Periodontal Care in Lake Forest
Gum Disease Treatment in Lake Forest, IL
Bleeding, swollen, tender, or receding gums deserve a closer look, even when they do not hurt. At Ross & Durrett Family Dental, our doctors evaluate your gums and supporting tissues, explain what we find, and recommend care that fits your needs—from improved daily cleaning and professional treatment to specialist referral when appropriate. Since 1968, our team has helped patients make informed decisions about their oral health.
Lake Forest, Illinois Welcoming patients from across the North Shore
01 / Gum Disease Treatment
Know when your gums need attention
Gum disease may start as gingivitis, with red, swollen, or bleeding gums, and progress to periodontitis, which affects the tissues and bone supporting your teeth. Persistent bad breath, gum recession, tooth sensitivity, loose or shifting teeth, and discomfort when chewing can also be warning signs. Symptoms alone cannot show how extensive the disease is, so an evaluation matters.
At your visit, our doctors will review your health history and risk factors, examine your gums, measure the spaces around your teeth, assess tooth mobility, and use dental X-rays when appropriate to look for bone changes. Tobacco use, diabetes, some medications, genetics, and other health circumstances can affect risk and healing.
- Bleeding or tender gums when brushing or flossing
- Gums that look red, swollen, or pulled away from teeth
- Persistent bad breath, loose teeth, or pain when chewing
- A history of periodontal treatment, tobacco use, or diabetes
02 / Gum Disease Treatment
A treatment plan based on your findings
For early gingivitis, brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between your teeth, and professional preventive care can help restore gum health. When periodontitis is present, care commonly begins with professional removal of plaque, tartar, and deposits below the gumline, often called scaling and root planing, plus personalized home-care instruction. Our doctors will recommend the number of visits based on the number and depth of affected areas.
Our doctors reassess your gums after initial care and use those findings to guide next steps. If disease is advanced, persistent, or beyond routine office treatment, our doctors will recommend a periodontist for additional nonsurgical or surgical options. If a medicine or oral rinse is recommended, we will explain how to use it and review any medicines you already take.
- A staged plan informed by gum measurements, X-rays when needed, and your health history
- Professional cleaning of accessible and below-the-gumline deposits when indicated
- Guidance on brushing, interdental cleaning, tobacco cessation, and other modifiable risks
- Periodontal specialist coordination when advanced care or a second opinion is appropriate
03 / Gum Disease Treatment
Support your gums after treatment
Gum treatment focuses on controlling inflammation and infection and creating conditions you can maintain. Temporary tenderness, bleeding, sensitivity, or gum shrinkage can occur after deposits are removed. Untreated or advanced disease can involve bone loss, tooth mobility, tooth loss, or more involved treatment. Your doctor will explain your options and what to expect as your gums heal.
Home care and follow-up are part of treatment. Periodontitis can recur, and supportive visits should be scheduled around your needs; some patients need periodontal maintenance more often than a routine six-month cleaning. Contact us promptly for facial swelling, fever, severe pain, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, which may require urgent evaluation.
- Brush twice daily and clean between teeth using a method recommended for you
- Keep reassessment and maintenance visits even when your gums feel better
- Tell our dental team about pregnancy, diabetes, medicines, tobacco use, and allergies
- Ask about benefits, risks, alternatives, costs, and when referral is recommended
Questions, answered clearly
Good questions are welcome.
Does bleeding when I brush always mean I need a deep cleaning?
Not necessarily. Bleeding can occur with gingivitis, irritation, vigorous brushing, or other conditions, and it does not by itself determine treatment. An examination with gum measurements and, when appropriate, X-rays helps distinguish reversible inflammation from periodontitis and identify whether preventive care, scaling and root planing, or another approach is appropriate.
Can gum disease be cured permanently?
Early gingivitis can often be reversed with effective daily plaque control and professional care. Periodontitis is a chronic condition: treatment can control active disease, but susceptibility and recurrence risk may remain. Ongoing home care, individualized periodontal maintenance, and attention to risks such as tobacco use or diabetes are important.
How do I schedule a gum disease consultation?
Call Ross & Durrett Family Dental at (847) 234-8608 to arrange a consultation in Lake Forest. Call today to take the next step.
Keep exploring
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