Gums are part of the “attachment” that anchors your teeth. Gums and bone make up the tissue “attachment” that holds your teeth in place. Obviously, we would like to have as much attachment as possible to hold the teeth strongly.

Measuring or “probing” the gums and bone is an important part of maintaining your oral health. As a standard part of your checkup, we will measure your gums at least once every 12 months.

The most common gum problem is gum disease or periodontitis. This is basically an infection of the gum and bone. Contributing factors are built up plaque (soft germ layer) and tartar (hard, calcified germ layer). Treatment consists of a thorough cleaning of the tooth roots. This is called scaling and root planing.

If you’d like to have your teeth checked, we are currently offering a New Patient Special of $69 for an exam, cleaning and x-rays. Please call our office at 847-724-7060 to set up an appointment.