Gum care
Bleeding gums
Gums that bleed when you brush or floss are inflamed. This visit finds out why, and whether the bone around your teeth is involved.
Inflamed gums can come from plaque that a deeper cleaning will reach. They can also be an early sign that the bone holding your teeth is wearing away, which only measuring and X-rays can tell apart. Dr. Villanueva shows you what he finds before he suggests anything.
What Dr. Villanueva looks at
The space between each tooth and the gum
Where plaque and tartar have built up under the gum
X-rays of the bone, if he needs them
What else is affecting your gums, such as smoking or a medicine
What happens, in order
The first visit is about an hour. Treatment, if you choose it, usually takes a few visits over weeks.
- 01
Step 1: A talk and a look
You tell us what you have noticed. Dr. Villanueva examines your gums and teeth.
- 02
Step 2: Measuring
Citlali or Dr. Villanueva measures the space around each tooth with a thin probe, tooth by tooth.
- 03
Step 3: What we found
You see the numbers and any X-rays, and hear what they mean and what your options are.
- 04
Step 4: The plan, in writing
If you want treatment, you get the stages and the fee for each before anything starts.
Before you decide
Comfort
We numb the area before we treat it, and you can ask us to stop at any time. Ask about anything that worries you before we start.
If you wait
Gum disease can keep going without symptoms you notice. The longer it goes untreated, the more bone around the teeth can be lost, and bone that has been lost does not return on its own.
Risks and after-care
Gums can be sore and a little swollen for a few days after a deep cleaning, and teeth can feel more sensitive. Dr. Villanueva explains what to expect and which signs mean you should call us.
How it is billed
We give you the fee for each stage in writing before it starts, and file claims to plans we are in network with. No fee is quoted on this page.
How fees work
Questions about this visit
Is bleeding always gum disease?
No. Brushing hard, a new flossing habit and some medicines can all make gums bleed. Measuring is how Dr. Villanueva tells which one it is.
Do I need X-rays?
Only if Dr. Villanueva needs to see the bone. He tells you why before he takes them, and the X-rays you already have may be enough.
What is a deep cleaning?
It cleans below the gum line, where a regular cleaning does not reach. It is done in sections, with the area numbed, over one or more visits.
Can I keep seeing my own dentist?
Yes. Gum care here works alongside your dentist. We send a note on what we found and what we did.
Ask about bleeding gums
Dr. Eliseo Villanueva, DDS, practices periodontics. His training and licenses are on his page.