Gum Disease Treatment in Palm Beach
Gums that bleed when you brush or floss are easy to dismiss, but that small streak of pink is often the earliest sign of gum disease. Because it usually develops without pain, many people don't realize anything is wrong until their gums have started to pull away from their teeth. At Family Dental Care, we help patients from Palm Beach find and treat gum disease at every stage, from early inflammation to more advanced periodontal concerns.
Your first visit starts with a dental exam and a careful look at your gum health. Our team checks the spaces between your teeth and gums, looks for inflammation and buildup below the gumline, and reviews how your gums fit around each tooth. This exam is also when we perform an oral cancer screening, so you get a complete picture of your oral health in one appointment.
From there, we explain what we found in plain terms and walk you through your options. Some Palm Beach patients come to us because they noticed bleeding or tenderness. Others learn about a gum problem during a routine cleaning. Either way, you'll leave knowing where your gums stand and what we recommend next. If you have questions about any step, ask us. We want you to understand your treatment before it begins.
Gum disease treatment can help anyone whose gums show signs of infection or inflammation. We see patients ages eight and up in our West Palm Beach office, which is convenient for people living in Palm Beach. The right approach depends on how far the condition has progressed and on your overall dental needs.
Candidates often include:
- People whose gums bleed during brushing or flossing
- Patients with buildup that has collected below the gumline
- People whose gums have receded or pulled away from their teeth
- Patients planning other work, such as dental implants, who need healthy gums first
- Anyone who has finished gum treatment and needs ongoing maintenance
Because our office provides general, cosmetic, and periodontic care, we can address gum disease alongside your other dental goals. That means fewer handoffs and a treatment plan built around your whole mouth.
How We Treat Gum Disease
For many patients, treatment begins with scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning that goes beyond a standard cleaning. During scaling, we remove plaque and hardened buildup from your tooth surfaces above and below the gumline. Root planing then smooths the root surfaces, which helps your gums reattach to your teeth. Depending on your needs, we may complete this over more than one visit.
When gum disease has caused more damage, we offer additional procedures. A gingivectomy removes diseased or excess gum tissue. Gum grafting can cover areas where gums have receded. Crown lengthening reshapes gum tissue and, where needed, bone to expose more of a tooth. If bone has been lost, bone grafting may help rebuild the foundation, and we can replace missing teeth with dental implants or implant-supported options. For patients who feel anxious about dental work, we offer oral sedation to help them feel more relaxed during treatment.
Aftercare and Periodontal Maintenance
Gum disease treatment doesn't end when you leave the chair. After scaling and root planing or another procedure, we'll give you clear instructions for caring for your gums at home. These include how to brush and floss gently around treated areas while they heal. A consistent home routine is one of the most important things you can do to protect your results.
We also schedule periodontal maintenance visits. These cleanings are more thorough than a standard cleaning and give our team regular chances to check your gums for any signs that the condition is returning. Our dental hygienists work alongside Dr. Michael Westcott and Dr. Sujay Trivedi to monitor your progress over time. If you have dental implants, we also provide implant maintenance to help keep the surrounding gum tissue healthy.
Insurance and Payment for Palm Beach Patients
We accept all major PPO insurance plans. We also file claims on your behalf, so you don't have to handle that paperwork yourself. Before treatment begins, our team can review your plan with you so you have a clear sense of what to expect.
If you don't have dental insurance, we welcome self-pay patients. Either way, we'll talk through costs openly before any procedure, so there are no surprises. Palm Beach residents don't need a referral to see us for periodontal care. If your gums have been bleeding or feel tender, contact our office to schedule an exam and take the first step toward healthier gums.