Periodontics
Gum Disease Treatment • Gum Rejuvenation • Advanced Surgical Care
Dr. Bezreh, a Board Certified Periodontist, offers a full range of periodontal treatments to restore gum health, protect teeth, and enhance smiles.
Call us today to schedule your gum health evaluation!
Quick Navigation
Click below to jump to your area of interest:
Periodontal (gum) disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gums and bone that support your teeth. It’s the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions.
Did you know?
-
Nearly 47.2% of American adults have some form of periodontitis (CDC, 2012).
-
In adults 75+, prevalence rises to 70.1%.
Why Gum Health Matters
Your gums and jawbone are the foundation for your teeth. Without treatment, gum disease destroys this foundation, creating pockets where bacteria thrive. Over time, teeth loosen and may be lost.
Types of Gum Disease:
-
Gingivitis – Early stage, reversible with care.
-
Periodontitis – Advanced stage, damages bone/tissue, may lead to tooth loss.
Common Causes:
-
Plaque buildup
-
Smoking/tobacco use
-
Genetics
-
Aging
-
Stress
-
Certain medications
-
Teeth grinding/clenching
-
Diabetes, heart disease
For many patients, gum disease can be treated without surgery through a procedure called Scaling and Root Planing (deep cleaning).
How It Works:
We gently clean the root surfaces beneath the gums to remove hardened plaque (tartar) and bacteria that cause inflammation. The tooth roots are then smoothed to help the gums reattach and make it harder for bacteria to return.
Benefits:
-
Stops gum disease progression in its early to moderate stages
-
Reduces bleeding and swelling
-
Can help reverse gingivitis and improve breath
Maintenance Matters:
After treatment, most patients benefit from professional periodontal maintenance every 3–4 months to keep bacteria under control and prevent disease from returning.
When gum disease has advanced beyond what deep cleaning can manage, surgical therapy may be needed to restore health and function.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
If deep pockets remain after non-surgical treatment, we gently fold back the gum tissue, remove bacterial buildup, and reshape the gums to reduce pocket depth—making it easier to keep teeth clean at home.
Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR)
When gum disease has destroyed supporting bone, we can place a special membrane and bone graft material to encourage natural bone regrowth, helping save teeth that might otherwise be lost.
Benefits of Surgical Therapy:
-
-
Removes hidden bacteria inaccessible to brushing and flossing
-
Reduces the risk of future tooth loss
-
Restores a healthier gum-to-tooth relationship
-
What It Is: Roots become exposed, teeth look longer, sensitivity increases.
Treatments Include:
-
Free Gingival Grafts (patient’s own tissue)
-
Connective Tissue Grafts (gold standard for root coverage)
-
Tunneling Technique (minimally invasive, donor tissue, less discomfort)
Causes: Age, gum disease, genetics, smoking, plaque, orthodontics, trauma.
Benefits: Prevents further recession, strengthens gums, improves smile.
Incision-free, suture-free gum recession treatment using a tiny pinhole to reposition gum tissue.
Benefits:
-
Minimal discomfort
-
Fast recovery
-
Instant esthetic improvement
Featured on The Doctors TV show. Developed and patented by Dr. John Chao.
Esthetic crown lengthening reshapes the gumline to create a more balanced, attractive smile. By removing excess gum tissue and sometimes a small amount of bone, teeth appear longer and more proportionate.
When it’s used:
-
Correcting a “gummy smile”
-
Evening out an uneven gumline
-
Exposing more tooth structure for crowns, fillings, or veneers
Benefits:
-
Improves smile harmony and self-confidence
-
Creates a cleaner, more sculpted gumline
-
Makes restorative and cosmetic dentistry more predictable
Recovery:
Mild tenderness and swelling are common for a few days. Most patients return to normal activities within 24 hours.
Healthy jawbone is essential for stable, long-lasting dental implants. Bone grafting restores or preserves bone in areas where it’s thin, damaged, or lost due to gum disease, injury, or extractions.
Types of Bone Grafts:
-
Socket Graft – Placed immediately after tooth extraction to prevent bone loss.
-
Block Bone Graft – Larger graft for rebuilding areas of significant loss (often after trauma or advanced periodontal disease).
Sinus Lift:
In the upper jaw, a sinus lift increases bone height by gently raising the sinus membrane and placing bone graft material underneath. This creates the foundation needed for implants in the back teeth.
Benefits:
-
Improves implant stability and success rate
-
Prevents the “sunken” look from jawbone loss
-
Can restore youthful facial contours
Healing times vary from a few weeks to several months depending on the procedure.
A gingivectomy removes diseased or excess gum tissue to improve health, function, and appearance.
Why It’s Done:
-
To eliminate gum pockets where bacteria thrive
-
To remove overgrown gum tissue caused by certain medications
-
To improve smile esthetics by reshaping the gumline
Procedure & Recovery:
Performed under local anesthesia—often with laser assistance for added comfort—the treatment is quick and precise. Mild soreness is common for a few days, and most patients return to normal routines within 24 hours.
Benefits:
-
Easier cleaning at home
-
Reduced risk of recurring gum infection
-
More attractive smile line
While our goal is always to save natural teeth whenever possible, sometimes removal is the healthiest option—especially if teeth are severely damaged by decay, gum disease, or trauma.
Our Approach:
-
Gentle extraction techniques to preserve as much bone as possible
-
Socket grafting when appropriate to maintain jawbone volume for future implants
-
Sedation options for a relaxed, stress-free experience
When Extractions Are Needed:
-
Severe periodontal disease
-
Deep fractures or cracks
-
Non-restorable decay
-
Preparation for orthodontics or dentures
Recovery:
Most patients return to normal activities within 1–2 days, following simple at-home care instructions to support healing.
Laser technology allows for precise, comfortable treatment of gum disease and other periodontal conditions. Using a focused light beam, we can remove diseased tissue and bacteria while preserving healthy gum structure.
Common Uses:
-
Deep cleaning infected gum pockets
-
Crown lengthening
-
Gingivectomy for esthetics or disease control
-
Frenectomy (removing or loosening tight tissue attachments)
Benefits:
-
Minimal bleeding and swelling
-
Faster healing compared to traditional surgery
-
Often requires little or no anesthesia
-
Reduced risk of infection
Patients typically experience less discomfort and can return to normal activities quickly.
Early detection saves lives. If we notice any unusual changes in your mouth—such as white or red patches, sores that don’t heal, lumps, or thickened tissue—we may recommend a biopsy. This simple procedure involves removing a small tissue sample for lab analysis to rule out oral cancer or other conditions.
Soft Tissue Grafting:
Thin or receding gums can be reinforced using grafts from your own tissue or a donor source. This helps:
-
Protect roots from decay
-
Reduce sensitivity
-
Improve gumline appearance
Most soft tissue procedures are minimally invasive and have a quick recovery period.
We offer multiple sedation choices to ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed throughout your treatment. Your level of sedation is tailored to your needs, procedure length, and personal comfort preferences.
Options Include:
-
Local Anesthesia – Numbs only the treatment area; you remain fully awake.
-
Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”) – Light relaxation with quick recovery; you can drive yourself home.
-
Oral Conscious Sedation – A pill taken before your appointment for deeper relaxation; you remain responsive but drowsy.
-
IV Sedation (“Twilight Sleep”) – Administered through a vein for a stronger calming effect; many patients remember little or nothing afterward.
-
General Anesthesia – Full sleep; reserved for complex or lengthy procedures.
Safety: All sedation is monitored closely by trained professionals, so you remain safe and comfortable from start to finish.
Have questions? Call us and speak to one of our friendly care coordinators.
678.236.0500