If you’ve noticed swollen or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or have been told you have periodontal disease, you’re not alone.
Nearly half of all adults over 30 have some form of gum disease. By age 65, the figure increases to over 70%. Many are unaware that they have gum disease and don’t know the risks it poses to the health of the whole body. Thankfully, advances in dental technology make gum disease easier to diagnose and treat than ever before.
At StoneRidge Dental Care, we provide these modern periodontal treatments for every stage of gum disease. We have helped countless patients from Gahanna, OH, Blacklick, and New Albany restore the health of their gums and protect their overall health. With a combined 85+ years of experience, our dentists bring the skills necessary to pinpoint and treat gum disease at every stage. Whether you are unsure if you have gum disease or have been previously diagnosed, you can trust that our team will provide best-in-class care tailored to your unique needs.
Your Partners In Gum Health: The StoneRidge Difference
We know that dealing with gum disease at any stage can be stressful. Here’s how our approach is different:
- Advanced technology: We use state-of-the-art tools to help us provide a precise diagnosis. With the help of digital photos, 3D scans, and even bacterial cultures, we can identify the exact type of bacteria causing your infection and get a complete picture of your gum health. This allows us to design a precise and predictable treatment plan, which may include minimally invasive options like LANAP Laser Therapy.
- Combined 85+ years of experience: Our dentists, Dr. Conkey, Dr. Patel, and Dr. Moberger, bring advanced training, collaboration, and a long track record of successfully managing complex periodontal cases. We combine our clinical skills with an eye for aesthetics to get your gums healthy and your smile looking its best.
- Judgment-free and dedicated to your goals: We listen first. Our team understands that gum disease is a common medical condition, not a personal failing. We treat with compassion and plan around your priorities, timeline, and budget with honest guidance and no pressure.
- All your dental needs under one roof: We are a one-stop-shop practice. From routine exams and cleanings to restorative treatments and a full range of cosmetic dental services, you can come to us for all your dental needs and leave with a healthy and confident smile.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth. It develops when sticky plaque hardens into tartar (calculus) along the gum line, creating “pockets” where harmful bacteria thrive. There are two main stages:
- Gingivitis: This is the earliest, mildest stage. Gums become red, swollen, and may bleed easily. The good news is that gingivitis is completely reversible with professional treatment and good home care.
- Periodontitis: If gingivitis is left untreated, it progresses to periodontitis. At this stage, the infection has started to destroy the underlying bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place. This can lead to receding gums, loose teeth, and eventual tooth loss.
Do I Have Gum Disease?
Without an examination from an expert, gum disease can be hard to spot in its early stages. However, if you notice any of the following signs and symptoms, it’s crucial to schedule an evaluation as soon as you can:
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing.
- Red, swollen, or tender gums.
- Receding gums where your teeth look longer.
- Persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis.
- Pus between your teeth and gums.
- Sensitive or loose teeth.
- A change in your bite or how your teeth fit together.
The Mouth-Body Connection: Why Treatment Is Critical
Gum disease doesn’t just affect your mouth. In fact, it can cause serious health issues throughout the entire body. The bacteria from a periodontal infection can enter your bloodstream and travel throughout the body, causing a system-wide inflammatory response. This inflammation is scientifically linked to a host of serious health problems, including heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, safeguarding your gum health is a vital part of preventing health complications in the long term.
Our Gum Disease Treatments In Gahanna, OH
Everyone’s oral health situation is different and may require different treatments depending on the level of infection. Your options may include:
- Scaling and root planing: This deep cleaning procedure is the gold standard for treating periodontitis. We carefully clean plaque and tartar from below the gum line and smooth the tooth roots to help the gums reattach.
- LANAP Laser Gum Therapy: StoneRidge Dental Care is proud to offer this advanced, minimally invasive alternative to traditional gum surgery. A specific dental laser targets and removes infected tissue and bacteria without scalpels or stitches.
- Bacterial cultures and prescription antibiotics: By identifying the specific bugs causing your infection, we can use targeted prescription antibiotic trays or rinses to control the bacteria directly at the source.
- Periodontal maintenance: After your initial therapy, we’ll design a customized cleaning schedule. These more frequent maintenance appointments are key to managing your gum health long term and preventing reinfection.
Want to know more about Laser Gum Therapy? Check out the video below.
How We Treat Specific Gum Concerns
StoneRidge Dental Care offers targeted solutions for the most common symptoms of gum disease that may affect your day-to-day life. For bleeding gums, a professional cleaning and a customized home-care routine can often reverse gingivitis completely. For receding gums, treatments like scaling and root planing or laser therapy are essential to halt the disease process and prevent further recession. If you suffer from bad breath, our deep cleaning and laser therapies are designed to eliminate the source of the infection, leaving your mouth healthy and your breath truly fresh.
Gum Disease Treatment FAQs
Gingivitis (the early stage) is 100% reversible with professional treatment and proper home care. Periodontitis (the advanced stage) is not technically reversible because it involves bone loss. However, it is highly manageable. With our treatments, we can stop the disease in its tracks and maintain your health for a lifetime.
Your comfort is our top priority. For scaling and root planing, we use a local anesthetic to completely numb the area. Patients who choose LANAP laser therapy report minimal discomfort, often managing it with just over-the-counter pain relievers. If the idea of these treatments makes you anxious, no worries! We offer several types of sedation dentistry to help ensure your comfort during your procedure. We are committed to a pain-free, anxiety-free experience.
Most dental insurance plans provide coverage for periodontal treatments, including deep cleanings and maintenance. Our team is an expert at navigating insurance benefits and will provide a clear estimate of your costs, helping you maximize your coverage.
This depends on the severity. Gingivitis can be resolved in a single visit. Scaling and root planing may be split into 2-4 appointments. LANAP therapy is often completed in just one or two sessions. We’ll outline your specific timeline in your personal consultation.
While mints and mouthwash can mask bad breath, they don’t fix the cause. Persistent bad breath is a classic sign of a gum infection. It’s caused by bacteria releasing odors from deep within your gum pockets. Our treatment focuses on eliminating the source of the infection—not just covering the symptom. By thoroughly cleaning these pockets and sometimes using bacterial cultures to identify the exact culprit, we remove the bacteria. This resolves the infection and leaves your mouth truly healthy and your breath fresh.
No, that’s a common myth. Healthy gums should not bleed. Bleeding is your body’s alarm bell for gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. It’s a sign of active inflammation caused by bacteria. Many people stop flossing when they see blood, but this actually makes the problem worse. The good news is that this stage is completely reversible. A professional cleaning and personalized home-care coaching from our team can resolve the infection, stop the bleeding, and restore your gums to full health.
This is a critical question. Once gum and bone tissue are lost to periodontitis, they do not grow back on their own. Our first and most important goal is to stop the recession immediately by treating the active bacterial infection. Treatments like scaling and root planing or LANAP laser therapy halt the disease, preventing further gum loss. Once your gums are healthy and stable, we can then discuss separate cosmetic options, like gum grafting, to restore your gum line.
Schedule A Gum Disease Consultation Today!
Don’t wait for gum disease to threaten your smile and your health. If you live in or around Gahanna, OH, Blacklick, or New Albany and are worried about your gums, our team of experienced dentists is here to help.
Call StoneRidge Dental Care or book an appointment online with Dr. Conkey, Dr. Moberger, or Dr. Patel. We look forward to working with you to build a treatment plan that restores and protects your health.