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 Rise & Shine Dental Group, 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.

Gum disease begins when bacterial biofilm, commonly called plaque, accumulates along the gumline and is not removed by regular oral hygiene. Over time plaque hardens into tartar and creates an environment where bacteria flourish, provoking the body's immune response and persistent inflammation. Contributing factors include smoking, certain medications, uncontrolled diabetes, genetic susceptibility, and dry mouth, all of which can accelerate tissue breakdown.

Because early stages are often painless, many people are unaware they have gum disease until it progresses. Regular dental examinations and periodontal assessments allow clinicians to detect early signs and intervene before irreversible damage occurs. Addressing modifiable risk factors and restoring a clean root surface are central to stopping disease progression.

Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive clinical exam that includes periodontal probing to measure pocket depths, assessment of bleeding on probing, evaluation of gum recession, and testing tooth mobility. The clinician reviews the patient's medical and dental history to identify systemic conditions or medications that influence periodontal health. Routine digital radiographs and, when indicated, three-dimensional imaging provide information about bone levels and help determine the extent of attachment loss.

Accurate diagnosis also considers oral hygiene effectiveness and other contributors such as tobacco use or xerostomia. Together these data allow the care team to stage disease severity and risk, which guides treatment sequencing and frequency of maintenance visits. Periodic re-evaluation after initial therapy confirms stability or signals the need for further intervention.

Treatment is individualized and typically begins with conservative non-surgical care such as professional scaling and root planing to remove plaque and calculus from root surfaces. Adjunctive measures may include localized antimicrobial agents, short courses of systemic medication when indicated, and personalized oral hygiene instruction. For many patients, these steps reduce pocket depths, control infection, and restore periodontal stability when combined with an appropriate maintenance schedule.

When disease is advanced or does not respond adequately to non-surgical therapy, surgical options are considered to access root surfaces, reduce pocket depth, and, when possible, regenerate lost tissues. Surgical techniques can include flap access, guided tissue regeneration, and bone grafting, and some cases may benefit from laser-assisted procedures. The treatment plan balances effectiveness with the least invasive approach necessary to achieve long-term periodontal health.

Scaling and root planing is a deep-cleaning procedure that removes plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from above and below the gumline while smoothing root surfaces to promote reattachment of the gum tissue. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia when needed and may be completed quadrant by quadrant depending on the clinical situation. By eliminating the bacterial reservoirs that drive inflammation, scaling and root planing reduces pocket depths and bleeding and often improves overall gum health.

Outcomes are enhanced when scaling and root planing is paired with improved daily oral hygiene and, in selected cases, adjunctive antimicrobial therapy. Follow-up appointments assess healing and determine whether additional therapy is necessary. Long-term success relies on a structured maintenance program to prevent reaccumulation of plaque and recurrence of disease.

Surgery is recommended when pockets are too deep for effective non-surgical cleaning, when there is substantial bone loss, or when anatomy prevents adequate access to diseased root surfaces. The primary goals of surgery are to remove infected tissue, reduce pocket depth, and, where possible, restore lost attachment and bone to improve function and stability. The decision to proceed with surgery follows careful assessment of risks, expected benefits, and the patient's overall health and preferences.

Common surgical procedures include flap surgery to gain access for thorough debridement, guided tissue regeneration to encourage new attachment, and bone grafting to rebuild support for teeth. Some practices also integrate laser-assisted periodontal therapy to manage pocket lining with less invasive tissue handling. Postoperative care, including short-term wound care and a focused maintenance plan, is critical to protect surgical results and support long-term periodontal stability.

When inflammation is limited to the gum tissue without loss of supporting bone or connective fibers, the condition is called gingivitis and is generally reversible with consistent home care and professional cleanings. Removing plaque and tartar and restoring effective oral hygiene typically allow gum tissue to heal and return to a healthy state within a few weeks. Regular monitoring helps ensure that improvements are sustained and that early signs of recurrence are addressed promptly.

Once periodontitis has caused destruction of bone and connective tissue, the lost anatomy cannot always be fully restored, but progression can usually be halted and managed. Periodontal therapy aims to eliminate infection, reduce pocket depths, and stabilize the dentition; regenerative procedures may recover some lost support in select cases. Long-term control depends on ongoing professional maintenance and disciplined daily oral care to prevent relapse.

Chronic periodontal inflammation contributes to a persistent inflammatory burden and has been associated with systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, impaired glycemic control in diabetes, and certain respiratory complications. While research continues to clarify the mechanisms behind these associations, reducing oral inflammation and bacterial load is broadly recognized as an important component of preventive healthcare. For medically complex patients, coordinated care between dental and medical providers can help optimize outcomes.

The team at Rise & Shine Dental Group emphasizes an evidence-based approach that considers oral-systemic links when planning periodontal care. Managing periodontal disease not only preserves function and comfort in the mouth but also supports overall health by lowering localized infection and inflammatory markers. Patients with chronic health conditions are encouraged to share their medical history so periodontal treatment can be tailored to complement broader health goals.

Initial periodontal appointments typically involve a thorough cleaning, periodontal charting, and any necessary imaging, followed by a discussion of the treatment plan. Many non-surgical procedures are performed with local anesthesia to minimize discomfort, and patients may experience mild soreness or sensitivity for a few days afterward. Clinicians provide specific aftercare instructions that commonly include gentle oral hygiene techniques, short-term use of analgesics if needed, and temporary dietary recommendations.

For surgical therapies, patients should expect a brief recovery period during which swelling and minor bleeding may occur but are managed with prescribed or recommended care routines. Follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor healing, remove sutures when present, and reinforce home-care practices. Clear communication about expectations and recovery milestones helps patients return to normal function while protecting treatment results.

Maintaining periodontal health requires a combination of effective daily oral hygiene and regular professional maintenance. Daily care should include thorough brushing with a technique recommended by your clinician, interdental cleaning with floss or brushes, and management of contributing factors such as tobacco use and dry mouth. Using adjunctive antimicrobials or specialized tools may be advised for patients with specific needs.

Professional periodontal maintenance appointments are scheduled based on individual risk and commonly occur every three months for patients with a history of periodontitis. These visits allow the care team to remove new deposits, monitor pocket depths and tissue health, and identify early signs of recurrence. Consistent follow-up and communication with your clinician are the best defenses against disease progression and tooth loss.

You should schedule an evaluation if you notice persistent signs such as gum bleeding with brushing or flossing, swelling, redness, receding gums, loose or shifting teeth, chronic bad breath, or changes in denture fit. Early assessment allows clinicians to stage the condition, identify underlying contributors, and recommend timely interventions that are often less invasive and more effective. Patients with diabetes, a history of cardiovascular disease, or immunocompromising conditions should be particularly vigilant about periodontal evaluations.

If you have concerns about your gum health or notice any of these symptoms, contact Rise & Shine Dental Group to arrange a comprehensive periodontal assessment. Our team can explain diagnostic findings, outline evidence-based treatment options, and support you with a personalized maintenance plan to protect your oral and overall health.