13020 W. Rancho Santa Fe Blvd., Suite 102 Avondale, AZ 85392
Serving Avondale and the West Valley
Serving Avondale and the West Valley
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and it often develops quietly over many years. Roughly half of adults over 30 show signs of periodontal disease, according to public health data. The condition begins at the gum line and, if left unchecked, can undermine the structures that hold teeth in place. At the office of Summit Family Dentistry, we focus on clear explanations and practical care so patients understand how to protect the long-term health of their smiles.
Periodontal disease is an umbrella term for inflammatory conditions that attack the periodontium — the gums, ligament fibers, and supporting bone around each tooth. The process starts when bacterial plaque accumulates along the gum line and hardens into calculus (tartar). Bacteria and their byproducts irritate the soft tissues and can trigger an inflammatory response that, over time, damages the tissues meant to keep teeth secure.
Most people are familiar with cavities, but gum disease behaves differently: it targets connective tissue and bone rather than just enamel. As inflammation persists, pockets form between the tooth and gum where bacteria gather and multiply. These pockets make daily cleaning more difficult and create an environment that accelerates tissue breakdown.
Because early periodontal change can cause little or no pain, routine dental examinations and periodontal assessments are essential. Detecting changes in pocket depth, gum attachment, and bone levels early gives you the best chance to preserve your natural teeth with conservative, evidence-based treatments.
Paying attention to subtle changes in your mouth can identify gum disease before serious damage occurs. Common early signs include red or swollen gums, bleeding during brushing or flossing, persistent bad breath, and gums that feel tender to the touch. You may also notice increased tooth sensitivity or the appearance of longer-looking teeth as gums recede.
Other indicators that warrant a prompt evaluation include teeth that feel loose, new gaps forming between teeth, a change in your bite, or fluid discharge near the gum line. While any single symptom can have multiple causes, the presence of several signs together increases the likelihood of active periodontal disease and should prompt a professional assessment.
Regular dental visits let clinicians monitor changes over time and compare measurements from one appointment to the next. This ongoing surveillance is the key to catching emerging problems early and tailoring a care plan that addresses both the symptoms you notice and the silent tissue changes you don’t.
Gingivitis represents the earliest, most treatable stage of gum disease. At this point the damage is confined to soft tissue inflammation: gums may redden, swell, or bleed, but the connective fibers and bone supporting the teeth remain intact. Because gingivitis is reversible with proper care, identifying it early is an important opportunity to restore health without more invasive procedures.
Treatment typically begins with a thorough professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line, combined with detailed instruction on improving home care. Small changes in brushing technique, the addition of floss or interdental brushes, and more consistent routine hygiene often resolve inflammation within weeks when paired with professional follow-up.
Successful treatment of gingivitis relies on patient-provider collaboration: clinicians remove the harmful deposits and show correct techniques, while patients maintain them daily. When both sides commit to the plan, gingival tissues can return to a healthy, non-bleeding state and progression to more destructive stages can be averted.
If inflammation continues unchecked, gingivitis can advance to periodontitis, a stage where the supporting connective tissues and underlying bone are affected. As destructive processes deepen, pockets deepen around teeth, gum recession becomes more pronounced, and the jawbone that anchors teeth can be lost. These structural changes are irreversible without surgical or regenerative intervention.
Periodontitis does not only threaten individual teeth; it can influence overall oral function and comfort. Patients may experience difficulty chewing, shifting teeth, or chronic discomfort. Clinically, providers look for increased pocket depths, attachment loss, and radiographic evidence of bone loss to stage the condition and plan appropriate therapy.
The primary goals when treating periodontitis are to control infection, stop further tissue destruction, and restore a clean, maintainable environment around the teeth. Modern periodontal care combines mechanical cleaning methods, targeted use of antimicrobials, and, when needed, surgical or regenerative procedures to rebuild lost support and improve long-term prognosis.
Today’s periodontal treatment spectrum ranges from conservative, non-surgical approaches to advanced surgical interventions based on disease severity and patient needs. Non-surgical therapies aim to remove the bacterial deposits that drive inflammation and to provide patients with the tools and habits needed to maintain health. When pockets are shallow or evidence of bone loss is minimal, these measures often achieve stable results.
When disease has reached deeper levels, surgical procedures may be necessary to access and thoroughly clean root surfaces, reduce pocket depths, or reconstruct lost tissues. Techniques include flap surgery to expose and debride the roots, regenerative procedures that encourage bone and ligament repair, and grafting when structural support must be restored for long-term function.
Adjunctive treatments such as locally delivered antimicrobials, systemic antibiotics in select cases, and laser-assisted therapy can play a role in specific situations. Your dental team will recommend a tailored plan that balances effectiveness, conservation of natural tissues, and ease of maintenance so you can achieve the best possible outcome.
Preventing recurrence is as important as treating active disease. Once periodontal health is restored, a customized maintenance schedule — typically with more frequent professional cleanings and targeted periodontal checks — helps sustain gains and detect any new changes early. Maintenance visits focus on removing hard-to-reach deposits, monitoring pocket depths, and reinforcing home care techniques.
Effective long-term management also addresses contributing factors beyond plaque, such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and certain medications. Your provider will review health history and lifestyle elements that affect healing and durability of treatment outcomes, and will work with you to minimize risks and support oral-systemic well-being.
At the office of Summit Family Dentistry, we take a collaborative approach: clear diagnostics, evidence-based therapy, and individualized maintenance plans designed to protect natural teeth and preserve function. Our goal is to help patients keep their smiles healthy and comfortable for years to come.
When gum disease is detected before extensive tissue breakdown, the first line of care focuses on minimally invasive measures. Scaling and root planing — thorough cleaning of root surfaces under the gums — removes plaque and calculus that fuel inflammation. These procedures reduce pocket depth and improve tissue healing when combined with enhanced home care.
Adjunctive steps may include localized antimicrobial placement beneath the gumline or short courses of systemic medication in select situations to reduce bacterial load. Education and coaching on brushing, interdental cleaning, and habit changes are essential components of non-surgical therapy and often determine long-term success.
Most patients respond well to conservative care when it is started early. Careful monitoring after treatment ensures results are maintained and allows prompt escalation if pockets remain deep or inflammation persists.
When non-surgical methods cannot fully eliminate deep pockets or when structural damage is significant, surgical intervention may be recommended. Flap procedures provide direct access to roots and bone for debridement, pocket reduction, and when appropriate, reshaping of the bone to create a cleaner, more maintainable architecture.
Regenerative techniques — including bone grafts and guided tissue regeneration — aim to restore lost hard and soft tissues and improve long-term tooth support. In certain cases, laser-assisted therapies are used to remove diseased tissue and reduce bacteria with less post-operative discomfort, depending on clinical indications.
Following surgery, a carefully structured healing and maintenance program is critical. With proper follow-up and patient adherence to recommended hygiene practices, surgical therapy can significantly improve prognosis and help preserve natural dentition.
If you have noticed signs of gum disease or want to learn more about protecting your periodontal health, please contact us for more information and to discuss the best care pathway for your needs.
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 Summit Family Dentistry, 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.
Periodontal treatment is a range of dental therapies designed to diagnose, control and reverse the inflammation and infection that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. These therapies address conditions from early gingivitis to advanced periodontitis and focus on eliminating bacterial deposits and resolving tissue inflammation. The overall objective is to preserve natural teeth, restore healthy gum attachment and create an environment that patients can maintain at home.
Care can include preventive education, professional cleaning below the gum line, localized antimicrobials, and when necessary, surgical or regenerative procedures to repair lost support. At Summit Family Dentistry we emphasize clear diagnostics and individualized plans so patients understand the recommended steps and expected outcomes. Your treatment plan will reflect disease severity, general health, and personal goals for long-term oral function.
Gum disease starts when bacterial plaque accumulates along the gum line and hardens into calculus, causing the soft tissues to become inflamed. Persistent inflammation breaks down the connective fibers and bone that support teeth, allowing pockets to form where bacteria can multiply and evade routine cleaning. Over time these changes deepen and may become irreversible without targeted therapy.
The process differs from tooth decay because it targets the periodontium—the gums, ligaments and supporting bone—rather than just tooth enamel. Early stages such as gingivitis are reversible with improved hygiene and professional care, but once attachment and bone are lost the condition requires more advanced management to stabilize and preserve function.
Early periodontal disease can be subtle, so watch for persistent redness, swelling, gums that bleed with brushing or flossing, and chronic bad breath that does not improve with routine hygiene. Other signs that warrant prompt evaluation include gum recession, a sensation of longer or loose teeth, new spacing between teeth, changes in bite, or any discharge near the gum line. The combination of several symptoms increases the likelihood of active disease and should lead to a professional assessment.
Because early stages may cause little pain, regular dental visits are essential to detect tissue changes that patients might not notice. Your clinician will measure pocket depths, check gum attachment and review radiographs when indicated to determine whether treatment is needed and which options are most appropriate.
Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive oral exam that includes measuring periodontal pockets, assessing gum attachment levels, and evaluating gum tissue for inflammation and bleeding on probing. Radiographs or cone-beam images may be used to assess bone levels and detect underlying changes that are not visible clinically. A complete medical and dental history helps identify systemic or lifestyle factors that influence disease risk and healing.
Documentation of pocket depths and attachment levels at successive visits is important for staging and tracking progression, and it guides whether conservative, adjunctive, or surgical therapy is indicated. When necessary, clinicians may recommend further testing or a referral to a periodontist for complex cases or specialized interventions.
Non-surgical therapy is the first line of care for most patients and centers on scaling and root planing to remove plaque and calculus from root surfaces beneath the gum line. This mechanical debridement reduces bacterial load and allows inflamed tissues to begin healing while improving access for daily home care. Education on proper brushing technique, interdental cleaning and habit changes is provided to support long-term success.
Adjunctive measures may include locally delivered antimicrobials placed into periodontal pockets or short courses of systemic antibiotics in select situations to help control infection. Regular reassessment after initial therapy determines whether additional non-surgical steps are sufficient or whether referral for surgical management is needed.
Surgical intervention is considered when deep pockets persist after non-surgical therapy, when there is significant attachment or bone loss, or when access is needed to thoroughly clean root surfaces. Procedures such as flap surgery provide direct visualization for debridement, reduce pocket depths and allow contouring of bone to create a more maintainable environment. Regenerative techniques, including bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration, aim to restore lost hard and soft tissues and improve long-term tooth support.
Decisions about surgery balance the potential benefits, the patient’s overall health and the likelihood of improved function and comfort. A carefully structured healing and maintenance program after surgery is essential to protect the repair and maintain stability over time.
Antimicrobials can be used as adjuncts to mechanical cleaning to reduce bacterial levels in pockets that are difficult to debride completely. Locally delivered agents are placed directly into periodontal defects to provide a high concentration of medication at the site, while systemic antibiotics are reserved for specific clinical indications. These options are chosen selectively based on the microbiology, disease severity and patient factors to avoid unnecessary use.
Laser-assisted therapy may be employed in select situations to help remove diseased tissue and reduce bacteria with potentially less post-operative discomfort, though its effectiveness varies by technique and indication. Your dental team will explain the evidence, benefits and limitations of adjunctive therapies and recommend approaches that complement mechanical treatment and long-term maintenance.
Effective home care is foundational to success: brush twice daily with a soft-bristled brush, clean interdental spaces with floss or interdental brushes, and follow any additional instructions provided by your clinician. Gentle, consistent plaque control reduces inflammation, supports healing after treatment, and helps prevent recurrence of disease. Incorporating habits such as smoking cessation and controlling blood sugar if you have diabetes also improves outcomes.
Your dental team will demonstrate techniques tailored to your mouth and may recommend specific products or adjuncts to help maintain health in areas that are hard to reach. Adherence to the prescribed regimen and communication about any changes in symptoms are critical to preserving gains achieved through professional care.
Once periodontal health is achieved, a personalized maintenance schedule helps preserve results and detect new changes early; intervals commonly range from three to four months for patients with a history of periodontitis. These visits focus on removing deposits that form between regular cleanings, monitoring pocket depths and gum attachment, and reinforcing home care practices. The exact frequency is determined by disease severity, response to treatment and individual risk factors.
Ongoing maintenance visits allow your clinician to compare measurements over time and intervene quickly if disease activity resumes. Consistent attendance at maintenance appointments is one of the most important predictors of long-term tooth retention following periodontal therapy.
Research shows links between periodontal inflammation and systemic health conditions; while periodontal disease does not cause these conditions directly, chronic oral infection can influence systemic inflammation and complicate management of other diseases. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, cardiovascular concerns, or immune disorders may experience altered healing and higher risk of progression, so coordinated care and medical history review are important. Smoking is a major risk factor that impairs blood flow and healing, reduces treatment response and increases the likelihood of recurrence.
Clinicians will review medical history, medications and lifestyle factors when planning periodontal care and provide guidance to reduce risks and support recovery. In some cases close collaboration with a primary care provider or specialist is advised to optimize overall health in tandem with oral therapy, and individualized strategies are used to improve long-term outcomes.
Ready to schedule your next appointment or have questions about our services? Our friendly team is here to help with everything from booking visits to answering questions about your treatment options. We’re committed to making the process simple and stress-free.
Whether you prefer to give us a call or fill out our convenient online contact form, reaching us is quick and easy. Don’t wait to take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile—contact Summit Family Dentistry today!
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