Gum Disease Treatment in New Jersey
Bleeding, swollen or receding gums are often the first signs of gum disease. NÜVA Smile treats gum disease at all 25 New Jersey offices, from deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) to advanced care with a periodontist at select locations. The sooner it’s treated, the more of your natural teeth you keep.
- Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) at every NÜVA office
- Periodontist care and laser gum therapy at six offices
- A treatment plan based on your gum measurements and X-rays
What Is Gum Disease Treatment?
Gum disease treatment removes the bacteria and hardened tartar that infect your gums, so the gums can heal and reattach to your teeth. For most patients, the first step is a deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing. Advanced cases may also need care from a periodontist (gum specialist).
Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and the bone that holds your teeth. It starts as gingivitis, where gums are red and bleed easily. Without treatment, it can turn into periodontitis, where pockets form between the gums and teeth and the bone starts to break down. Nearly half of adults over 30 have some form of it.
Signs You May Need Gum Disease Treatment
Early gum disease is often painless, so many people don’t notice it until a dental exam. Book a visit if you notice any of these:
Gum Disease Treatment Options
Your treatment depends on how far the gum disease has gone. After measuring your gum pockets and reviewing your X-rays, we’ll recommend the least invasive option that will work.
Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning
A regular cleaning keeps healthy gums healthy. A deep cleaning treats gums that are already infected.
| Regular cleaning | Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Prevention for healthy gums | Treats active gum disease |
| Where it cleans | Above and just below the gumline | Deep below the gumline, down to the tooth roots |
| Numbing | Usually not needed | Local anesthesia for comfort |
| Visits | One visit | Often split over more than one visit |
| How often | Usually twice a year | Once, then periodontal maintenance |
What to Expect During Gum Disease Treatment
Knowing the steps makes treatment easier. Most patients follow four stages:
We measure the pockets around each tooth and check your X-rays for bone loss. This tells us which stage of gum disease you have.
After numbing the area, we remove plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooth the roots. The mouth is often treated in sections over more than one visit.
A few weeks later, we measure your gums again to see how they have healed. If deep pockets remain, we may refer you to one of our periodontists.
Regular maintenance visits keep the infection from coming back and protect your results.
Recovery After a Deep Cleaning
Most people go back to normal activities the same day. Your gums may feel sore and your teeth may be sensitive for a few days. Brush gently, eat soft foods if your gums are tender, and follow the care instructions your dentist gives you.
Advanced Gum Care with a Periodontist
Some cases need more than a deep cleaning. A periodontist is a dentist with extra years of training in treating the gums and the bone around the teeth. At NÜVA Smile, advanced gum treatment, including laser gum therapy, is generally done by a periodontist at these six offices:
If your dentist at another NÜVA office finds advanced gum disease, they can refer you to the nearest of these offices.
Gum Disease Treatment Near You in New Jersey
Every NÜVA Smile office offers deep cleaning. Offices marked with a star (★) also have a periodontist for advanced gum care.
Bergen County: Bergenfield ★ · Elmwood Park · Englewood · Fort Lee · North Arlington · Ridgefield Park ★ · Teaneck · Wyckoff ★
Hudson County: West New York
Passaic County: Clifton · Haledon · Paterson · Totowa ★
Essex County: Caldwell · East Orange · Newark
Union County: Elizabeth ★
Morris County: Flanders ★
Middlesex County: East Brunswick · Old Bridge · Piscataway
Monmouth County: Manalapan · Neptune City
Mercer County: Hamilton Square
Camden County: Westmont
Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Disease Treatment
Have a question about your gums? Find answers below, or book a visit and ask our team directly.
Early gum disease (gingivitis) can usually be reversed with a professional cleaning and good home care. Periodontitis can’t be fully reversed, but treatment such as deep cleaning stops it from getting worse and helps the gums heal.
We numb the area with local anesthesia, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Your gums may be sore and your teeth sensitive for a few days afterward.
It depends on how much of your mouth needs treatment. Many patients have the mouth treated in sections over more than one visit, then return a few weeks later for a follow-up check.
Your dentist decides based on the depth of the pockets around your teeth, bleeding when the gums are measured, and any bone loss on X-rays. Healthy gums only need a regular cleaning.
A periodontist is a dentist with extra training in the gums and the bone that supports the teeth. General dentists provide deep cleanings, while periodontists handle advanced gum disease, laser gum therapy and gum and bone procedures.
Without treatment, gum disease can destroy the bone that holds your teeth, leading to loose teeth and tooth loss. It has also been linked to health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
After gum disease treatment, most patients need periodontal maintenance visits more often than a regular twice-a-year cleaning. Your dentist will set a schedule based on how your gums respond.
All 25 NÜVA Smile offices in New Jersey offer deep cleaning. For advanced care, our periodontists see patients at Bergenfield, Elizabeth, Flanders, Ridgefield Park, Totowa and Wyckoff.
Protect Your Gums and Keep Your Natural Teeth
Bleeding or tender gums are worth a check, even if nothing hurts. Find a NÜVA Smile office near you and book a gum health exam to stop gum disease before it costs you a tooth.
