Question 1

Do you treat gum disease?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We screen for gum disease at every exam and treat it in-house: scaling and root planing, laser-assisted periodontal treatment, ongoing maintenance, soft tissue grafting for recession, and functional crown lengthening.

Question 2

What are the signs of gum disease?

Accepted Answer

Bleeding when you brush or floss, gums that are red, puffy, or tender, persistent bad breath, gum recession, and teeth that feel loose or have shifted. Early gum disease is often painless, which is why it is usually found on an exam rather than noticed by the patient.

Question 3

Is gum disease reversible?

Accepted Answer

Gingivitis, the early inflammatory stage, is reversible with treatment and good home care. Once it progresses to periodontitis and bone has been lost, that bone does not come back on its own, but the disease can be controlled and further loss prevented. The earlier it is caught, the more of your support you keep.

Question 4

What is scaling and root planing?

Accepted Answer

A deep cleaning that goes beneath the gumline to remove bacterial deposits and tartar from the root surfaces, then smooths those surfaces so the gum tissue can reattach. It is typically done in sections with the area numbed. This is active treatment for disease, not the same thing as a routine cleaning.

Question 5

What is laser-assisted periodontal treatment?

Accepted Answer

A dental laser is used alongside scaling and root planing to reduce bacteria in the gum pockets and remove diseased tissue. Because the laser seals small blood vessels as it works, there is generally less bleeding and swelling and faster healing than with instruments alone.

Question 6

Why do I need cleanings every three or four months instead of every six?

Accepted Answer

Once you have been treated for periodontitis, the bacteria that caused it repopulate the pockets within a few months. Periodontal maintenance is timed to interrupt that cycle before it does more damage. Stretching the interval back out is the most common reason treated gum disease returns.

Question 7

What is gum grafting, and would I need it?

Accepted Answer

Soft tissue grafting rebuilds gum tissue where recession has exposed the root of a tooth. It is recommended when recession is progressing, causing sensitivity, or leaving a root vulnerable to decay, rather than for appearance alone. Not all recession needs grafting; some is stable and only needs monitoring.

Question 8

Can gum disease affect the rest of my health?

Accepted Answer

Periodontal disease is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the relationship with diabetes runs in both directions: uncontrolled blood sugar worsens gum disease and gum inflammation makes blood sugar harder to control. This is a reason to treat it promptly and to tell us about changes in your medical history.

Question 9

Am I going to lose teeth?

Accepted Answer

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, but a diagnosis is not a verdict. Most patients who are treated and who keep up with maintenance keep their teeth. Dr. Kary will tell you plainly which teeth are stable, which are at risk, and which cannot be saved.

Question 10

Does insurance cover periodontal treatment?

Accepted Answer

Most dental PPO plans cover scaling and root planing, commonly in the 60 to 80% range, and cover periodontal maintenance visits, though sometimes with a limit on how many per year. Grafting is usually treated as a major procedure. We verify your benefits and provide a written estimate before treatment begins.

Periodontal Therapy

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. We screen for it at every exam and treat it in-house when found.

What this includes:

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We screen for gum disease at every exam and treat it in-house: scaling and root planing, laser-assisted periodontal treatment, ongoing maintenance, soft tissue grafting for recession, and functional crown lengthening.

Bleeding when you brush or floss, gums that are red, puffy, or tender, persistent bad breath, gum recession, and teeth that feel loose or have shifted. Early gum disease is often painless, which is why it is usually found on an exam rather than noticed by the patient.

A dental laser is used alongside scaling and root planing to reduce bacteria in the gum pockets and remove diseased tissue. Because the laser seals small blood vessels as it works, there is generally less bleeding and swelling and faster healing than with instruments alone.

Once you have been treated for periodontitis, the bacteria that caused it repopulate the pockets within a few months. Periodontal maintenance is timed to interrupt that cycle before it does more damage. Stretching the interval back out is the most common reason treated gum disease returns.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, but a diagnosis is not a verdict. Most patients who are treated and who keep up with maintenance keep their teeth. Dr. Kary will tell you plainly which teeth are stable, which are at risk, and which cannot be saved.

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Advanced dentistry.
Ethically driven.