Healthier gums, clearly explained
Periodontal Care in Lake Forest, IL
Bleeding or swollen gums can be easy to dismiss, even when gum disease is progressing quietly. At Ross & Durrett Family Dental, our doctors begin with a careful evaluation and a straightforward conversation about your options. Serving Lake Forest since 1968, we focus on helping you protect the gums and supporting structures that help keep your teeth healthy.
Lake Forest, Illinois Welcoming patients from across the North Shore
01 / Periodontal Care
Understand what your gums need
Plaque can harden into tartar and cause inflammation. As gum disease progresses, gums can pull away from the teeth and create pockets that everyday brushing cannot reach. You can notice bleeding, redness, tenderness, persistent bad breath, gum recession, sensitivity, or discomfort when chewing—or have few noticeable symptoms. Tobacco use, diabetes, age, genetics, and other health factors can also affect gum health.
During a periodontal evaluation, our team looks for inflammation and recession, measures the spaces around your teeth, reviews your medical history, and takes dental X-rays when clinically indicated. These findings help distinguish early gum inflammation from disease affecting the tissues or bone supporting your teeth. If your diagnosis is complex or disease is advanced, our doctors will discuss referral to a periodontist.
- Bleeding, swollen, red, or tender gums
- Gums that appear to pull away from teeth
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
- Loose, sensitive, shifting, or painful teeth
02 / Periodontal Care
Treatment matched to your condition
When your findings support it, scaling and root planing—sometimes called periodontal deep cleaning—removes plaque and tartar above and below the gumline and smooths root surfaces. Treatment can take more than one visit, and local anesthetic can be used when needed. The American Dental Association identifies scaling and root planing as an initial nonsurgical option for chronic periodontitis; our doctors consider your findings, needs, and preferences when recommending care.
Your care continues at home and at follow-up visits. Brushing, cleaning between your teeth, stopping tobacco use when relevant, and recommended maintenance visits can help manage inflammation and reduce recurrence. We can reassess healing and pocket measurements after treatment. If deeper pockets or ongoing disease remain, our doctors will discuss additional nonsurgical care, medication in selected situations, referral, or periodontal surgery.
- Professional cleaning and home-care coaching for early gum inflammation
- Scaling and root planing for selected periodontal pockets
- Reassessment after healing to check response to treatment
- Referral or additional treatment discussion when nonsurgical care is not sufficient
03 / Periodontal Care
A comfortable, honest plan
Our doctors will explain what they see, what treatment can and cannot address, and how to care for your mouth afterward.
Not every person with gum symptoms needs scaling and root planing. Our doctors will recommend a plan based on your findings; options can include improved home care and routine cleaning, scheduled reassessment, selected medication, referral to a periodontist, or surgical treatment. Temporary tenderness, swelling or bleeding, and tooth sensitivity can occur after scaling and root planing; tell us about medical conditions, medicines, tobacco use, pregnancy, allergies, and health changes before treatment. Call Ross & Durrett Family Dental at (847) 234-8608 to schedule a periodontal evaluation.
Questions, answered clearly
Good questions are welcome.
Is periodontal care the same as a regular dental cleaning?
Not always. A routine cleaning generally addresses plaque and tartar that can be reached without treating deeper periodontal pockets. Scaling and root planing cleans beneath the gumline and smooths root surfaces when an evaluation supports it. The right approach depends on your gum measurements, examination, X-rays when indicated, and health history.
Will scaling and root planing cure gum disease permanently?
Scaling and root planing can be an effective initial nonsurgical treatment for selected chronic periodontitis, but ongoing home care and maintenance visits are usually important. Our doctors will discuss additional treatment or referral if pockets remain deep or inflammation continues, and can explain your findings and alternatives after an individual evaluation.
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Care, connected.
Here when you need us
A conversation is a good place to begin.
We’ll listen, answer your questions, and help you decide what comes next. Care should feel personal from the first call.
Ask about treatment-specific estimates and payment options after your individual evaluation.
Call (847) 234-8608