Preventive & Family Care
Early detection and non-surgical treatment of gum disease, the leading cause of adult tooth loss, with honest referral when advanced care is needed.
Gum (periodontal) disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and in its early stages it is often painless and easy to miss. At our Walnut Creek office we screen for it at every comprehensive exam by measuring the health of the tissue and bone around your teeth.
Caught early, gingivitis and early periodontitis usually respond well to non-surgical care. We provide scaling and root planing, sometimes called a deep cleaning, to remove bacteria and tartar from below the gumline and help the tissue heal. We then set you up on a periodontal maintenance schedule to keep it under control.
Managing gum disease is also about partnership. We will coach you on the home habits that make the biggest difference and explain how conditions like diabetes, smoking, and certain medications affect your gums.
When disease is advanced and would be better served by surgical periodontal therapy, we tell you plainly and coordinate a referral to a trusted periodontist, then stay involved in your ongoing care.
After measuring your gums, we explain what we found and why. Non-surgical treatment is typically done in one or two comfortable visits with numbing, followed by a tailored maintenance schedule.
Periodontal measurements to stage the health of your gums and bone
Scaling and root planing to remove bacteria below the gumline
Home-care coaching tailored to your risk factors
A maintenance schedule, or a specialist referral if advanced
Patients with bleeding, tender, or receding gums, persistent bad breath, or a family history of gum disease. If it has been a while since your last cleaning, a periodontal evaluation is a smart starting point.
We treat gum health as seriously as we treat teeth, because losing bone support is what ultimately costs people their teeth. We catch problems early and are candid about when a periodontist should be involved.
Many plans cover periodontal therapy. Coverage and frequency vary, so we verify your benefits and review any out-of-pocket cost with you before starting.
Warning signs include gums that bleed when you brush, persistent bad breath, gum recession, or loose teeth. Many people have no symptoms early on, which is why screening at your exam matters.
No. A regular cleaning maintains healthy gums above the gumline. Scaling and root planing treats active disease by cleaning below the gumline, often with numbing for comfort.
The earliest stage, gingivitis, can often be reversed. More advanced periodontitis can be controlled but not fully reversed, which is why early treatment is so valuable.
New patients are always welcome. Request an appointment online or call our Walnut Creek office and our friendly team will take care of the rest.
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