Minimally invasive periodontal care
Laser Dentistry
Laser treatment for gum disease, paired with scaling and root planing and followed up with maintenance cleanings from Amy, at 1000 Wigwam Parkway in Henderson.
Chapter 01
What gum disease is, and why catching it early matters
Gum disease starts quietly. Plaque and bacteria build up along and under the gumline, and the gums respond with inflammation, the stage most people know as gingivitis. Left alone, that inflammation can work its way deeper, pulling gum tissue away from the tooth and, over time, affecting the bone that holds the tooth in place. None of this usually hurts enough to notice on its own, which is exactly why it tends to get found later than it should.
Catching it earlier is the point of a regular exam. At Southridge Dental Care in Henderson, Dr. Christopher Martinez and the hygiene team check for the signs before a patient feels anything: gums that bleed easily when brushed, pockets that have started to deepen, tartar building up where a toothbrush cannot reach. If it has been a while since your last exam, call (702) 777-4700 and get on the schedule.
The reception at Southridge Dental Care in Henderson, with a granite front desk and leather chairs
Laser treatment, used alongside scaling and root planing
For gum disease that has moved past what a routine cleaning can address, Southridge Dental Care treats it with a minimally invasive laser rather than traditional gum surgery. The laser is used alongside scaling and root planing, the deeper cleaning that removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths the tooth root so gum tissue can reattach. The Southridge Dental Discount Program lists scaling and root planing by the quadrant, along with periodontal cleaning, as member-priced procedures, because gum treatment is one of the more common reasons a patient without insurance asks about it.
Where a pocket needs more than cleaning alone, the practice can also place Arestin, a locally applied antibiotic, directly at the site to help control bacteria between visits. This is a more targeted way to treat gum disease than scaling by itself, not a guarantee of a particular result or a faster recovery. Dr. Martinez will explain what your case actually needs before any of it happens.
Chapter 03
Follow-up and maintenance cleanings with Amy
Gum disease is not treated once and forgotten. After laser treatment and root planing, the practice schedules maintenance cleanings on a shorter interval than the usual six months, so the gums are checked while they are still healing and before a problem has a chance to come back. Amy, the practice's registered dental hygienist, has worked in dentistry for thirty years and has spent more than twenty of them as a hygienist, including the ongoing care that gum disease needs after the initial treatment.
Those maintenance visits are also when Amy and Dr. Martinez decide whether a case has stabilized enough to return to a normal six-month cleaning or needs another round of care. If you have noticed bleeding when you brush or floss, call the office at (702) 777-4700 to have it looked at.
Southridge Dental Care, 1000 Wigwam Parkway, Suite 120, Henderson. The Southridge Dental Discount Program covers scaling and root planing and periodontal cleaning for members. Call (702) 777-4700.
More at Southridge Dental