we're here, and we'd love to welcome you. New patients are always welcome at both locations. Book online or give us a call, we'll take great care of you.