Gum disease treatment removes harmful bacteria, infection, and damaged tissue from your gums. Our dentists and dental hygienists perform this essential service to protect your smile and prevent tooth loss. Treating gum disease early stops bone loss, reduces inflammation, and restores gum health, keeping your teeth and gums strong for a lifetime.

Are your gums bleeding, swollen, or receding? Gum disease may be putting your bone and connective tissue at risk. At ABQ Dental Care, our dentist uses scaling and root planing to eliminate bacterial infection and restore gum health without surgery whenever possible. We also address bite and alignment issues that drive gum recession, protecting your natural dentition for life. With the right care, healthy gums and a stable smile are within reach.

Gum Disease Treatment in Albuquerque

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection affecting the tissues that hold your teeth. This infection begins when plaque builds up on your teeth. When left on your teeth, this plaque hardens into tartar. Plaque and tartar irritate the gum tissue, causing swelling and redness.

6 Signs of Gum Disease To Watch Out For

1. Red or Swollen Gums

When a bacterial infection starts, the gum tissue becomes inflamed. Gums look puffier than usual and turn bright red or dark purple.

2. Bleeding While Brushing or Flossing

One of the earliest signs of gum disease is seeing blood when you brush your teeth. Even with gentle brushing, infected gums bleed easily.

3. Persistent Bad Breath

Germs that cause gum disease produce a foul odor. Bad breath, or halitosis, often persists even after brushing or using mouthwash.

4. Receding Gums

In advanced gum disease, the gums pull away from the teeth making them appear longer. This exposes the root, leading to sensitivity and decay, and creates pockets that trap more plaque and germs.

5. Loose or Shifting Teeth

The infection deteriorates the jawbone that supports the teeth. When bone is lost, teeth become loose or start shifting. This is a severe sign of periodontitis.

6. Painful Chewing or Change in Bite

When supporting bones and fibers are damaged, chewing becomes painful. Your teeth don’t fit together the same when you bite.

Meet Our Team

Dr. Rohan Toor, DDS

Dentist

DDS

Dr. Chris Kim, DDS

Dentist

DDS

42.2% of U.S. adults aged 30 and older have periodontitis.


Source: NICDR

Why is Gum Disease Treatment Important?

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and its consequences extend well beyond the mouth. If left untreated, bacterial infection spreads from the gums into the supporting bone, causing irreversible structural damage that no amount of cleaning can reverse. Chronic periodontal disease is also linked to systemic conditions including heart disease, diabetes complications, stroke, and preterm birth – meaning uncontrolled gum infection raises risks far beyond your teeth. Early treatment stops destruction before it becomes permanent, preserves the natural teeth you have, and eliminates a chronic source of inflammation that affects your overall health.

Gum disease treatment in Alburquerque

The Causes Periodontal Disease

The causes of periodontal disease include:

Poor Oral Hygiene

This means you do not brush and floss your teeth well or often enough. When brushing is skipped, the sticky layer of plaque remains on your teeth, which leads to infection.

Bacterial Plaque Buildup

Plaque is a sticky film of germs that forms on your teeth all day. If not removed daily, it hardens into tartar that irritates the gums and spreads infection below the gum line.

Smoking and Tobacco Use

Using tobacco slows blood flow to the gums, making it harder for them to heal and fight infection. Smoking also hides signs of gum disease, making the problem look less severe.

Hormonal Changes

The shifts in hormones during puberty, pregnancy, or menopause make gums more sensitive to plaque bacteria. This results in an inflammatory reaction and swelling, making the gums more prone to infection.

Chronic Health Conditions

Diabetes and other diseases reduce the body’s ability to fight infections, including in the gums. Additionally, high blood sugar deteriorates gum disease while slowing tissue repair.

Genetics and Family History

Some people inherit genes that increase their risk of gum disease. If parents or grandparents had severe periodontitis, you are more susceptible to having one as well.

Certain Medications

Some medications cause dry mouth by reducing saliva production. Saliva helps wash away germs, so a dry mouth allows plaque and bacteria to build up more quickly, causing damage.

How We Diagnose Gum Disease

Below are ways on how we diagnose gum disease:

Comprehensive Oral Examination

Our dentist examines your gums to assess their color and shape. Red or swollen gums and tissue pulling away from your teeth, called recession, are key signs. We also gently check if any teeth feel loose, which can indicate damage to the structures that hold your teeth in place.

Periodontal Probing

We use a small measuring device called a periodontal probe to measure the space between your tooth and gum. Healthy pockets are typically 1–3 millimeters (mm) in diameter. Any diameter of 4mm or more indicates an infection. We also check for bleeding, a clear sign of active inflammation.

Dental X-Rays

X-rays let us see the jawbone supporting your teeth, which isn’t visible to the naked eye. Gum disease bacteria destroy this bone, so X-rays are crucial for spotting hidden bone loss and its severity. They also help identify hard plaque below the gum line.

Medical and Dental History Review

We question you about your medical conditions, including related disorders such as diabetes or smoking. We look at how well you brush and floss. This comprehensive information provides a view of your potential risk factors, enabling us to formulate the most effective treatment options.

Plaque and Tartar Assessment

We look for the main cause of infection, which is the sticky germ film called plaque and its hardened form, tartar (also known as calculus). We locate buildup on your teeth, especially in deeper pockets, so we focus our cleaning efforts on stopping the disease from spreading.

Periodontal Disease Treatment Options

We offer both non-surgical deep cleaning and advanced surgical options to help save your teeth and gums. Our experts treat periodontal disease in the following ways:

Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)

This deep cleaning goes below the gum line. Our dentist removes plaque and tartar from the roots and smoothens the tooth surfaces. Smoothing helps gums reattach to the tooth, closing deep pockets where germs hide.

Antibiotics

We use medications to fight the bacteria causing the infection. Sometimes, an antibiotic gel or tiny chip is placed directly into deep gum pockets after cleaning. At other times, we prescribe oral medications to control the infection from the inside.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Our dentist gently folds back a section of gum to see the tooth root and damaged bone. This allows thorough cleaning and smoothing of the bone, reducing pocket depth. The gums are then stitched back, making the area easier to keep clean and maintain.

Regenerative Procedures

If gum disease has destroyed bone, we help it regrow. Our dentist may use bone grafts, membranes, or tissue-stimulating proteins to rebuild lost bone and tissue, securing your teeth and preventing looseness.

Gum Grafts

Gum recession exposes tooth roots and causes sensitivity. During a graft, healthy tissue from the roof of your mouth or a donor source is used to cover the roots. This protects the teeth, reduces sensitivity, and enhances the appearance of your smile.

Advanced Technologies We Use For Treating Gum Disease

Technologies used for treating gum diseases provide our dentists with highly accurate ways to see and address problems that cause gum disease. We utilize these modern tools to provide you with the most comfortable and successful treatment possible.

Advanced technologies we use for treating gum disease include:

Digital X-Rays and 3D Imaging

These tools provide a detailed 3D view of your teeth, roots, and jawbone, using very low levels of radiation. They help us determine if any bone loss has occurred and assist us in planning the treatment required.

Ultrasonic Scalers

This device uses fast, gentle vibrations and water to break up and wash away hard buildup under your gumline. It deep-cleans tooth roots, removes bacteria, and helps reverse gum disease.

Laser Therapy

A concentrated light beam removes diseased gum tissue and bacteria, causing infection. Laser therapy is minimally invasive and offers less bleeding and pain than traditional surgery. It allows for quicker healing and promotes reattachment of the gums to the tooth root.

Periodontal Probing Devices

A digital instrument measures the distance from the tooth to the surrounding gum tissue, known as a periodontal pocket. Accurate measurements are crucial for monitoring gum health and treatment progress, as well as for creating an accurate record of disease history.

Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) Technology

GTR encourages natural regrowth of bone and gum tissue lost to severe disease. A special barrier membrane is placed around the bone defect to protect it, allowing bone cells to fill in the missing structure.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Tools

Small, specialized instruments, sometimes used with magnification, allow gum surgery with tiny incisions. This approach causes less trauma, less post-operative pain, and faster recovery.

Photodynamic Therapy

A non-surgical method to disinfect infected gum areas. A special dye is applied to gum pockets and sticks to bacteria. Light activates the dye, destroying the disease-causing germs.

How to Care for Your Gums After Gum Disease Treatment

The post-treatment steps for a smooth recovery are:

  • Brush your teeth gently twice a day with a soft toothbrush and floss once a day to remove plaque.
  • Rinse your mouth with a germ-killing mouthwash (antimicrobial rinse) to remove any remaining bacteria.
  • Take all antibiotics and pain medicine exactly as instructed to prevent infection or discomfort.
  • Always attend your scheduled check-ups so we can examine your gums and ensure proper healing.
  • Do not use tobacco, as smoking slows healing and can bring gum disease back.
  • Stick to a soft diet for a few days, consisting of foods like yogurt, soup, or mashed potatoes. Avoid hard, crunchy, or hot foods.
  • Get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water to give your body the energy it needs to repair gum tissue.

The Cost of Gum Disease Treatment

The cost of gum disease treatment depends on how far the disease has progressed. Catching it early means simpler, less invasive procedures and a much smaller bill. Once it advances to the point of surgery, costs rise significantly.

Here’s what to expect for each treatment:

Scaling and Root Planing

Approximately costs $186–$435 per quadrant ($600–$1,600 for the full mouth)

Antibiotics

Typically costs $25–$75 for topical gels and $30–$500 for oral antibiotics

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Generally costs $1,000–$3,000 per quadrant

Regenerative Procedures

Usually costs $500–$3,000 per site

Gum Grafts

Typically costs $600–$3,000 per tooth, depending on the number of teeth treated, graft type, and severity of recession

Most dental insurance plans cover 50–80% of medically necessary periodontal treatments, which can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs. The bottom line: the earlier gum disease is treated, the less it costs – and the better your long-term outcome.

Looking for Gum Disease Treatment Near Me in Albuquerque?

Gum disease gets worse the longer it goes untreated, but with the right team, it is fully manageable. At ABQ Dental Care, our dentists specialize in treating every stage of gum disease, from early inflammation to severe bone-affecting infections, using the latest technology for precise, comfortable care. If you are looking for gum disease treatment near you in Albuquerque, we offer every treatment under one roof so there is no need to visit multiple offices. Every patient receives a customized plan built around their lifestyle and budget, with clear explanations at every step. Contact us today to protect your teeth and gums before the damage becomes permanent.

FAQs About Gum Disease Treatment

Yes, untreated gum disease can lead to tooth loss. As the infection destroys the bone and tissue supporting your teeth, they become loose and may require extraction.

Initial soreness after deep cleaning typically subsides within a few days, with basic healing complete in one to two weeks. Full gum reattachment and stabilization can take several weeks to a few months.

No, advanced periodontitis cannot be completely cured, only managed. Gingivitis, the earliest stage, is reversible, but treatment for periodontitis focuses on stopping progression and preventing further damage.

No, extracting a tooth does not stop gum disease. The infection affects the surrounding bone and tissue, and must be treated directly to prevent it from spreading to remaining teeth.

Treatment time depends on the severity of the disease. Early-stage gum disease can be addressed in one to two dental visits, while advanced cases requiring surgery may take several months of treatment and follow-up.

Most gum disease treatments are performed under local anesthesia, so discomfort during the procedure is minimal. Some soreness and sensitivity afterward is normal but typically resolves within a few days.

Untreated gum disease progressively destroys the bone and tissue supporting your teeth, leading to tooth loss. It has also been linked to serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes complications, and stroke.