Periodontology

We need to be careful with that.

The main issue is that when gums recede, the root of the tooth becomes exposed. Unlike the top of your tooth, the root doesn't have a protective enamel layer. If whitening gel touches that sensitive area, it can be quite painful and usually doesn't change the color of the root anyway.

We need to take a look first. If the recession is mild, we may be able to cover and protect the sensitive areas while we whiten the rest. However, if the roots are significantly exposed, we will likely recommend other options to improve your smile without causing you pain.

Think of flap surgery as a deep cleaning 'under the hood.' When gum disease becomes advanced, deep pockets form between your gums and teeth where a toothbrush or standard professional cleaning simply cannot reach.

During this procedure, we gently lift the gum tissue to access and remove the hidden bacteria and tartar stuck deep on the tooth roots. Once everything is perfectly clean, we secure the gum back in place so it can heal tightly around the tooth.

We prefer this method because if those deep pockets are left untreated, the infection will continue to damage the bone, which can lead to loose teeth or even tooth loss. This surgery is the best way to stop the infection and save your teeth.

Think of deep cleaning (scaling) as the standard heavy-duty cleaning. We use it when gum issues are still mild. It focuses on scraping away the hard tartar and plaque that sits just above and slightly below your gumline to prevent things from getting worse.

Curettage is a step further and is used when gum disease is more advanced. In this procedure, we don't just remove the tartar; we also clean out the infected, soft tissue from the inside of the deep gum pockets. This scraping removes the 'sick' tissue so your gums can heal and tighten back up around the tooth.

Essentially, we choose the treatment based on how deep the infection has gone. Regardless of which one is needed, we must clear up this infection first before we can move on to any other dental work.

Yes, absolutely! What you are describing is commonly known as a 'gummy smile.' It usually isn't because your teeth are actually small, but rather because they are hidden under excess gum tissue.

We have a few safe and effective ways to balance your smile, depending on what your specific mouth needs. Often, we can simply perform a 'gum lift' or reshaping to gently remove the extra tissue and reveal the full length of your natural teeth. In other cases, we might look at a procedure called crown lengthening or even orthodontic adjustments to get the right proportion.

The best approach is to examine you first to see which method fits your case, but rest assured, we can definitely help you achieve a more balanced, confident smile.

Yes, that is actually one of the classic warning signs of gum disease. It is very common.

When gums are healthy, they seal tightly around the teeth. But when gum disease develops, 'pockets' form where bacteria and tartar get trapped deep below the gumline—places your toothbrush simply can't reach. As these bacteria feed and multiply, they release foul-smelling gases, which causes that persistent bad breath.

It’s not something you can cure with mints because the source is an infection. The good news is that once we perform a professional deep cleaning and treat the inflammation, the source of the odor is removed, and your breath usually freshens up immediately.