Patient Services

General Family and Restorative Dentistry

Periodontal Treatment

If your gums bleed when you brush, you may have gum disease. This stealthy villain is the leading cause of tooth loss in American adults. To protect your oral health, Dr. Tony L. Ratliff recommends bi-annual checkups that include teeth cleaning and periodontal treatment, when necessary.

Our skilled hygienist will gently assess your mouth's soft tissues, checking for signs of gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease. If your gums need periodontal treatment, the hygienist may recommend scaling and root planing. A topical antibiotic, Arestin, can kill infection to help your gums heal. If you’d like to know more about periodontal treatment, click here. For severe cases of gum disease, surgical treatment may be necessary.

Call the Noblesville office of Dr. Tony L. Ratliff today if you think you may have gum disease or if your gums just hurt. Early treatment can completely eliminate this chronic disease. We treat patients from the entire area, including Fishers, Westfield, and Carmel.