About periodontal care
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and supporting bone. It usually starts as gingivitis — bleeding gums when you brush or floss — and progresses silently into periodontitis if untreated. Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
The good news: gum disease is highly treatable, and reversible in its early stages. We use a combination of deep cleanings (called scaling and root planing), targeted antimicrobial therapy, and at-home technique coaching to bring your gums back to health.
Once your gums are stable, we transition you to a maintenance schedule — usually a periodontal cleaning every 3 to 4 months — to keep the disease in remission for the long term.
When you might need this
If any of the following sound familiar, it may be time to schedule a visit. Only a doctor can diagnose your specific situation, but these are common reasons patients come in for periodontal care.
Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
Healthy gums do not bleed. Even mild bleeding is the earliest sign of gingivitis.
Gums that look red, puffy, or swollen
Inflammation along the gumline is a classic sign of bacterial infection.
Persistent bad breath
Bad breath that does not respond to brushing and mouthwash often comes from bacteria below the gumline.
Receding gums or longer-looking teeth
Gum recession can be caused by aggressive brushing or by periodontal disease destroying the supporting tissue.
Loose or shifting teeth
Adult teeth should not move. Looseness is a sign of significant bone loss from advanced periodontitis.
A family history of gum disease
Periodontal disease has a strong genetic component. If a parent lost teeth to gum disease, more frequent monitoring is wise.
Your visit, step by step
- 01
Comprehensive periodontal exam
We measure the depth of the pocket around each tooth, check for bleeding, and review your x-rays for any bone loss.
- 02
Diagnosis and staging
Based on the findings we classify your gum health and explain what stage of disease, if any, we are seeing.
- 03
Scaling and root planing
Under local anesthetic, your hygienist gently removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, then smooths the root surfaces so gums can re-attach. Usually done in two visits, treating one half of the mouth at a time.
- 04
Targeted antimicrobials
For deeper pockets, a localized antibiotic gel may be placed directly into the pocket to help eliminate stubborn bacteria.
- 05
Re-evaluation
Six to eight weeks later we re-measure your pocket depths to confirm healing. Most patients see dramatic improvement.
- 06
Maintenance schedule
You transition to a periodontal maintenance cleaning every 3 to 4 months. This schedule keeps the disease in remission long-term.
Why patients choose us for this
Thorough periodontal screening
Every patient gets a complete pocket-depth exam at every recall visit. Gum disease never sneaks up on us.
Gentle deep cleaning
We numb the area completely and use ultrasonic instruments that are far more comfortable than the hand instruments of years past.
Education that sticks
Your hygienist teaches you the brushing and flossing technique that actually works for your mouth, with hands-on coaching at the chair.
Long-term maintenance plan
We transition you to a recall schedule that keeps your gums stable for life — not just until your next cleaning.