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St. Louis, MO

Periodontal Treatment St. Louis, MO

Periodontal Treatment in St. Louis, MO. Periodontal disease, the technical term for gum disease, is is a common, yet serious condition. While cases can range from slight discomfort to painful dental issues, it can affect our daily lives and limit how much we want to smile. If your gums have become irritated, daily tasks like brushing your teeth lead to bleeding, or you are experiencing more serious issues like teeth falling out, do not wait to get periodontal treatment in St. Louis, MO. Plaza Dental Center has an amazing team that treats every patient as family to they feel comfortable when getting the care they need. For periodontal treatment in St. Louis, MO, or just a standard examination with a friendly dentist, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or make an appointment online.

Periodontal Treatment St. Louis, MO | Gingivitis Treatment | Dental Office Near St. Louis | Plaza Dental Center

Two Types of Periodontal Disease | St. Louis, MO Periodontal Treatment

According to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, periodontal disease affects almost half of adults older than 30, and almost three-quarters of seniors suffer from it. Periodontal infections are classified in two distinct stages: gingivitis as it first starts, and periodontitis if the disease is allowed to progress:

  1. Gingivitis — Gingivitis happens when plaque builds up on your teeth and where your teeth meet your gums. If the plaque is not removed through proper oral health care, it becomes tartar which can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning. As more and more tartar builds up, the gingiva, or the the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth and holds them in place, it causes irritation, redness, and swelling, the condition known as gingivitis. Warning signs include:
    • Redness
    • Inflammation
    • Chronic bad breath
    • Receding gums
    • Sensitive gums
    • Pain when eating
    • New teeth sensitivity to temperature in your mouth
    • Blood on your toothbrush

    If you are dealing with any of the above symptoms, don’t wait to get gingivitis treatment, or it could lead to serious dental problems in the future.

  2. Periodontitis — Periodontitis is a significant dental problem that occurs when gingivitis is not treated. This creates gaps between your teeth and gums, called periodontal pockets, which becomes a safe have for more bacteria to collect and grow. If you do not immediately seek treatment, periodontitis can cause tooth loss and even damage to your jaw bone. Symptoms include:
    • Deep red gums
    • Gums that bleed easily
    • Gaps between your teeth and gums
    • Pus between your teeth and gums
    • Loose teeth
    • Teeth falling out
    • A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

    If you show any warning signs of periodontitis, reach out to a St. Louis, MO dentist for periodontal treatment ASAP, and schedule an appointment for emergency dental procedures if a tooth is loose or falls out.

Periodontal Treatment St. Louis, MO | Gingivitis Treatment | Dental Office Near St. Louis

Periodontitis Risk Factors

For the most part, it’s possible to prevent gingivitis and other periodontal disease ourselves. We can all practice good oral health that will lower the risk of having to seek out periodontal treatment. Certain risk factors include:

  • Poor oral care habits
  • Not going to twice yearly dental cleanings
  • Smoking or otherwise using tobacco
  • Old age
  • Dry mouth
  • Insufficient nutrition
  • Conditions that decrease immunity
  • Certain medications
  • DNA
  • Certain viral or fungal infections
  • Stress
  • Bruxism

While some risk factors are beyond our control, good oral hygiene such as brushing and flossing and biannually cleanings and polishings will usually not allow gingivitis to occur. Twice yearly dental examinations at a professional dental office will will diagnose and treat gingivitis before it develops into periodontitis.

Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease in St. Louis, MO

While prevention and care often stave off gum disease, sometimes it’s too little too late. Once gum disease has developed, there are a variety of treatment options your St. Louis, MO dentist can pursue depending on the severity of the disease:

  • Antibiotics — In gum disease’s early stages, antibiotics are usually the easiest and least invasive approach. Antibiotics can be applied with topical gels applied between your teeth and gums or medicated mouthwash.
  • Deep scaling and root planning Tartar adheres most strongly to tooth roots. Deep scaling involves using a laser to scrape below gums and remove tartar. After deep scaling, your dentist will perform root planning, which smooths tooth surfaces, promoting proper healing.
  • LANAP or Laser Assisted Regeneration LANAP is a dental technology which uses a laser to to single out and destroy damaged tissue and germs. After exploding and removing damaged tissue, your St. Louis, MO dentist will use use a different laser to connect gum tissue back to the root.
  • Maxillofacial surgery Commonly known as oral surgery, this can include osseous surgery, or pocket reduction surgery, to remove bacteria and diseased gum tissue, smooth any damaged bone, and stitches your gum back to the tooth. Your dentist may also perform soft tissue grafts from your palate to replace diseased gums, or a bone graft to restore lost bone.
  • Other treatment options — Other treatment options may be guided tissue regeneration, which stimulates the growth of bone damaged by gum disease. Your St. Louis, MO dentist may also implement a topical gel on damaged roots that stimulates the growth of healthy bone and tissue.
  • Dental implants If part of your periodontal treatment includes replacing lost teeth, the Plaza Dental Center team implement dental implants, which look, feel, and act just like natural teeth.


Our lead dentist Dr. Joseph Cutrona had the unique opportunity to deal with substantial dental problems while pursuing his residency at the University of Michigan. This means he is capable of treating anything from mild gingivitis to significant bone loss in his periodontal treatment in St. Louis, MO. We are especially interested in apprehensive patients. If your gingivitis progressed partially because you were wary of the dentist’s chair, we’ll do everything possible to make you feel comfortable so you can get back to optimum dental health.

See what other services we offer in St. Louis, MO by clicking on the links below:

St. Louis, MO Periodontal Treatment | Plaza Dental Center

Whether you’re looking for periodontal treatment for mild or significant symptoms, Plaza Dental Centers committed, friendly, and capable St. Louis, MO team will get you smiling as you walk out the door as soon as humanly possible. Everyone deserves a smile they feel confident with, and a healthy mouth that makes things like chewing and brushing pain-free. For the highest quality periodontal treatment in St. Louis, MO, call Plaza Dental today at 314-361-1818 or contact us online.