Most people don’t call us the same week their dentist refers them. Life gets busy. The gums aren’t hurting. It feels like something that can wait a little longer.
We get it. But periodontitis doesn’t pause while you’re deciding. Here’s what you actually need to know before you put this off another month.
What’s Happening in Your Mouth Right Now
Periodontitis is different from gingivitis. With gingivitis, the damage is reversible. With periodontitis, the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place have already started breaking down, and that process doesn’t stop on its own.
The bacteria living in the pockets around your teeth release toxins around the clock. Your immune system responds by attacking the infection, but in doing so, it also breaks down bone. No amount of brushing or rinsing at home reverses that cycle. It has to be treated professionally.
What Happens If You Wait
This is the part most people don’t hear clearly enough from their dentist: periodontitis is progressive. The longer it goes untreated, the more bone you lose. And bone loss leads to specific, real consequences.
Teeth become loose. As the bone supporting your teeth erodes, the teeth start to shift and loosen. What starts as mild mobility can progress to the point where teeth can’t be saved.
Teeth need to be extracted. We do everything we can to save natural teeth. But advanced periodontitis sometimes leaves us with no choice. Extraction and replacement with dental implants is far more expensive and involved than treating the disease early.
Treatment becomes more complex. Mild to moderate periodontitis can often be managed with scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning we do right here in our office. Advanced cases may need surgical intervention. Treating it now, while options are simpler, is almost always better than treating it later.
Your overall health may be affected. Research has linked periodontal disease to cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, and other systemic conditions. Your mouth and your body are connected.
What Treatment Actually Looks Like
A lot of patients put off calling because they’re not sure what they’re agreeing to. Here’s what the process typically looks like at our office.
Your first appointment is a thorough evaluation. Dr. Trujillo measures the pockets around each tooth, reviews your X-rays, and looks at the full picture before recommending anything. You leave that appointment understanding exactly what’s going on and what your options are. No pressure, no rush.
Scaling and root planing is the most common first treatment for periodontitis. We clean deep below the gumline to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from the root surfaces. This is done with local anesthetic, so you’re comfortable throughout. Most patients do one or two quadrants per visit.
For more advanced cases, Dr. Trujillo may recommend pocket reduction surgery, LANAP laser gum surgery, or bone grafting. He’ll walk you through exactly why he recommends what he recommends and what each procedure involves. Nothing is a surprise.
We offer IV conscious sedation for patients who are nervous about the treatment. If anxiety has been part of what’s kept you from calling, that’s worth knowing.
What Recovery Is Like
Scaling and root planing involves some soreness for a day or two, and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. Gums may be a little sensitive to hot and cold for a short time. Most patients go back to normal activity the same day.
Surgical procedures take a bit more recovery time, usually a few days of soft foods and some swelling. Dr. Trujillo and our team give you clear aftercare instructions and we’re always reachable if you have questions.
The goal of treatment isn’t just to stop the damage, it’s to get your gums to a state you can maintain. After active treatment, most patients come in for periodontal maintenance every three to four months. Those visits keep the bacteria levels in check and let us catch anything early.
One More Thing Worth Knowing
We’ve treated more than 40,000 patients over the years. The ones who come in worried they waited too long are almost never as far gone as they feared. And the ones who delay the longest are the ones who end up with fewer options.
If your dentist referred you, they saw something that needs attention. The sooner we see you, the more we can do.
Call us at (602) 459-9459 or request an appointment online. We’re at 1717 W. Northern Ave., Suite 104 in Phoenix, AZ. We also see patients from across the Valley, including Mesa, Glendale, and Scottsdale.
