Gum disease is the leading reason adults lose teeth, and many people are surprised to learn how common it is. Research indicates roughly half of adults over 30 show some form of periodontal disease. The encouraging news is that most cases can be prevented or managed when detected early and treated appropriately. At Bayside Dental Group, our team provides thorough periodontal care designed to protect your gums, preserve supporting bone, and keep your smile healthy and functional.
Periodontal health depends on more than just the visible crowns of your teeth. The periodontium includes the gums, the periodontal ligament, the cementum that covers the tooth root, and the alveolar bone that supports each tooth. These structures work together to hold teeth in place and absorb the forces of chewing.
When bacteria from plaque and tartar collect along and beneath the gumline, the body mounts an inflammatory response. Left unchecked, that inflammation damages connective tissue and bone. Because early stages of disease may be painless, regular exams and cleanings are essential to spot problems before they progress.
Recognizing how the supporting tissues function helps explain why treatment often focuses on both removing bacterial deposits and creating conditions that allow healing and long-term maintenance.
Healthy gums are a key part of overall health. A growing body of scientific evidence links periodontal inflammation with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness. While gum disease does not cause these conditions directly, controlling oral inflammation reduces a source of chronic irritation and bacterial exposure.
For people managing chronic illnesses, periodontal care can play a supportive role in broader health strategies. It’s also important to tell your dental team about medications and medical history, since systemic factors influence treatment choices and outcomes.
Prevention is the most effective strategy: routine professional care combined with an effective home routine helps reduce inflammation, keeps bacterial levels low, and supports long-term oral and systemic health.
Signs you should not ignore
Gums that are red, swollen, or that bleed during brushing or flossing
Noticeable gum recession or exposed root surfaces
Persistent bad breath or a change in the taste of your mouth
Loose teeth, new gaps appearing, or changes in how partial dentures fit
Tooth sensitivity or pain when biting down
Pus or discharge around the gums
Gingivitis is the initial, reversible stage of gum disease. It is characterized by inflammation confined to the gum tissue without loss of the underlying bone. You may notice redness, tenderness, or bleeding with brushing — signs that the gums are responding to plaque buildup.
Because gingivitis rarely causes severe pain, it is often overlooked. The good news is that with improved oral hygiene and professional cleanings, the inflammatory changes can resolve and the gums can return to a healthy state.
Early intervention is the most predictable path to recovery. A personalized home care plan plus periodic professional removal of plaque and calculus are usually sufficient to control gingivitis and prevent progression.
If gingivitis is not controlled, inflammation can extend deeper and evolve into periodontitis. In this stage, the structures that anchor the tooth — connective tissue fibers and bone — are affected. Pocketing develops between the tooth and gum, which creates space for more bacteria and accelerates tissue loss.
Progressive periodontitis can lead to gum recession, loose teeth, and changes in tooth alignment or bite. Because the condition affects bone, treatment goals shift from simply reducing inflammation to halting destructive processes and rebuilding function where possible.
Early detection of progressive disease improves the likelihood of preserving natural teeth and makes conservative therapies more effective. That is why periodontal screening and regular maintenance are central to good dental care.
Modern periodontal therapy blends proven, conservative techniques with advanced options when needed. Initial care typically focuses on removing the bacterial challenge and creating an environment that supports healing. Treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s diagnosis, medical history, and personal needs.
In many cases, non-surgical care can arrest disease and allow tissues to recover. When structural damage has occurred, regenerative procedures and grafting can help rebuild lost bone and soft tissue to improve stability and appearance.
Our clinicians coordinate periodontal care with other dental specialties when treating complex cases, such as when tooth replacement or orthodontic considerations are involved, so you receive a comprehensive plan focused on preserving long-term oral health.
Choosing the right periodontal treatment begins with a thorough assessment that includes charting pocket depths, examining gum recession and mobility, and reviewing x-rays to evaluate bone levels. Based on that information, your provider will outline a clear plan with conservative and, when necessary, surgical options.
Non-surgical therapy often starts with scaling and root planing to remove plaque and hardened deposits from root surfaces, followed by re-evaluation and ongoing maintenance. Adjunctive antimicrobial measures may be used to reduce bacterial load and support healing.
When pockets are too deep for conservative instruments or when there is significant bone loss, surgical procedures are considered to allow direct access for cleaning, reduce pocket depth, and restore healthier contours. Advances such as laser-assisted techniques and regenerative materials expand the tools available to improve outcomes.
When periodontal infection is detected early, conservative methods are the first line of treatment. Scaling and root planing remove plaque and calculus below the gumline and smooth root surfaces to discourage further bacterial accumulation.
These procedures are supported by improved oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits. In some cases, localized antimicrobial therapy is applied beneath the gum to reduce bacteria and promote healing.
Non-surgical care is intended to control inflammation, reduce pocket depth, and help the gums reattach to the tooth where possible.
When periodontal pockets are deep and tissue loss is significant, surgery may be recommended to thoroughly clean the roots and reshape supporting structures. Pocket reduction procedures and flap surgery allow direct access to affected areas.
These interventions aim to reduce pocket depths, remove diseased tissue, and, when appropriate, reconstruct lost bone and gingival tissue using grafts or regenerative techniques.
Contemporary treatment may also incorporate laser-assisted approaches in selected cases to manage infected tissues and improve post-operative comfort, always with the objective of stabilizing the dentition and improving the ease of home care.
Your periodontal health is an investment in comfort, function, and overall wellbeing. If you have questions about gum disease, possible treatments, or preventive strategies, please contact us to learn more about how we can help preserve and restore your oral health.
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 Bayside Dental Group, 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.
