West End Dental Inc Reopening

West End Dental is excited to begin seeing patients safely. These are unprecedented times, and we want to reassure you that we have taken every precaution to ensure your safety and wellbeing during your visit.

• Taking temperatures and pulse oximetry measurements of every patient and caregiver before they enter our clinic.

• Screening each person entering the building for any symptoms and redirecting them if symptoms are present.

• Modifying our waiting rooms and how we deliver care to honor social distancing.

• All caregivers will be masked as well as patients anytime they are not receiving treatment.

• Increased cleaning procedures, frequency, and improved products for cleaning

• We also request that patients please arrive as close to their appointment time as they can and that they please not bring additional persons to their appointment if possible.

We ask that you understand that our provider's time is more crucial than ever and request that you be prompt to your appointment, arriving no sooner or later than your appointment time. Understand that if you cancel your appointment less than 48 hours in advance or are more than 15 minutes late to your visit, we may charge your account a $50.00 non-refundable fee.

Thank you for choosing West End Dental. We are committed to safe, compassionate care, especially as we continue to deal with impacts of COVID-19. If you have any concerns before, during, or after you visit, please do not hesitate to make us aware of them. We are all in this together and are committed to creating a safe, compassionate and healing environment.

Scaling and Root Planing

Maintaining a healthy mouth and beautiful smile requires proper oral hygiene practices. This includes brushing and flossing every single day, as well as having your teeth professionally cleaned and examined every six months. Ignoring parts of your oral hygiene routine, even only occasionally, can significantly increase your risk of developing gum disease. If gum disease does develop, treatment is needed right away. At West End Dental, we can help to restore the health of your mouth with scaling and root planing.

The Progression of Gum Disease

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a progressive oral health condition that not only affects your gums but your teeth and their supporting structures as well. It is caused by a bacterial infection. When plaque and bacteria build up on the surfaces of your teeth, the bacteria begin irritating your gums. This triggers an inflammatory response from the immune system, and the gums begin to swell.

Red, swollen gums are the first signs of the earliest stage of gum disease, but these symptoms, as well as bleeding gums when you brush and floss, are often overlooked. Swollen gums begin to pull away from the surfaces of your teeth, leading to the formation of periodontal pockets. Bacteria and plaque begin collecting below the gum line. The bacteria continue to attack your gums while also attacking your periodontal ligaments and your jawbone. The gums recede, and the supporting structures become weak. Over time, the teeth become loose, and they may even fall out.

What is Scaling and Root Planing?

Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for gum disease. This treatment is essentially a deep cleaning of your teeth, during which we clean the surfaces of your teeth both above and below the gum line. Scaling is the process of cleaning the visible surfaces of your teeth, including around and just below the gum line. Using a scaler, we can eliminate all plaque and bacteria, as well as tartar, or plaque that has hardened and cannot be removed with a toothbrush.

Root planing is the process of removing plaque, bacteria, and other toxins from the root surfaces of your teeth, effectively smoothing them. This prevents new bacterial buildup, giving your gum tissue an opportunity to begin healing. An antibacterial agent is often used as well to help eliminate any bacteria that might be following lingering treatment. While treatment is minimally invasive, your gums may be sensitive. For this reason, scaling and root planing is done under a local anesthetic, which helps to ensure your comfort during treatment.

Benefits of Treating Gum Disease with Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing treatment provides several significant benefits. These benefits include:

•	Minimally invasive and non-surgical treatment. While minimally invasive, a local anesthetic is provided to ensure maximum comfort during treatment.
•	Eliminating all buildup from your teeth, both above and below the gum line. This gives your gums the opportunity they need to reattach to the surfaces of your teeth, which greatly improves your oral health.
•	Slowing and stopping the progression of gum disease.
•	Improved smile. By helping your gums to heal, your smile greatly improves, as does your confidence.

Scaling and root planing can help to put an end to the progression of gum disease, allowing your gums to heal and your oral health to improve. Call West End Dental at (503) 446-2957 today for more information and to schedule your appointment.

WE TREAT OUR PATIENTS WITH RESPECT

We believe in educating patients about their treatment options and listening to their questions and concerns.

WE BELIEVE IN HEALTHY TEETH FIRST

We focus on prevention so that you keep your smile healthy. We provide excellent comfortable care for all procedures.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU!

Schedule your visit today for cleaning, treatment, or consultation.