Dental · Mulund East
Gum treatment and teeth cleaning in Mulund East
Bleeding gums are the most common dental problem people ignore. Dr Ria Gerela provides scaling and polishing, treatment for bleeding gums and gum disease, and the maintenance visits that keep teeth for life. If you have diabetes, this page matters twice.
What it is
Why gums bleed, and what cleaning does
Plaque that is not brushed away hardens into tartar, which a toothbrush cannot remove. Tartar irritates the gums, they bleed and pull away from the teeth, and over the years the bone holding the teeth is lost. This is gum disease, the main reason adults lose teeth.
Scaling removes the tartar above and below the gum line. Polishing removes stain and leaves a smooth surface that plaque sticks to less easily. Where gum disease has already set in, deeper cleaning and a maintenance programme stop it progressing.
What happens at the visit
Step 1
Gum check
Dr Ria examines the gums, measures how far they have pulled away from the teeth, and takes a digital X-ray where bone loss is suspected.
Step 2
Scaling and polishing
Tartar is removed from above and below the gum line, then the teeth are polished. Sensitive areas can be numbed.
Step 3
Home care and recall
You are shown how to brush and clean between the teeth for your own mouth, and a maintenance interval is set so the gums stay healthy.
Sittings and aftercare
How many sittings
A routine scaling and polishing is one visit. Established gum disease usually needs the mouth cleaned in sections over two or more visits, then a review to see how the gums have responded. After that, maintenance visits every few months keep the disease from returning. Fees are confirmed when you book.
Aftercare
- Gums may bleed a little and teeth feel sensitive for a few days, and this settles
- Brush twice a day with a soft brush and clean between the teeth daily
- Bleeding on brushing is a sign to brush more carefully, not to stop
- Smoking hides the bleeding and makes gum disease worse
- Keep the maintenance interval you are given
Dr Ria Gerela, at the Mulund East clinic
Who does it
Dentist and implantologist, in practice since 2001, with a special interest in cosmetic dentistry and dental implants.
Full profile →Questions patients ask
Does scaling damage the enamel?
No. Scaling removes tartar and stain from the surface of the tooth, it does not remove enamel. Teeth can feel sensitive for a few days afterwards because the gums are healing and the tartar that was covering the root is gone.
Why do my gums bleed?
Bleeding almost always means the gums are inflamed by plaque or tartar. It is not a reason to stop brushing. A scaling and better home cleaning usually stop it within a couple of weeks. If bleeding continues, or teeth feel loose, come in.
How often should I have a cleaning?
It depends on your mouth. For healthy gums, at the interval Dr Ria suggests. For treated gum disease, or diabetes, more often. Regular visits are far easier than treating tooth loss.
Related pages
Children’s dentistry
Check-ups, sealants and fluoride for children.
Smile design and whitening
Whitening starts with a scaling.
All dental treatments
Everything Dr Ria treats at Mulund East.
Bleeding gums are a reason to come in, not to wait
A scaling and a gum check take one visit. If you have diabetes, tell us when you call.