Periodontal Therapy in Mercer Island, WA
Prevent tooth loss with treatment for gum disease at Islander Dental Arts.
Have you noticed signs of gum disease, neglected regular dental cleanings and exams, or have your brushing and flossing been subpar through the years? Progressive gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Gum disease affects millions of people, and the earlier it’s diagnosed, the less invasive and costly the treatment.
Our periodontal therapy in Mercer Island, WA can safely remove bacteria that cause gum disease and treat periodontitis. If left untreated, gum disease can cause serious problems like increased risk of harmful bacteria in the bloodstream, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
Gum disease puts you at risk of:
Please don’t wait until it’s too late to treat gum disease.
Our dedicated team at Islander Dental Arts in Mercer Island, WA knows the signs and dangers of progressive periodontitis, but can help you fight back with periodontal therapy.
- Step 1
Come in for an assessment, and we’ll create your treatment plan. Each gum disease case is unique, but we typically begin with the least invasive procedure. We’ll discuss controllable factors (lifestyle) and uncontrollable (family history of disease) affecting your gum health.
- Step 2
Scaling and root planing help fight mild to moderate cases of periodontal disease. We clean the tooth’s root surface, remove plaque and bacteria below the gumline, and smooth the area so it’s harder for bacteria to hold.
We also use gentle laser therapy to reduce harmful bacteria below the gums and support healing. Another non-invasive periodontal therapy includes targeted medication or antibiotics to fight the infection directly. We monitor progress and move on to the next steps if needed.
- Step 3
If advanced treatment is needed, we provide an evaluation for surgical care with a trusted periodontal (gum) specialist. Surgical options performed by a specialist may include gum grafts, bone grafts, gum flap surgery, pocket reduction surgery, and dental crown lengthening. We coordinate your care and continue to monitor your gum health after treatment.
Each case is unique, and we start with the least invasive periodontal therapy, monitor treatment, and move on to the next phase if there’s advanced periodontal disease. The worst cases of periodontal disease cause irreversible damage to the gums, roots, and teeth. In these cases, once the gum heals, a dental implant can replace the lost tooth.
- What does periodontal treatment involve?
Periodontal treatment restores gum and tooth health. Early detection and well-planned therapy prevent tooth loss. Schedule a consultation with our Mercer Island dentist for an examination.
Step one is to schedule a consultation with our dentist in Mercer Island, WA who can properly examine your gum health.
Bacteria on teeth cause gum disease. We control the infection and offer restorative or cosmetic dentistry if needed.
Treatment varies, but starts with the least invasive procedures, including scaling and root planing, and laser therapy, which reduces bacteria and supports gum healing.
Our dental team at Islander Dental Arts monitors your progress and, if needed, provides evaluation and referral to a periodontal specialist for surgical treatment. Surgical procedures are performed by the specialist, and we continue coordinating your care. These treatments are more invasive, but it’s important to note that all periodontal therapy is safe and pain-free with anesthesia.
After periodontal therapy, preventative care is essential to maintain healthy gums. This includes brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing, maintaining regular dental cleaning and exam as recommended by your dental professional, limiting sugar intake, and avoiding “fizzy” beverages.
- What are three nonsurgical periodontal treatments?
The three nonsurgical periodontal treatment options include scaling and root planing to remove tartar and bacteria below the gumline, placement of medication below the gumline, and laser therapy.
Step one of periodontal treatment would be to complete scaling and root planing. After a follow-up, the dentist can determine the next step, such as a targeted medicine application.
Our goal is to use the least invasive and cost-effective treatment for your periodontal treatment. If you’re wondering which treatment is best for you, please schedule a consultation with our Mercer Island, WA dentist.
- Is periodontal therapy necessary?
Periodontal therapy is necessary to restore your oral health and prevent tooth loss when periodontal disease is present and affects your gums and bone.
Signs of periodontal disease include swollen or red gums, bleeding gums, visible pockets between gums and teeth, receding gums, bad breath, and loose teeth. Unfortunately, some signs aren’t obvious to patients, which is why it’s so important to visit your dentist regularly, who can properly diagnose and monitor the health of your gums and teeth.
Untreated gum disease puts you at risk of severe health problems and disease and irreversible tooth loss. Don’t let a preventable dental condition lead to severe complications that require extra time, money, and stress.
Step one is a diagnosis for any stage of gum disease and then a treatment plan with periodontal therapy. Patients must then maintain a healthy lifestyle and dental hygiene to keep their gums healthy. All periodontal therapies are safe and effective in helping patients get back on track to healthy gums and teeth and, in turn, their overall health.
- Does periodontal treatment work?
Yes, periodontal treatment works and takes less time and money when periodontitis is caught early. Our dentist creates a custom treatment plan and monitors progress to help your gums and teeth heal from gum disease. After that, maintenance is important to prevent gum disease from coming back.
Periodontal treatment and therapy are most effective if patients follow instructions and maintenance post-treatment. By adequately following your dentist’s instructions, you can prevent gum disease recurrence and enjoy a happy and healthy mouth.
- Can teeth be saved with periodontal disease?
When periodontal disease is diagnosed and treated early, nonsurgical treatments can fix the issue and prevent tooth loss.
For more serious periodontal disease, which causes bone loss and loose teeth, a specialist may have to perform surgery. If a tooth isn’t saveable, dental implant options are available, and they look and feel just like natural teeth! Early stages of periodontal disease can most likely be treated with periodontal therapy to remove plaque and tartar at the gumline and below it to treat gum disease effectively. When bacteria get trapped below the gumline, they can wreak havoc by destroying the gum and bone tissue, in turn leading to damaged and loosened gums that lead to tooth loss.
Regular dentist visits are crucial to your health because dentists can find issues that you may not realize exist, such as gum disease. Gum disease can even be present without pain for years, but some visible signs include swollen gums, red gums, bleeding gums during brushing or flossing, loose teeth, and bad breath.
Schedule a periodontal therapy appointment in Mercer Island, WA today.
Meet your Mercer Island dentist who cares for the whole you, with compassion and transparency.
