Periodontal Treatment

Most people don’t realize that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease.

You may be surprised to learn that the human mouth is home to a wide variety of microbes. The fact is that over 700 different strains of bacteria have been detected in the oral cavity. Although some of these bacteria are beneficial, others are harmful to oral health. Without proper oral hygiene and routine dental care, these harmful bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease, compromising both your oral health and overall wellbeing.

In addition to inadequate oral hygiene and infrequent professional care, other factors, including smoking, genetic tendencies, and unchecked diabetes, can contribute to the escalation of periodontal disease.

Your gums and teeth have an interdependent relationship, which means healthy teeth depend on the support of healthy gums. Also, taking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition; good oral health also supports systemic health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and a number of medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory problems, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term and low birth-weight babies.

If you notice that your gums are bleeding with the slightest pressure while brushing or flossing, it’s a sign of gingivitis. Although gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, it can easily be reversed with deeper cleanings as well as an improved regimen of oral hygiene at home.

In the absence of professional treatment and better home care, gingivitis progresses to the next stage, which is known as periodontitis. In this stage, the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place begin to break down with an increase in pocketing between the teeth and bone, gum recession, and bone loss. Without proper treatment by your dentist, periodontitis will progress from a mild to moderate loss of supporting tissue to the destruction of the bone around the teeth.

Although gingivitis can often be reversed with improved oral hygiene and professional cleanings, as periodontal disease advances, more extensive procedures are required to halt its progression. Based on a complete assessment of your periodontal health and a review of possible contributing factors, our office will recommend the best options in care. Treatment for periodontitis may include a series of deeper cleanings known as root planing and scaling, surgical procedures to reduce pocket depth, bone or tissue grafts, laser procedures, or antimicrobial medications.

The cost of care depends on the type of procedures required to restore your periodontal health. If you have dental insurance, plans often cover treatment to prevent gum disease as well as many procedures to treat the various stages of gum disease. Our goal is to help patients restore and maintain good oral health. We do all we can to help you begin care without additional stress or delay. Our business office works with you to maximize your benefits and provide easier, more convenient payment options.

By seeing our office regularly for care and doing your best to eat a healthy diet and practice good oral hygiene, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape as well as protect your overall wellbeing.

At the office of Addison Dental Studio, we provide a comprehensive range of services to address all your oral healthcare needs. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands at our office. Our skilled and experienced team maintains a position at the forefront of advances in care and remains dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate treatment.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition that affects the gums and the tissues that support teeth. It begins when plaque and bacterial biofilms accumulate along the gumline, triggering an immune response that produces inflammation and tissue breakdown. Over time, persistent inflammation can lead to pocket formation, loss of connective tissue attachment, and bone resorption around affected teeth.

Early-stage disease, known as gingivitis, is usually reversible with improved at-home care and professional cleaning. If the bacterial challenge and inflammation continue unchecked, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, where tissue loss becomes irreversible without intervention. At Addison Dental Studio, our focus is on early detection and individualized treatment to preserve natural dentition when possible.

Early signs of gum disease can be subtle and are often missed without a professional exam. Patients commonly report bleeding during brushing or flossing, redness and puffiness of the gums, persistent bad breath, or a metallic taste in the mouth. These symptoms indicate active inflammation and should prompt a periodontal evaluation.

Other warning signs include gum recession, exposed root surfaces, increased tooth sensitivity, and any new looseness of teeth or changes in bite. Because progression to periodontitis can be painless, routine dental visits are important for identifying changes that patients may not notice. Timely assessment increases the chances of reversing disease or limiting tissue loss.

Diagnosis begins with a thorough clinical exam that includes periodontal probing to measure pocket depths and assess attachment levels around each tooth. The dentist or hygienist also evaluates gum color, bleeding on probing, mobility of teeth, and areas of recession or exposed roots. Radiographs are often used to assess the level of supporting bone and identify patterns of bone loss.

Periodontal charting records pocket measurements, bleeding scores, and other findings to track disease activity over time and guide treatment decisions. Medical history, medications, and risk factors such as smoking or diabetes are reviewed because they influence disease progression and response to therapy. This comprehensive assessment allows clinicians to develop a personalized, evidence-based plan of care.

Non-surgical therapy is the first-line approach for early to moderate periodontal disease and focuses on reducing bacterial deposits and controlling inflammation. Scaling and root planing, also called deep cleaning, removes plaque and hardened calculus from pockets and smooths root surfaces to reduce bacterial recolonization. Clinicians may also use localized antimicrobial agents or recommend short courses of systemic medication when clinically indicated.

Equally important is patient-centered education on oral hygiene techniques, including effective brushing, interdental cleaning, and risk factor modification. After initial therapy, a structured maintenance schedule helps monitor pocket stability and healing, and allows for timely retreatment if disease activity recurs. When performed correctly, conservative care often stabilizes disease and preserves natural teeth.

Surgical intervention is considered when non-surgical measures cannot sufficiently reduce pocket depths or when significant bone loss jeopardizes tooth stability. Common surgical procedures include flap surgery to access and thoroughly clean root surfaces, pocket reduction techniques to reshape soft tissue, and osseous surgery to correct bony defects. The goal is to create an anatomic environment that is easier to clean and maintain long term.

Minimally invasive techniques, precise suturing, and the selective use of dental lasers can reduce postoperative discomfort and speed recovery. In many cases, surgery is combined with regenerative procedures to restore lost support where feasible. Treatment recommendations are individualized based on clinical findings, overall health, and the patient's restorative goals.

Regeneration is possible in certain cases but depends on defect size, location, and the patient’s healing capacity. Periodontal regenerative procedures use materials such as bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration membranes, and biologic modifiers to encourage new bone and ligament formation. These techniques aim to re-establish attachment and improve long-term prognosis for affected teeth.

Not all defects are suitable for full regeneration, and outcomes vary by case and patient factors such as smoking or uncontrolled systemic disease. A careful clinical and radiographic evaluation determines candidacy and helps set realistic expectations. When indicated, regenerative therapy is integrated into a comprehensive plan that includes infection control and strict maintenance.

Chronic periodontal inflammation contributes to a systemic inflammatory burden and has been associated with poorer control of diabetes and with cardiovascular health markers. In patients with diabetes, periodontal disease can make glycemic control more difficult, while diabetes itself increases the risk and severity of periodontitis. Addressing gum inflammation is therefore an important component of overall health management for these patients.

Similarly, research links periodontal inflammation to systemic pathways that can influence cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, although these relationships are complex and influenced by multiple factors. Because of these connections, clinicians coordinate care with patients and their medical providers when systemic risk factors are present. Managing periodontal disease helps reduce inflammatory load and supports broader health goals.

Scaling and root planing is typically performed under local anesthesia to ensure patient comfort while removing plaque, calculus, and bacterial toxins from below the gumline. The procedure may be completed quadrant by quadrant or by arch, depending on the extent of disease and patient tolerance. After treatment, patients may experience temporary sensitivity, mild swelling, or gum tenderness that usually improves within a few days.

Healing is monitored with follow-up visits to assess pocket reduction and tissue response, and additional therapy may be scheduled if pockets persist. Enhanced home care and any recommended adjunctive therapies support healing and long-term stability. Your dental team will provide specific aftercare instructions and an individualized maintenance plan.

Periodontal maintenance schedules are individualized, but most patients who have been treated for periodontitis benefit from visits every three months initially. These intervals allow the clinical team to remove new bacterial deposits, reassess pocket depths, and detect recurrence early. More frequent or slightly extended intervals may be recommended based on disease severity, response to therapy, and patient risk factors.

Long-term success relies on a partnership between the patient and clinicians, with consistent at-home hygiene and adherence to maintenance appointments. Periodic periodontal charting and radiographic updates help track stability and inform adjustments to the care plan. Maintaining these appointments is the most reliable way to preserve treatment gains and protect natural teeth.

Peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are inflammatory conditions around dental implants that mirror periodontal disease in many ways and can threaten implant stability if not managed. Preventive maintenance and meticulous plaque control are critical for implant long-term success, and periodontal protocols are adapted to address the unique anatomy of implants. When inflammation is limited to soft tissues, non-surgical care can often resolve the issue, while more advanced peri-implant bone loss may require surgical intervention.

The clinical approach to peri-implant disease emphasizes removing bacterial reservoirs, decontaminating implant surfaces, and re-establishing healthy tissue contours to facilitate cleaning. Implant patients typically require a tailored maintenance schedule and education on specific home-care techniques. If you have concerns about an implant, the practice can evaluate peri-implant tissues and recommend an appropriate, evidence-based plan of care.