Healthy gums form the vital foundation supporting your natural teeth throughout your lifetime. When periodontal disease threatens this foundation, it can lead to tooth loss and impact your overall health in ways many patients never expect.
At Charlotte Dental Arts, we provide comprehensive gum disease treatment using modern techniques and gentle approaches to restore gum health. Our periodontal services address everything from preventive care to advanced treatments, helping you maintain the strong foundation your smile needs.
The Progression of Periodontal Disease
Understanding how periodontal disease develops helps you recognize warning signs and seek treatment before the disease causes serious damage.
Early Stage Gingivitis
The earliest stage, gingivitis, causes gum inflammation, bleeding, and tenderness but remains completely reversible with proper treatment. Warning signs include red, swollen gums and bleeding during brushing or flossing. At this stage, the damage affects only the gums and hasn’t reached the supporting structures.
Advanced Periodontitis
Without intervention, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, where bacteria begin destroying the supporting bone and tissues around your teeth. This creates deeper pockets between your teeth and gums, allowing more bacteria to accumulate. Advanced periodontitis leads to severe bone loss, tooth mobility, and eventual tooth loss if left untreated.
Contributing Risk Factors
Multiple factors contribute to periodontal disease development beyond poor oral hygiene. Smoking significantly increases disease risk and impairs your body’s ability to heal. Genetic factors affect approximately 30% of the population, making some individuals more susceptible to dental issues, regardless of their oral hygiene habits. Systemic conditions like diabetes and hormonal changes during pregnancy or menopause can also trigger gum problems.
Comprehensive Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease
We use digital X-rays to visualize bone levels and identify areas of bone loss invisible during visual examination. Periodontal probing measures pocket depths around each tooth, helping us identify areas where bacteria accumulate and plan your treatment accordingly.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Most periodontal diseases respond well to non-surgical intervention when detected early enough. Our gentle approach focuses on thoroughly cleaning infected areas while preserving healthy tissue. The cornerstone treatment involves scaling and root planing, which removes bacterial deposits from tooth surfaces and roots below the gum line.
We may enhance treatment with the following supportive therapies:
- Targeted antibiotics or antimicrobial rinses for aggressive infections
- Locally delivered antibiotics placed directly in periodontal pockets
- Advanced laser technology for precise, comfortable tissue treatment
These treatments work together to eliminate the infection, while smooth and clean root surfaces allow the gums to reattach and heal naturally.
Advanced Surgical Procedures
When deep pockets persist despite non-surgical treatment, surgical intervention may be necessary to save your teeth. We carefully access infected areas to remove bacterial deposits and smooth damaged bone, then reposition gums to reduce pocket depth and facilitate better home care.
Modern regenerative techniques can actually help rebuild lost bone and tissue in certain cases. Bone grafting procedures replace lost bone, providing support for teeth and creating stable foundations. Guided tissue regeneration uses special membranes to direct new bone and tissue growth where it’s needed most.
Comprehensive Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease
We use digital X-rays to visualize bone levels and identify areas of bone loss invisible during visual examination. Periodontal probing measures pocket depths around each tooth, helping us identify areas where bacteria accumulate and plan your treatment accordingly.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Most periodontal diseases respond well to non-surgical intervention when detected early enough. Our gentle approach focuses on thoroughly cleaning infected areas while preserving healthy tissue. The cornerstone treatment involves scaling and root planing, which removes bacterial deposits from tooth surfaces and roots below the gum line.
We may enhance treatment with the following supportive therapies:
- Targeted antibiotics or antimicrobial rinses for aggressive infections
- Locally delivered antibiotics placed directly in periodontal pockets
- Advanced laser technology for precise, comfortable tissue treatment
These treatments work together to eliminate the infection, while smooth and clean root surfaces allow the gums to reattach and heal naturally.
Advanced Surgical Procedures
When deep pockets persist despite non-surgical treatment, surgical intervention may be necessary to save your teeth. We carefully access infected areas to remove bacterial deposits and smooth damaged bone, then reposition gums to reduce pocket depth and facilitate better home care.
Modern regenerative techniques can actually help rebuild lost bone and tissue in certain cases. Bone grafting procedures replace lost bone, providing support for teeth and creating stable foundations. Guided tissue regeneration uses special membranes to direct new bone and tissue growth where it’s needed most.
Periodontal Maintenance and Prevention
Successful periodontal treatment requires ongoing maintenance to prevent disease recurrence. The key to long-term success lies in consistent professional care combined with excellent home hygiene.
Professional Maintenance Care
Following active treatment, we recommend maintenance cleanings every three to four months to prevent bacterial recolonization. These specialized appointments differ from routine cleanings and include thorough cleaning of treated areas, pocket measurement, and early intervention for any recurring problems. Regular monitoring allows us to catch potential issues before they become serious.
Home Care Optimization
We provide personalized instruction in effective plaque removal techniques tailored to your specific needs. Special tools, such as interdental brushes or water flossers, may improve cleaning in problem areas where traditional brushing and flossing prove challenging. Our family dentistry approach ensures every family member receives appropriate preventive care education.
The Systemic Health Connection
The connection between oral health and overall health continues to strengthen through research. Periodontal disease links to increased heart disease and stroke risk, as oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and contribute to arterial inflammation. For patients with diabetes, periodontal disease makes blood sugar control more difficult, while diabetes increases periodontal disease severity. During pregnancy, hormonal changes increase gum disease susceptibility, and research associates periodontal disease with preterm birth and low birth weight.
Advanced Technology and Techniques
We incorporate modern technology to enhance diagnosis accuracy and treatment effectiveness while improving patient comfort. Digital treatment planning allows precise procedures with predictable outcomes, while 3D imaging reveals anatomy invisible on traditional X-rays.
Microsurgical instruments and magnification enable precise, conservative treatment approaches. Smaller incisions result in less discomfort, faster healing, and improved aesthetic outcomes for our patients. When anxiety about treatment is a concern, our sedation dentistry options help ensure your comfort throughout the process.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Edwin Porter combines over 20 years of experience with advanced training from the Pankey Institute and Dawson Academy in comprehensive periodontal care. Our hygiene team specializes in periodontal therapy, providing gentle yet thorough treatment. Together, we’re committed to preserving your natural teeth through excellent periodontal care.
Get High-Quality Periodontal Care at Charlotte Dental Arts
Healthy gums provide the essential foundation for keeping your natural teeth throughout your lifetime. When periodontal disease threatens this foundation, prompt professional treatment becomes crucial to prevent tooth loss and protect your overall health. From early gingivitis to advanced periodontitis, our comprehensive periodontal services address every stage of gum disease using modern techniques designed to restore your oral health effectively.
As a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and a Diplomate in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, Dr. Porter possesses the credentials and experience to deliver exceptional periodontal care. We work with out-of-network patients and offer flexible financing through CareCredit and Cherry Financing to ensure treatment accessibility. Contact Charlotte Dental Arts today to restore your gum health and protect your smile for years to come.
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