Gum disease remains the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and it often develops quietly over many years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly half of adults over 30 show signs of periodontal disease. The upside is that, with attentive care and the right treatment, the progression of gum disease can be slowed or stopped. At Smiles Dental at Reston Town Center, we focus on practical prevention, early detection, and evidence-based treatment to help patients preserve long-term oral health and comfort.
Periodontal disease begins when bacterial plaque builds up along the gumline and beneath the gums. That bacterial presence triggers an inflammatory response in the soft tissues that support the teeth — the gums, ligaments, and the jawbone itself. Left unchecked, this inflammation can damage those supporting structures and eventually lead to tooth instability or loss.
Because early stages of gum disease are often painless, many people aren’t aware anything is wrong until the condition has advanced. Regular dental exams and cleanings are the most reliable way to catch these problems when they are still reversible. A careful periodontal assessment looks for pocket depths, bleeding on probing, and signs of bone loss to determine whether intervention is needed.
Recognizing the warning signs and acting quickly improves outcomes. If you notice any changes in your gums, scheduling an exam is the best first step toward protecting your smile and preserving the tissues that support your teeth.
Common signs that warrant a periodontal exam include:
Red, swollen, or unusually tender gums
Bleeding during brushing or flossing
Gum recession or exposure of root surfaces
Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste
Loose teeth, new gaps between teeth, or changes in bite
Oral health is not isolated from the rest of the body. Scientific studies have found associations between periodontal inflammation and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes management, and respiratory problems. While research continues to define those relationships in detail, the consensus among dental and medical professionals is that controlling chronic oral inflammation is beneficial to whole-body health.
For individuals with chronic medical conditions — for example, diabetes — maintaining periodontal health can be an important part of the overall treatment plan. Periodontal disease increases the body’s inflammatory burden, which can complicate systemic health issues. That’s why our approach emphasizes both effective local treatment and advice on broader health factors that influence gum disease.
At Smiles Dental at Reston Town Center, our goal is to integrate periodontal care into each patient’s comprehensive dental plan. We use diagnostic tools and clinical monitoring to track progress and coordinate care when a medical condition could affect oral healing or treatment decisions.
Gingivitis is the reversible, early stage of gum disease. It is characterized by gum inflammation without destructive loss of connective tissue or bone. Common signs include bleeding with brushing, slight swelling, and sensitivity. Because the underlying tissues remain intact at this stage, focused intervention is usually very effective.
Reversing gingivitis depends on consistent plaque control. That means a combination of improved daily home care — thorough brushing, daily interdental cleaning such as flossing or water flossing, and an antimicrobial mouth rinse when appropriate — plus professional cleanings by a dental hygienist. Education about technique and frequency is often enough to restore healthy gum tissue.
When gingivitis is diagnosed, we typically recommend a short course of professional hygiene visits and a targeted home care plan. Follow-up exams help confirm that inflammation has resolved and that periodontal health has returned. Early action keeps treatment simple and preserves natural tooth support.
If gingivitis is not controlled, the condition can progress to periodontitis. At this stage, the chronic inflammatory response damages the connective tissues and bone that anchor teeth. This damage creates periodontal pockets where bacteria can thrive, leading to further tissue breakdown and a higher risk of tooth mobility and loss.
Periodontitis is staged and graded based on the extent of tissue loss, pocket depth, and rate of progression. Management focuses first on stopping disease activity and then on rebuilding or stabilizing the damaged structures when possible. The approach is individualized: the patient’s overall health, the severity of local tissue destruction, and oral hygiene capacity all inform the recommended plan.
Modern periodontal care combines mechanical cleaning, targeted antimicrobial strategies, and, when needed, regenerative techniques. Our objective is to control infection, reduce pocket depths, and restore a stable environment that patients can maintain at home.
Treatment for gum disease follows a stepwise model that begins with the least invasive methods and advances as necessary. For many patients, non-surgical care effectively controls disease and restores periodontal stability. When deeper intervention is required, surgical solutions and regenerative therapies are available to repair damaged tissues and support long-term function.
Before treatment begins, a thorough assessment establishes a personalized plan. That evaluation includes measuring pocket depths, evaluating bone levels, reviewing medical history, and discussing the patient’s goals. With that information, we discuss the options and the expected outcomes so patients can make informed decisions about their care.
Non-surgical therapy is the foundation of periodontal treatment. Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) removes bacterial deposits from below the gumline and smooths the tooth roots so healing can occur. In many cases, adjunctive antimicrobial agents may be used to reduce the bacterial load and support tissue recovery.
Following active therapy, regular periodontal maintenance — at intervals determined by the severity of disease and response to treatment — helps prevent recurrence. Maintenance visits focus on removing plaque and calculus, monitoring pocket depths, and reinforcing home care techniques to sustain healthy gums over the long term.
When pockets are too deep for effective non-surgical cleaning or when significant bone loss has occurred, periodontal surgery can provide access to thoroughly clean root surfaces and reshape damaged tissues. Procedures such as flap surgery allow for direct visualization and debridement of infected areas, followed by suturing to encourage healing and easier hygiene.
Regenerative procedures, including bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration, aim to rebuild lost support when appropriate. These techniques use biologic materials and carefully designed surgical approaches to encourage new bone and connective tissue formation. Laser-assisted procedures are also an option for select cases, offering precision tissue management and, in some situations, reduced postoperative discomfort.
Regardless of the approach, successful treatment depends on collaboration between clinician and patient. Ongoing home care, routine maintenance visits, and attention to contributing factors — such as tobacco use or uncontrolled systemic conditions — are essential to preserve treatment gains.
Keeping your gums healthy protects your natural teeth and supports your overall health. If you have concerns about bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, or other warning signs, don’t wait to seek an evaluation. Our team provides clear guidance and proven treatment options to address periodontal disease at every stage. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you safeguard your smile and maintain strong 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 Smiles Dental at Reston Town Center, 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 disease, often called gum disease, is an infection of the tissues that surround and support the teeth. It begins when bacterial plaque accumulates along the gumline and beneath the gums, triggering an inflammatory response in the gums, periodontal ligaments, and the underlying bone. Over time, persistent inflammation can break down these supporting structures, creating deeper pockets where bacteria flourish and accelerating tissue loss.
Early stages of the condition, known as gingivitis, are reversible with proper care, but if left unmanaged the process can progress to periodontitis, which causes irreversible damage. Many people do not notice symptoms at first because early disease is frequently painless, making regular dental exams and periodontal assessments essential for timely detection and intervention. Detecting disease early reduces the need for advanced therapies and improves the likelihood of preserving natural tooth support.
Common warning signs of gum disease include red, swollen, or tender gums and bleeding during brushing or flossing. Patients may also notice persistent bad breath, an unpleasant taste, gum recession that exposes root surfaces, or loose teeth and new gaps between teeth. These symptoms can vary in severity and may develop slowly, so any change in gum appearance or comfort should prompt an evaluation.
Because early disease can be subtle, professional periodontal assessment looks beyond visible signs to measure pocket depths, test for bleeding on probing, and evaluate bone levels on radiographs. Identifying these clinical markers helps determine whether conservative care, more intensive non-surgical therapy, or surgical intervention is needed. Prompt recognition and treatment improve outcomes and make long-term maintenance more achievable.
Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive oral exam that includes a periodontal charting to measure pocket depths around each tooth and check for bleeding on probing. The clinician also reviews medical history to identify systemic factors that influence periodontal health and uses dental radiographs to assess bone support and look for patterns of bone loss. Together, these findings allow the clinician to stage and grade the disease and to design an appropriate treatment plan.
Additional diagnostic tools may include intraoral photographs, microbial testing in select cases, and reassessment after initial therapy to monitor response. Accurate diagnosis is essential because treatment intensity and maintenance intervals vary depending on disease severity and the patient’s overall health. Clear communication with the patient about findings and expected outcomes helps align clinical goals and home care efforts.
Non-surgical therapy is the first-line approach for managing periodontal disease and typically includes scaling and root planing, which removes plaque and calculus from below the gumline and smooths root surfaces to promote healing. Adjunctive measures can include localized antimicrobial agents, medicated rinses, and a prescribed home-care regimen emphasizing improved brushing and interdental cleaning. These measures aim to reduce bacterial load, resolve inflammation, and allow the tissues to reattach to the cleaned root surface.
After active non-surgical therapy, patients enter a periodontal maintenance program with professional cleanings at intervals tailored to disease severity and response to treatment. Regular monitoring of pocket depths and inflammation ensures that any recurrence is detected early and addressed promptly. Many patients achieve long-term stability with diligent home care and maintenance following non-surgical therapy.
Surgical periodontal treatment is considered when deep pockets persist despite thorough non-surgical therapy or when there is significant bone loss that requires direct access for repair. Common surgical procedures include flap surgery to thoroughly debride root surfaces, osseous recontouring to reshape damaged bone, and regenerative procedures such as bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration to promote new attachment. The goal of surgery is to eliminate disease pockets, reduce bacterial habitats, and restore a stable environment for long-term maintenance.
Regenerative techniques use biologic materials and careful surgical protocols to encourage bone and connective tissue regeneration when appropriate. Recovery typically involves a short period of postoperative care with instructions for oral hygiene, soft diets, and follow-up visits to monitor healing. Success relies on both the clinician’s technique and the patient’s commitment to improved home care and scheduled maintenance visits.
Yes. Research has linked chronic periodontal inflammation to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes control, and respiratory health, and reducing oral inflammation can be beneficial to overall health. Periodontal infections increase the body’s inflammatory burden, which may complicate management of chronic systemic diseases and influence healing. For patients with conditions like diabetes, improving periodontal health is an important component of comprehensive medical care.
When planning periodontal therapy, clinicians consider systemic risk factors and coordinate care with medical providers when indicated. Addressing tobacco use, optimizing glycemic control, and managing other contributing health issues enhance the likelihood of successful periodontal outcomes. The practice integrates periodontal care into each patient’s overall treatment plan to support both oral and general well-being.
Preparation for periodontal treatment begins with a thorough consultation that reviews your medical history, current medications, and treatment goals, and includes instructions for preoperative care when surgery is planned. For non-surgical therapy, patients should maintain good oral hygiene and follow any specific recommendations from the clinician, such as using an antimicrobial rinse before appointments. For surgical procedures, clinicians provide guidance on fasting, antibiotics when appropriate, and arrangements for postoperative comfort and care.
Recovery varies by procedure but generally includes managing minor discomfort, swelling, and temporary changes in eating and oral hygiene routines. Clinicians provide clear postoperative instructions, prescribe or recommend suitable pain control and antimicrobial measures when needed, and schedule follow-up visits to assess healing. Adhering to these instructions and attending appointments supports predictable healing and helps protect treatment outcomes.
Long-term periodontal maintenance is critical to prevent recurrence and typically involves professional cleanings and periodontal evaluations at intervals determined by disease severity and treatment response. During maintenance visits the clinician measures pocket depths, removes any new plaque or calculus, and reinforces personalized home-care techniques. These visits also provide an opportunity to address risk factors such as tobacco use or uncontrolled medical conditions that can undermine treatment success.
At home, effective maintenance includes thorough daily brushing, interdental cleaning with floss or water flossers, and the use of recommended antimicrobial rinses when appropriate. Consistency in home care, combined with scheduled professional maintenance, is the most reliable way to preserve periodontal health and protect natural teeth over the long term. Ongoing communication with your dental team ensures maintenance plans remain aligned with your needs.
Several lifestyle factors affect periodontal health, including tobacco use, poor glycemic control in diabetes, stress, certain medications, and dietary habits. Tobacco is a major risk factor that impairs healing and increases the likelihood of treatment failure, while uncontrolled diabetes raises the risk of severe periodontal disease and complications. Other influences, such as dry mouth from medications or high-sugar diets that promote plaque accumulation, also contribute to disease progression.
Managing these factors involves quitting tobacco, working with medical providers to optimize control of systemic conditions, addressing medication side effects when possible, and adopting oral-friendly dietary habits. Your dental team can offer specific strategies and referrals to help modify risk factors, and integrating these changes with professional periodontal care improves treatment outcomes and long-term oral health.
At Smiles Dental at Reston Town Center, periodontal care begins with a comprehensive assessment to determine disease stage, identify contributing risk factors, and establish personalized treatment goals. The clinical team uses evidence-based protocols ranging from focused non-surgical therapy to advanced surgical and regenerative options, tailoring care to the patient’s medical history, oral condition, and comfort preferences. Treatment planning emphasizes clear communication so patients understand recommended steps and expected outcomes.
After active therapy, the practice provides a structured maintenance program and practical home-care guidance to support long-term success. Regular follow-up visits allow the team to monitor healing and adapt the plan as needed, and coordination with medical providers is available when systemic health issues may affect periodontal management. This individualized approach aims to preserve natural tooth support and maintain overall oral health for life.
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