Dentistry in Malibu and Simi Valley

Your teeth look healthy and you brush at least twice a day. So how can you have gum disease? Easy. Nearly 80% of the population has some form of this condition. Gum disease causes pain, tooth loss, and has been linked to heart disease and other major health risks. Dr. Perkins and our team know that you trust us for total oral wellness, so we take gum disease seriously.

Gum disease is usually caused by plaque buildup, but medications, lifestyle factors, and other influences can cause the condition. When plaque builds up on teeth above and below the gum line, it hardens and irritates gums. This, combined with decaying food particles lodged between teeth, can cause infection. When bacterial infection sets in, you have gum disease. You may notice no symptoms, or you might have red, swollen, tender gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. If this sounds familiar, call for a checkup now.

In your checkup, we will thoroughly assess your gums. If we find that you have gingivitis or another stage of gum disease, we'll recommend prompt and routine therapy. With a procedure called ultrasonic scaling, your hygienist will remove hardened plaque from below the gum line. Root planing is the process of smoothing rough areas on teeth's roots. We do this because plaque likes to hide on rough tooth roots. To kill infection, we may apply Arestin, a special antibiotic for gum disease. You'll need to come in for more than one session. We will track the progress of your therapy by charting your gum pocket depths.

Most gum disease patients need to visit Dr. Perkins' office for three-month cleanings until we recommend otherwise. Don't let gum disease steal your smile. Call our Malibu dental office today to schedule your checkup with Dr. Perkins. We are conveniently located for patients in the area.

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