GUM DISEASE TREATMENT in Seattle, WA

Don’t let periodontal disease compromise your oral health and overall wellbeing. At Dental Specialties Northwest, our Seattle specialists provide comprehensive gum disease treatment using cutting-edge techniques and technology to restore your gum health and prevent tooth loss.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a progressive infection of the gum tissue and supporting structures that hold your teeth in place. Beginning as gingivitis with symptoms like red, swollen gums and bleeding during brushing, untreated gum disease advances to periodontitis, where gums pull away from teeth, forming pockets that collect harmful bacteria. As these bacteria multiply, they destroy gum tissue and eventually the bone supporting your teeth, leading to tooth mobility and potential tooth loss.

This common condition affects approximately 47% of adults over 30, with risk factors including poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes, certain medications, genetic predisposition, and hormonal changes. Beyond oral health, research has established links between untreated gum disease and serious systemic conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes complications, and respiratory issues. At Dental Specialties Northwest, our Seattle specialists emphasize the importance of comprehensive periodontal care not just for your smile, but for your overall health and wellbeing.

Our Services

Advanced Surgical Treatments

When gum disease progresses to advanced stages with significant bone loss or persistent deep pockets, surgical intervention may be necessary to restore health. Our Seattle periodontal specialists perform a range of sophisticated procedures including pocket reduction surgery (flap surgery) to reduce pocket depths and eliminate bacteria-harboring spaces. For cases with significant gum recession, we offer various gum grafting techniques to cover exposed roots, reduce sensitivity, and restore aesthetic appearance. When bone loss has occurred, we provide bone grafting procedures to replace lost bone structure and create a solid foundation for your teeth or future dental implants. These advanced procedures utilize minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to reduce discomfort and speed recovery time.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

For mild to moderate gum disease, non-surgical treatments often provide effective results while preserving your natural tissues. Scaling and root planing—often called deep cleaning—remains the gold standard first-line treatment for periodontal disease. This thorough procedure removes plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gum line while smoothing root surfaces to discourage future bacterial adherence. Our Seattle specialists may complement this treatment with antimicrobial irrigations or localized antibiotic therapy to target persistent infections in deeper pockets. For optimal comfort, we offer various sedation options, including nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation. Many patients experience significant improvement after non-surgical therapy, with reduced pocket depths, decreased inflammation, and resolution of bleeding.

Laser-Assisted Periodontal Therapy

Incorporating state-of-the-art technology into gum disease treatment, our Seattle practice offers laser-assisted periodontal therapy for enhanced results with less discomfort. This advanced approach uses precisely controlled laser energy to target diseased tissue while preserving healthy structures. Laser therapy effectively eliminates harmful bacteria, removes infected tissue, and promotes healing with minimal bleeding and swelling. The selective nature of laser treatment results in less trauma to surrounding tissues, faster recovery times, and reduced post-procedure discomfort compared to traditional methods. This cutting-edge option is particularly beneficial for patients with moderate to advanced periodontal disease who prefer a less invasive alternative to conventional surgery. Our specialists will determine if laser therapy is appropriate for your specific condition during your comprehensive evaluation.

Don't ignore bleeding gums or gum recession. Early intervention can prevent serious complications and save your natural teeth. Let our periodontal specialists help restore your gum health today.

Meet Dr. Thomas Sweeney and Our Expert Team

At Dental Specialties Northwest, our Seattle-based team brings exceptional expertise to every periodontal procedure. Led by Dr. Tom Sweeney and Dr. Rhys Spoor, our practice offers integrated dental care that allows you to receive multiple specialized treatments under one roof. Our doctors are trusted by other dental professionals—we’re proud to be “the dental care practice the dentists trust.”

Our team’s comprehensive approach means you benefit from specialists working together to diagnose and treat your gum disease effectively. Using cutting-edge dental technology and innovative techniques, we develop personalized treatment plans that address the underlying causes of your periodontal condition while preserving as much natural tissue as possible. Whether you’re experiencing early-stage gingivitis or advanced periodontitis, our specialists collaborate to deliver world-class periodontal care in our luxury Seattle dental environment at 701 5th Ave, Suite 4660.

Benefits of Professional Gum Disease Treatment

Prevention of Tooth Loss

Untreated gum disease remains the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. As periodontal disease progresses, it destroys the supporting structures that hold teeth in place, eventually leading to mobility and tooth loss. Professional treatment halts this destructive process, preserving your natural dentition and avoiding the need for extensive restorative procedures. By addressing gum disease at any stage, from early gingivitis to advanced periodontitis, our Seattle specialists help you maintain your natural smile for years to come. The investment in periodontal care now prevents the significant functional, aesthetic, and financial consequences of tooth loss later.

Improved Overall Health

The connection between oral health and systemic wellness is well-established, with research consistently demonstrating links between periodontal disease and conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory issues, and pregnancy complications. By effectively treating gum disease, you’re not just improving your oral health—you’re potentially reducing risk factors for these serious medical conditions. Our comprehensive approach addresses the bacterial infections that can spread through the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses throughout the body. Many patients report improvements in overall health markers following successful periodontal therapy, reinforcing the importance of addressing this common but serious condition.

Enhanced Comfort and Aesthetics

Advanced gum disease often causes uncomfortable symptoms including persistent bad breath, bleeding gums, gum recession, and tooth sensitivity. Professional treatment resolves these issues, restoring comfort and confidence in your daily life. Beyond symptom relief, periodontal therapy improves the appearance of your smile by reducing redness and swelling, addressing receding gums, and creating a healthier-looking gum line. For cases involving gum recession, our advanced grafting techniques can restore a natural-looking gum margin, improving both aesthetics and function. With restored gum health, you’ll feel more comfortable smiling, speaking, and eating in social situations.

Foundation for Future Dental Work

Healthy gums provide the essential foundation for all other dental procedures. Whether you’re considering cosmetic enhancements, restorative work, or dental implants, successful outcomes depend on first establishing optimal periodontal health. By addressing gum disease comprehensively, our Seattle specialists create the stable, healthy foundation necessary for long-lasting dental restorations and aesthetic improvements. This sequential approach ensures that investments in your smile are built on a solid foundation, improving long-term success rates and satisfaction with all dental treatments. Our integrated team approach facilitates seamless coordination between periodontal therapy and any subsequent dental procedures you may require.

Why Choose Dental Specialties Northwest for Gum Disease Treatment?

Integrated Specialist Care

At Dental Specialties Northwest, we pride ourselves on our integrated care approach that allows you to receive multiple dental procedures at a single practice. Rather than traveling to different specialists for periodontal treatment, restorative work, and ongoing maintenance, our comprehensive team works together in our Seattle office to provide coordinated care. This collaborative environment ensures seamless communication between specialists and more convenient treatment planning for complex periodontal cases. As “the dental care practice the dentists trust,” we maintain the highest standards in periodontal therapy, delivering exceptional results even for advanced or complicated cases.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Our Seattle practice utilizes cutting-edge dental technology and innovative techniques to provide superior periodontal treatment outcomes. From advanced diagnostic tools like digital imaging and 3D scanning to therapeutic technologies including dental lasers and ultrasonic instruments, we employ modern solutions that enhance precision and patient comfort. These technological advantages allow us to detect periodontal disease earlier, treat it more effectively, and monitor your progress with unprecedented accuracy. By integrating these advanced tools with our specialists’ expertise, we deliver gum disease treatment that’s more comfortable, efficient, and effective than ever before.

Comfort-Focused Approach

We understand that anxiety about dental treatment, particularly periodontal procedures, can prevent many patients from seeking necessary care. That’s why we’ve designed our Seattle office to provide comfort, care, and luxury through world-class services. Our sedation dentistry options, including IV sedation, nitrous oxide, and oral conscious sedation, ensure your complete comfort throughout even extensive periodontal treatments. Our team is committed to gentle, compassionate care that makes maintaining your periodontal health a positive experience rather than a dreaded necessity. This patient-centered philosophy extends from our welcoming environment to our careful, skilled treatment techniques.

Personalized Maintenance Programs

Successful gum disease treatment doesn’t end with active therapy—ongoing maintenance is crucial for long-term success. At Dental Specialties Northwest, we develop customized periodontal maintenance programs tailored to your specific needs and risk factors. These individualized plans typically include more frequent professional cleanings, targeted home care routines, and regular evaluations to monitor your periodontal health. Our Seattle team provides detailed instruction on specialized cleaning techniques and tools, from interdental brushes to water flossers, ensuring you can effectively maintain your results between appointments. This comprehensive approach to periodontal care provides the ongoing support needed to maintain healthy gums for life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Warning Signs of Gum Disease?

Early symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gums during brushing or flossing, persistent bad breath, red or swollen gums, tender gums, and receding gums that make teeth appear longer. As the condition progresses, you may notice pus between teeth and gums, loose or shifting teeth, changes in how your teeth fit together when biting, or new spaces developing between teeth. Many people experience minimal discomfort in early stages, which is why regular dental examinations are crucial for early detection. If you notice any of these warning signs, schedule an evaluation at our Seattle office promptly—early intervention significantly improves treatment outcomes and reduces the need for more extensive procedures.

Is Gum Disease Treatment Painful?

With modern techniques and sedation options, gum disease treatment at Dental Specialties Northwest is remarkably comfortable. For non-surgical procedures like scaling and root planing, we use effective local anesthesia to ensure you feel no pain during treatment, with optional sedation for anxious patients. Surgical procedures are performed with appropriate anesthesia and sedation tailored to the procedure's complexity and your comfort needs. Most patients report minimal discomfort during recovery, typically managed with over-the-counter pain relievers for a few days. Our Seattle specialists use minimally invasive approaches whenever possible to reduce post-procedure swelling and discomfort, allowing for faster recovery and return to normal activities.

How Can I Prevent Gum Disease from Returning?

Maintaining your results after periodontal treatment requires diligent home care and regular professional maintenance. Our Seattle team will develop a personalized plan that typically includes brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush, daily flossing or use of interdental cleaners, and possibly antimicrobial mouth rinses or other specialized products. Equally important are regular periodontal maintenance appointments—typically every 3-4 months rather than the standard 6-month recall—to remove bacterial buildup before it causes recurrent disease. Lifestyle factors also play a role, with smoking cessation, balanced nutrition, and blood sugar control for diabetic patients being particularly important for long-term periodontal health.

Protect your smile and overall health with expert periodontal care. Our Seattle specialists provide personalized gum disease treatment using the latest techniques and technology.

Visit Our Office

We’re conveniently located in downtown Seattle, WA, at 701 5th Ave, Suite 4660, in the Columbia Center. Enjoy stunning views, ample parking, and easy access to public transportation options for a seamless visit.