Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss, and it affects more people than most of us realize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly half of adults over 30 in the United States show signs of periodontal disease. The good news is that periodontal conditions are largely preventable and highly manageable when detected early. At the office of Christopher R. Szydelko, DDS PC, we focus on practical, evidence-based care designed to protect your smile and preserve your oral health for the long term.
Periodontal disease begins with the predictable buildup of bacteria-laden plaque on the teeth and along the gumline. When plaque is not removed daily, it hardens into tartar (calculus), which creates an environment where harmful bacteria flourish. Those bacteria trigger an inflammatory response in the gums that, left unchecked, can damage the tissues that hold your teeth in place.
One of the reasons gum disease can advance without warning is that early stages are often painless. Mild inflammation and bleeding may be dismissed as temporary or minor, while the underlying tissue changes continue. That’s why routine dental exams and professional cleanings are essential: they let us catch and reverse problems before they cause permanent harm.
Being attentive to subtle signs — such as gums that bleed when you brush, persistent bad breath, or teeth that feel slightly loose — can make a major difference. When these signals appear, prompt evaluation allows for targeted treatment that can stop disease progression and restore healthier gum architecture.
Healthy gums are firm, pink, and follow the contour of the teeth without swelling or persistent redness. When disease begins, the tissue becomes tender, swollen, and more likely to bleed during flossing or brushing. Left unchecked, pockets form between the teeth and gums, trapping bacteria and increasing the risk of bone loss.
Some common indicators that should prompt a dental visit include gums that bleed easily, gum recession exposing sensitive root surfaces, chronic bad taste or odor, and increased tooth sensitivity. Other signs can be changes in the way your teeth fit together, new gaps between teeth, or soreness when chewing.
Not every symptom appears the same for every person, which is why individualized assessment matters. A comprehensive periodontal exam evaluates pocket depths, gum attachment levels, bleeding on probing, and radiographic evidence of bone changes — all essential data points for designing the right treatment plan.
Gingivitis is the reversible, early stage of gum disease characterized by inflammation of the gum tissue without destruction of the supporting bone. At this phase, professional cleaning combined with improved daily oral hygiene typically restores the gums to health. Recognizing gingivitis early gives you the best chance to avoid more invasive treatment down the road.
Treatment for gingivitis focuses on removing plaque and tartar from above and just below the gumline, coaching on effective brushing and flossing techniques, and scheduling follow-up maintenance to ensure the inflammation resolves. Because the tissue has not yet been permanently altered, consistent care usually leads to a full recovery.
Prevention is straightforward: twice-daily brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, daily interdental cleaning (floss or interdental brushes), and regular professional cleanings and exams form the foundation of gingivitis prevention and control.
If gingivitis is not addressed, it can progress to periodontitis, a stage in which the inflammatory process begins to destroy the connective tissues and bone that support the teeth. Pocket depths increase as tissue detaches from the tooth root, and the body’s defensive response can lead to bone resorption. Over time, teeth can become mobile and may ultimately be lost without appropriate intervention.
Periodontitis is classified by severity and extent — mild, moderate, or severe — and treatment aims to halt the disease and preserve existing support structures. Radiographs and clinical measurements help determine the degree of bone loss and guide decisions about conservative versus surgical care.
Advances in periodontal therapy have made it possible to manage many cases successfully. In select situations, regenerative techniques such as bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration can rebuild lost volume and improve both function and aesthetics, helping patients maintain their natural teeth when possible.
Contemporary periodontal care blends time-tested methods with newer technologies to deliver precise, comfortable results. Non-surgical therapy, including scaling and root planing, removes bacterial deposits below the gumline and smooths root surfaces to discourage future accumulation. Adjunctive therapies — such as locally applied antimicrobials or systemic medications in select cases — can support the mechanical cleaning process.
When deeper intervention is required, surgical options allow our team to access and clean root surfaces, reduce pocket depths, or perform regenerative procedures. In many cases, minimally invasive techniques and laser-assisted treatments are available to reduce tissue trauma and promote quicker healing. The choice of tools and methods depends on the specific pattern of disease, the patient’s health history, and treatment goals.
Our approach is individualized. We assess each patient’s risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes, and oral hygiene habits, and we design maintenance schedules that help prevent recurrence. Maintaining periodontal health is a partnership — we provide the clinical care and guidance, and patients sustain results through consistent daily habits.
The route to periodontal stability begins with a thorough diagnostic evaluation and a clear plan of care. For many patients, conservative or non-surgical therapy is the first step: meticulous scaling and root planing combined with reinforced home care can resolve inflammation and reduce pocket depths. Close follow-up and regular maintenance visits are critical to confirm that the disease has been controlled.
When non-surgical measures are insufficient, surgical options are considered to access deep root surfaces, reduce pocket depth, or employ regenerative materials. Surgical care is aimed at stopping progression, restoring healthier anatomy where possible, and making daily hygiene more effective. Modern periodontal surgery emphasizes tissue preservation and functional outcomes.
Wherever possible, we favor the least invasive option that will achieve lasting health. Our team will explain the rationale for each recommendation, the expected outcomes, and the maintenance steps needed to sustain results. If you prefer, we’ll outline the clinical evidence behind different approaches so you can make a fully informed decision.
Early-stage disease is often managed successfully without surgery. Scaling and root planing remove deposits below the gumline and smooth root surfaces to reduce bacterial retention. Antimicrobial therapies may be used as adjuncts to enhance results. After initial therapy, a personalized maintenance plan helps protect the progress made.
The goal of conservative care is to return the tissues to a healthy state when possible and to minimize the need for more invasive procedures. Effective home care and regular professional monitoring are essential components of success.
Surgery is recommended when pockets are too deep for non-surgical instruments to thoroughly clean or when structural repair is needed. Procedures such as flap surgery provide direct access for debridement, while regenerative techniques — including bone and tissue grafts — aim to rebuild lost support. Laser-assisted methods can also be employed in select cases.
The intention of surgical care is to arrest disease activity, make tooth cleaning more effective, and restore a stable foundation for long-term function. Post-operative maintenance and patient commitment to oral hygiene are key to preserving surgical outcomes.
Maintaining healthy gums is an achievable goal with timely evaluation, proven treatment, and consistent home care. If you have questions about periodontal treatment or are noticing warning signs, contact us for more information. Our team at Christopher R. Szydelko, DDS PC is here to help you protect your smile and 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 Christopher R. Szydelko, DDS PC, 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 is an inflammatory condition that affects the gums and the structures supporting the teeth, including the periodontal ligament and underlying bone. It begins when bacteria-rich plaque accumulates along the gumline and triggers a local immune response that causes tissue inflammation. If plaque and tartar are not removed, the inflammation can progress from reversible gingivitis to destructive periodontitis that damages attachment and bone.
Progression is typically gradual and influenced by individual risk factors such as oral hygiene, systemic health, and lifestyle habits. Early stages seldom cause pain, which is why many people are unaware a problem is developing. Regular dental exams and timely intervention are the most effective ways to detect and halt progression before irreversible changes occur.
Early warning signs of gum disease include gums that bleed when you brush or floss, persistent bad breath, and gums that appear red, swollen, or tender. You may also notice gum recession or a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite, which can indicate attachment loss. Even minor bleeding or a chronic bad taste should prompt a dental evaluation because early detection allows for simpler, more effective treatment.
Because symptoms vary between individuals and can be subtle, routine exams are essential to find disease that is not yet obvious. A dental professional can measure pocket depths and check for bleeding or bone changes that are not visible to the naked eye. Prompt assessment helps guide an appropriate care plan and reduces the risk of tooth loss over time.
The primary cause of periodontal disease is the accumulation of dental plaque and calculus that harbor disease-causing bacteria, but several contributing factors influence susceptibility and severity. Tobacco use, uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications, and genetic predisposition increase the likelihood of developing more aggressive disease. Age and inconsistent oral hygiene habits also raise risk, as does a history of periodontal problems.
Systemic conditions that affect the immune response or healing can make periodontal disease more difficult to control, and lifestyle factors such as stress and poor nutrition may worsen outcomes. Identifying and managing these risk factors is a core part of effective periodontal care and helps shape personalized prevention and treatment strategies.
Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive periodontal exam that includes measuring pocket depths around each tooth, checking for bleeding on probing, and assessing gum attachment levels. Radiographs are used to evaluate bone height and pattern of bone loss, which help determine the extent and severity of disease. A full medical and dental history is also reviewed to identify risk factors that influence both diagnosis and treatment planning.
At the office of Christopher R. Szydelko, DDS PC, these clinical measurements are combined with visual findings to create a clear picture of periodontal health and to track changes over time. This information allows the team to recommend conservative or surgical treatment when appropriate and to establish an individualized maintenance schedule tailored to the patient’s needs.
Non-surgical therapy is often the first line of treatment and typically includes scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning that removes plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces. Adjunctive measures such as locally applied antimicrobials or short courses of systemic medications may be recommended in selected cases to reduce bacterial load and support healing. Reinforcement of home care techniques and behavioral changes are essential to maximize the benefits of clinical therapy.
After initial non-surgical care, patients are monitored closely to evaluate response and pocket reduction. Many patients experience significant improvement with conservative treatment combined with improved oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits. If inflammation persists despite thorough non-surgical therapy, the team will discuss additional options to address residual disease.
Surgery is considered when pockets are too deep for non-surgical instruments to thoroughly clean or when structural defects require direct access to root surfaces and bone. Common surgical procedures include flap surgery to reduce pocket depths, regenerative procedures such as bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration to encourage new attachment, and resective techniques to reshape compromised tissue. The choice of procedure depends on the pattern and severity of disease, patient health, and treatment goals.
Modern periodontal surgery prioritizes tissue preservation and predictable healing, and minimally invasive or laser-assisted approaches may be available to reduce discomfort and recovery time. Postoperative care and a strict maintenance regimen are critical to preserving surgical outcomes and making daily hygiene more effective. Your clinician will explain the expected results, potential risks, and the steps needed to support long-term stability.
In some cases, lost bone and periodontal attachment can be partially regenerated using techniques such as bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration, and biologic agents that stimulate healing. Success depends on factors like the size and shape of the defect, the patient’s overall health, oral hygiene, and the absence of ongoing risk factors such as smoking or uncontrolled diabetes. While regeneration can improve support and function, results vary and may not fully restore the original anatomy.
Careful case selection and meticulous surgical technique increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome, and regeneration is typically followed by a structured maintenance program to protect the newly formed tissue. Your clinician will discuss realistic expectations based on diagnostic findings and outline the most appropriate approach for your individual situation.
Prevention centers on consistent daily oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth each day with floss or interdental brushes. Regular professional cleanings and periodontal assessments help remove deposits that cannot be reached at home and allow early intervention when problems emerge. Addressing modifiable risk factors, such as quitting tobacco, controlling blood sugar in diabetes, and maintaining a balanced diet, further reduces the chance of disease progression.
Establishing a personalized recall schedule with your dental team ensures ongoing surveillance and timely maintenance tailored to your risk level. Education about effective home-care techniques and periodic reinforcement at office visits help patients sustain improvements and protect long-term oral health. Prevention is a partnership between the patient and the dental team, and sustained habits yield the best results.
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, and research has linked it to systemic health concerns such as poorer diabetes control, and associations with cardiovascular disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. These relationships are complex and do not imply direct causation in every case, but inflammation in the mouth can have measurable effects on the body and may complicate existing medical conditions. For patients with systemic illnesses, optimal periodontal care can be an important component of overall health management.
Open communication between your dental team and your medical providers helps create a coordinated plan that considers both oral and systemic factors. Managing periodontal disease can support better overall health, and clinicians often recommend closer monitoring for patients with conditions that affect healing or immune response. Your dental provider can explain how your individual health profile influences periodontal risk and treatment decisions.
Treatment begins with a thorough diagnostic evaluation and a clear, individualized plan that prioritizes the least invasive option likely to achieve lasting health. Appointments for scaling and root planing or surgical procedures are accompanied by instructions for comfort, healing, and home care, and the team will review risk factors and preventive strategies to support recovery. Most patients experience gradual improvement in inflammation and pocket depths when clinical care is combined with improved daily hygiene.
Follow-up care includes short-term re-evaluation to confirm healing and a long-term maintenance schedule to monitor stability and prevent recurrence. Maintenance visits are critical to sustain results and typically involve professional cleaning, reassessment of pocket depths, and reinforcement of home-care techniques. If you have questions or notice changes between visits, contact the practice so your care team can address concerns promptly and adjust the plan as needed.
