Gum and periodontal care in Waterloo.
Gum disease is common, largely silent, and the main reason adults lose teeth. Caught early it is very manageable — here is how we find it and treat it.
Is this you?
Your gums bleed when you brush
Bleeding is not something to brush around more gently. It is the most common early sign of gum inflammation, and at this stage it is usually reversible with a cleaning and a change in technique.
Your breath is not improving
Persistent bad breath that mouthwash does not fix often comes from bacteria under the gumline where a toothbrush cannot reach. Treating the cause works better than covering it.
Your teeth look longer than they used to
Gums receding away from the teeth expose the root, which looks longer and is often more sensitive to cold. Recession does not grow back, but it can be stopped from getting worse.
A tooth feels slightly loose
Looseness in an adult tooth means the bone holding it has been lost. This is the advanced stage and it needs attention promptly — but even here, treatment can often stabilise things and keep the tooth.
How it works here
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Measuring, not guessing
We measure the space between each tooth and the gum with a small probe and record the numbers. Healthy is one to three millimetres. Deeper pockets mean the attachment is breaking down. X-rays show how much supporting bone is left. You get the actual numbers, not just an opinion.
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Telling you which stage you are at
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum only, and it is reversible. Periodontitis means bone has been lost, and that part does not grow back — the goal shifts to stopping further loss. Knowing which one you have changes the plan, and we will be straight with you about it.
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Scaling and root planing
For deeper pockets, a regular cleaning is not enough. We numb the area and clean hardened deposits from the root surfaces below the gumline, then smooth them so the gum can reattach. This is usually done over one or two visits, often a half-mouth at a time.
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Reassessing after healing
About six to eight weeks later we measure the same pockets again and compare. This is the honest test of whether the treatment worked. Most pockets shrink; any that have not are the ones we focus on next, and occasionally we will refer you to a gum specialist.
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Keeping it stable
Gum disease is managed, not cured. Once treated, most people move to more frequent maintenance cleanings — often every three or four months rather than six. This is the part that actually determines whether you keep the teeth.
What it costs
Fees depend on how much of the mouth needs treating and how many appointments that takes. Scaling is billed in units of time, so a mouth with two deep areas costs less than one needing full treatment. You will have the number in writing after the assessment.
What's included:
- Full periodontal assessment with pocket measurements recorded
- X-rays to check the supporting bone
- Local anaesthetic where treatment goes below the gumline
- Scaling and root planing over the planned visits
- A reassessment appointment to measure whether it worked
You'll always receive a written estimate before treatment begins. See all fees & coverage
What to expect at Auburn Centre Dental
The assessment appointment involves a lot of numbers being called out and recorded. Ask us what they mean as we go — those numbers are the clearest picture you will get of your own gum health, and they are worth understanding.
Teeth are often sensitive to cold for a week or two after deep cleaning, as the roots are freshly exposed to the mouth. This settles, and a sensitivity toothpaste helps in the meantime.
Questions people actually ask
Is bleeding when I brush really a problem?
Yes. Healthy gums do not bleed when brushed, in the same way healthy skin does not bleed when washed. Bleeding means inflammation.
The good news is that at the gingivitis stage it is reversible — a thorough clean plus consistent brushing and cleaning between the teeth usually settles it within a couple of weeks. The instinct to avoid the bleeding area is the wrong one; that area needs cleaning most.
What is the difference between a regular cleaning and a deep cleaning?
A regular cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the crowns of the teeth and just below the gum, where it is reachable.
A deep cleaning — scaling and root planing — goes further down the root surface into pockets that have formed, which is why it is done with the area numbed. It is a treatment for a diagnosed condition rather than a routine clean, and it is scheduled and priced differently.
Will my gums grow back?
Gum tissue and bone that has been lost does not regenerate on its own, and we would rather tell you that plainly than let you expect it.
What treatment does is stop the loss and let inflamed tissue tighten back against the teeth, which usually reduces pocket depth. Some recession can be treated surgically by a specialist if it is causing sensitivity or a problem with appearance.
How often will I need cleanings afterwards?
Most people who have had periodontal treatment move to every three or four months rather than every six. The bacteria repopulate the pockets on roughly that timescale, so the interval is about staying ahead of them.
It is not an upsell — it is the single thing that most affects whether treated gums stay stable. We will tell you when it is reasonable to stretch the interval back out.
Does smoking affect this?
Considerably. Smoking reduces blood flow to the gums, which both masks the bleeding that would have warned you earlier and slows healing after treatment. Gum disease tends to progress faster and respond less well.
We are not going to lecture you about it. But if you are considering stopping, gum treatment is a point where the difference in outcome is genuinely large.
Can gum disease affect the rest of my health?
There are well-documented associations between gum disease and conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The relationship with diabetes runs in both directions — poorly controlled blood sugar worsens gum disease, and gum inflammation makes blood sugar harder to control.
We will keep to what is established rather than overstating it. Tell us about your medical conditions and medications, because several affect the gums directly.
Is periodontal treatment covered by CDCP or insurance?
Scaling and periodontal treatment are covered services under the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and we bill CDCP directly. There are annual limits on the number of units of scaling covered.
Private plans commonly cover scaling, often with a yearly cap that a full course of treatment can reach. We will check your remaining allowance before booking and tell you what falls outside it — see fees and coverage.