Periodontist Near Ballard, Seattle
Expert gum health restoration just minutes from Maritime Seattle — where Ballard’s waterfront community discovers advanced periodontal care in the heart of downtown.
Periodontists represent the dental profession’s specialists in treating diseases and conditions affecting the gums, periodontal ligament, and supporting bone structures around your teeth. These highly trained professionals complete an additional three years of specialized education beyond dental school, focusing exclusively on the complex relationships between oral bacteria, immune response, and tissue health. Their advanced training enables them to diagnose and treat conditions ranging from mild gum inflammation to severe bone loss that threatens tooth stability.
When you visit Dental Specialties Northwest, you receive care from Seattle’s most sought-after periodontal specialists who combine decades of experience with cutting-edge treatment techniques. Our approach to comprehensive dental services emphasizes preserving your natural teeth while restoring optimal gum health through the most advanced methods available in modern dentistry.
What Is Periodontal Treatment?
Periodontal treatment encompasses specialized care for your gums and the supporting structures of your teeth — the foundation of lasting oral health.
At Dental Specialties Northwest, we recognize that healthy gums mean more than avoiding disease; they’re essential for maintaining your natural teeth, supporting dental restorations, and ensuring your overall wellness.
Our periodontal services address everything from early gingivitis to advanced periodontitis, using minimally invasive techniques that prioritize comfort and rapid healing.
Whether you’ve noticed bleeding during brushing or require complex tissue regeneration, our downtown Seattle location offers Ballard residents access to periodontal solutions that restore both function and confidence.
Simple Process, Exceptional Care
Your journey to better periodontal health
1
Comprehensive Examination
Digital diagnostics, pocket measurements, and clear discussion of findings. No surprises, just honest answers.
2
Personalized Treatment Plan
We explain every option, from non-surgical therapy to advanced procedures. You'll understand exactly what's needed.
3
Comfortable Treatment
Modern techniques and sedation options ensure your procedure is as comfortable as possible. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
4
Long-term Success
Regular maintenance appointments protect your investment. We'll teach you how to keep your gums healthy between visits.
The Science Behind Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease begins when harmful bacteria accumulate below the gum line, triggering an inflammatory response that breaks down the tissues supporting your teeth. Without proper intervention, this bacterial infection progresses from superficial gum inflammation to deep tissue destruction, ultimately affecting the bone that anchors your teeth in place.
The progression of periodontal disease follows a predictable pattern, starting with gingivitis and potentially advancing to periodontitis if left untreated. Understanding this disease process allows periodontists to intervene at the most appropriate stage, often preventing irreversible damage through targeted therapeutic approaches.
Specialized Training and Expertise
Periodontal residency programs provide intensive training in surgical techniques, regenerative procedures, dental implant placement, and the medical management of complex cases. This specialized education prepares periodontists to handle challenging situations that extend beyond the scope of general dental practice, including cases involving systemic health conditions that affect healing.
The depth of periodontal training encompasses not only technical skills but also a comprehensive understanding of how oral health connects to overall wellness. This broad perspective allows periodontists to coordinate care with medical specialists and provide treatment recommendations that support both oral and systemic health goals.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Approach
Modern periodontal diagnosis relies on sophisticated assessment techniques that evaluate tissue health, bone levels, and bacterial populations around each tooth. Detailed periodontal charting documents pocket depths, bleeding patterns, and mobility levels to create a comprehensive picture of your periodontal status.
Advanced imaging technology provides three-dimensional views of bone architecture and root anatomy, enabling precise treatment planning for complex cases. This thorough diagnostic approach ensures that treatment recommendations address the underlying causes of periodontal disease rather than just managing symptoms.
Our Periodontal Services
Comprehensive periodontal care under one roof
This foundational treatment removes bacterial deposits below the gum line, creating clean root surfaces that promote healing. Our ultrasonic technology makes the process more comfortable than traditional methods while achieving superior results.
Advanced laser therapy eliminates diseased tissue with remarkable precision, preserving healthy gums while promoting natural regeneration. This minimally invasive approach means less discomfort and faster recovery for busy Ballard professionals.
Restore receded gums and protect exposed roots through our precise grafting techniques. We use both traditional and innovative approaches to rebuild your gum line, enhancing both aesthetics and dental health.
As periodontal specialists, we excel at the surgical placement of dental implants with a 97% success rate. Our expertise in bone grafting and tissue management ensures optimal results for Ballard patients seeking permanent tooth replacement.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Conservative periodontal treatment begins with thorough scaling and root planing to remove bacterial deposits and smooth root surfaces. This foundational therapy creates an environment that supports tissue healing and reduces inflammation throughout the mouth.
Chronic periodontitis affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the United States, making effective non-surgical therapy crucial for maintaining oral health in a significant portion of the adult population. Many patients respond excellently to conservative treatment, avoiding the need for more extensive surgical procedures.
Advanced Surgical Interventions
When non-surgical therapy proves insufficient, periodontists offer various surgical options designed to eliminate disease and restore healthy tissue architecture. Osseous surgery reshapes affected bone and gum tissues to reduce pocket depths and create maintainable contours around treated teeth.
Regenerative surgical procedures utilize growth factors, barrier membranes, and bone grafting materials to actually rebuild tissues destroyed by periodontal disease. These sophisticated techniques can restore significant amounts of lost support, often saving teeth that might otherwise require extraction.
Discover Our Advanced Approach
Watch this short video to learn more about our state-of-the-art technology and patient-centered care that sets us apart.
Revolutionary Laser Technology
Laser-assisted regeneration with LANAP has transformed periodontal treatment by offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional gum surgery. The laser’s precise wavelength selectively targets diseased tissue while stimulating regeneration of healthy attachment between teeth and gums.
This breakthrough technology eliminates the need for scalpels and sutures in many cases, resulting in dramatically reduced post-operative discomfort and healing times. Patients often express amazement at how comfortable laser periodontal therapy feels compared to their expectations of traditional gum surgery.
Aesthetic Periodontal Procedures
Periodontal specialists address aesthetic concerns such as gummy smiles, uneven gum lines, and gum recession that affect the appearance of your smile. Crown lengthening procedures reshape gum and bone tissues to expose more tooth structure, creating better proportions between teeth and gums.
Gum grafting techniques restore areas of recession, protecting exposed root surfaces while improving smile aesthetics. Modern grafting approaches utilize advanced materials and techniques that provide natural-looking results with minimal patient discomfort.
Meet Our Periodontal Team
Dr. Thomas Sweeney
DDS, Certificate in Periodontics – Lead Periodontist & Implant Specialist
Dr. Thomas Sweeney leads our periodontal department as both practice owner and surgical specialist, bringing decades of experience in complex gum treatments and implant placement.
Together with Dr. Rhys Spoor and Dr. Stephanie Yeung, our integrated team approach means your periodontal treatment seamlessly coordinates with any necessary restorative work — all under one roof.
Patients from Ballard appreciate our collaborative philosophy that eliminates the hassle of multiple referrals while ensuring every aspect of your oral health receives expert attention.
Dental Implant Specialization
Periodontists receive extensive training in dental implant placement and management, making them uniquely qualified to handle both routine and complex implant cases. Their understanding of bone biology and wound healing contributes to superior implant success rates and long-term stability.
When insufficient bone exists for implant placement, periodontists can perform bone grafting procedures to rebuild the necessary foundation. This regenerative approach expands treatment possibilities for patients who might not initially be implant candidates.
Transform Your Periodontal Health with Dental Specialties Northwest
Dr. Tom Sweeney and Dr. Rhys Spoor combine decades of periodontal excellence with the latest advances in regenerative therapy and minimally invasive techniques. Our Columbia Tower practice represents Seattle’s premier destination for comprehensive periodontal care, offering everything from conservative maintenance therapy to complex reconstructive procedures. We understand that periodontal health forms the foundation of your overall oral wellness and beautiful smile.
Our integrated approach to periodontal care ensures that every aspect of your treatment supports long-term success and optimal outcomes. Whether you require routine maintenance or complex regenerative therapy, our team provides the specialized care necessary to preserve your natural teeth and restore confident oral health. Contact us at (206) 682-8200 to schedule your comprehensive periodontal evaluation and discover the difference specialized care makes for your smile.
See What Our Patients Say
Insurance & Payment
Quality periodontal care should be accessible. As a Delta Dental Premier Provider, we offer enhanced coverage for those patients. Our team will verify your benefits and handle claims directly.
Financial Options Include:
- Delta Dental Premier Provider (enhanced coverage)
- CareCredit financing
- Payment plans
- HSA/FSA accepted
- Transparent pricing upfront
- Complimentary insurance verification
Why Ballard Residents Choose Our Downtown Location
Easy Access from Maritime Seattle
Our downtown Seattle location at 701 5th Avenue sits just 15 minutes from Ballard’s center via the efficient 15th Avenue corridor. Morning appointments work perfectly before heading to Fishermen’s Terminal, while afternoon slots accommodate those working in Fremont or Queen Anne.
Extended Morning Hours
Starting at 7:00 AM, we accommodate Ballard’s early-rising maritime workers, restaurant owners prepping for lunch service, and professionals catching morning meetings downtown. These dawn appointments mean you’re back in Ballard before rush hour begins.
Integrated Specialty Care
Unlike scattered referrals across Seattle, our practice houses periodontics, prosthodontics, and implant surgery together. This integration particularly benefits complex cases requiring coordinated treatment — saving Ballard residents multiple trips across the city.
Visit Our Seattle Office
Modern periodontics in a comfortable setting. Our centrally located Seattle office offers:
- Free parking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Early morning & evening appointments
- Virtual consultations available
- 701 5th Ave, Suite 4660, Seattle, WA 98104
- 206-682-8200
- frontdesk@dentalspecialtiesnorthwest.com
