Gum disease treatment in Irving, TX

Gum disease treatment in Irving starts with an honest diagnosis

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It's very common — CDC research has found that roughly four in ten U.S. adults age 30 and older have periodontitis, the more serious form — and it often doesn't hurt until it's advanced. That's why gum disease treatment at our Irving office starts with careful measurements, not guesses.

During your exam, we gently measure the small space between each tooth and the gum. Healthy pockets are usually 1 to 3 millimeters deep. Deeper pockets, bleeding and bone loss on digital x-rays tell us how far the disease has gone and which treatment makes sense.

Signs you might need gum disease treatment

• Gums bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, puffy or tender gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste that won't go away
• Gums pulling back so teeth look longer
• Loose teeth or a change in your bite
• Pus between your teeth and gums

Gingivitis vs. periodontitis

Gingivitis is a warning sign. Treated early, the gums return to health. Left alone, it can progress to periodontitis, a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), explained

A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar above the gum line. A deep cleaning goes further, reaching down into the pockets to clear out hardened tartar and bacteria a toothbrush can't touch. It has two parts: scaling removes the buildup, and root planing smooths the root surfaces so the gums can tighten back around the teeth and pockets can shrink.

We usually treat one side of the mouth at a time, over two visits, so you're never numb on both sides at once. We numb thoroughly, and most patients feel pressure and vibration, not pain. Our chairs have a built-in piezo scaler designed to be quieter and smoother. If dental visits make you anxious, ask about our sedation options; we'll review which are appropriate for your health history.

Afterward, gums may be tender and teeth a bit sensitive to cold for a few days. Warm salt-water rinses, soft foods and an over-the-counter pain reliever usually take care of it. Light bleeding when you brush in the first few days is normal.

Gingivectomy and other gum procedures

Sometimes the gum tissue itself is the problem. A gingivectomy removes excess or diseased gum tissue to reduce deep pockets that cleaning alone can't fix, or to trim gums that have overgrown. Overgrowth can happen with certain medications, including some seizure, blood pressure and anti-rejection drugs. The area is numbed first, and healing usually takes a week or two.

Where gum disease has destroyed bone, bone grafting may help support a tooth or prepare the area for an implant later. For very advanced cases, we'll be straightforward about your options, including referral to a periodontist when that's the best path.

Maintenance cleanings: keeping it under control

Periodontitis is managed, not cured. After a deep cleaning, bacteria start to recolonize the pockets within a few months, so most patients need periodontal maintenance cleanings every three to four months instead of twice a year. These visits clean deeper than a routine cleaning and let us re-measure your pockets to catch changes early.

Home care is the other half. Our hygienist, My Phuong Tran, R.D.H., believes oral health is a life skill everyone deserves to understand, and she'll show you — calmly and clearly — the techniques that work for your mouth: angling your brush toward the gum line, using floss or small interdental brushes, and whether a water flosser makes sense. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your gums.

Gum health, diabetes and your heart

Your gums don't exist in isolation. People with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease, and serious gum infection can make blood sugar harder to control. Researchers have also found links between gum disease and heart disease, though they haven't shown that one causes the other. Pregnancy hormones can make gums more likely to swell and bleed, too.

Kudo Care Center's primary care team — including Dr. AJ Nguyen, MD, and Dr. Ryan Kim, MD — is in the same building, so if you'd like your dentist and doctor to coordinate, they're just down the hall. Read more in our guide to gum disease and diabetes.

What to expect, step by step

1. Measure and image

   We measure pocket depths around every tooth and take digital x-rays to check bone levels.

2. Numb one side

   We numb the area thoroughly — usually one side of the mouth per visit — and make sure you're comfortable.

3. Scaling

   Using a piezo scaler and fine hand instruments, we remove tartar and bacteria from above and below the gum line.

4. Root planing

   We smooth the root surfaces so bacteria have fewer places to cling and the gums can tighten around the teeth.

5. Re-check in 4–6 weeks

   We re-measure the pockets to see how your gums have healed and decide on next steps.

6. Maintenance every 3–4 months

   Periodontal maintenance cleanings keep bacteria in check and catch changes early.

Cost, insurance & financing

In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, scaling and root planing typically costs about $150 to $400 per quadrant (one-quarter of the mouth), so a full-mouth deep cleaning often runs roughly $600 to $1,600 without insurance. Periodontal maintenance visits usually cost somewhat more than a regular cleaning. Many PPO plans cover part of a deep cleaning, and Texas Medicaid and CHIP cover dental care for children 18 and under.

Your exact cost depends on how many areas need treatment, how deep the pockets are and whether you need a gingivectomy or bone grafting. We give you a written estimate before treatment. If you're uninsured, financing and our Concierge Membership are options — see insurance and financing.