Targeted gum disease treatment and long-term periodontal care designed to protect your teeth, your health, and your smile for years to come.
Gum Health Specialists
Most people think of dentistry as being about teeth, but the health of your gums and the bone underneath them matters just as much. Periodontics is the branch of dentistry focused on diagnosing and treating the structures that hold your teeth in place - your gums, periodontal ligaments, and the supporting bone. At Lake Mountain Dental, we treat periodontal disease as part of our broader general dentistry program, because healthy gums are the real foundation everything else in your mouth depends on.
Gum disease is sneaky. It often starts with no pain at all, just a little redness or occasional bleeding when you brush. Left untreated, it progresses quietly, breaking down the bone that anchors your teeth and eventually putting those teeth at risk of becoming loose or being lost entirely. Research has also connected untreated periodontal disease to heart disease, diabetes complications, and other whole-body health concerns. Catching it early, and treating it thoroughly when it's found, is one of the most important things our Eagle Mountain patients can do for their long-term oral and overall health.
Periodontal disease develops in stages, starting with gingivitis - mild inflammation that's reversible with proper care - and progressing to periodontitis, where damage to bone and connective tissue becomes permanent without treatment. Many of our patients are surprised to learn how subtle the early warning signs can be. Knowing what to watch for makes it much easier to get ahead of the problem before it causes real damage.
Periodontal care isn't just for patients already diagnosed with advanced gum disease. We evaluate gum health at every routine checkup, measuring pocket depths and checking for bleeding, recession, and bone changes on X-rays so we can intervene at the earliest, easiest-to-treat stage possible. Some patients are also more prone to gum problems because of health history or lifestyle factors, and knowing where you stand helps us personalize your care plan.
Not every case of gum disease needs the same approach. We tailor treatment to the severity of your condition, starting with the least invasive option that will get the job done and escalating only when necessary. Our goal is always to halt the disease's progression, restore healthy tissue where possible, and set you up with a maintenance routine that keeps things stable going forward.
Treating periodontal disease does more than save your teeth, although that alone is reason enough. Because your mouth is connected to the rest of your body, healthier gums tend to go hand in hand with better outcomes elsewhere. We talk with our Eagle Mountain patients about these connections regularly, because understanding the "why" behind periodontal care makes it much easier to stay consistent with treatment and maintenance.
We've structured our periodontal care process to feel clear and unhurried, so you always know what's happening and why. Here's a general outline of what a course of treatment looks like at Lake Mountain Dental, from your first evaluation through ongoing maintenance.
We measure pocket depths around every tooth, check for bleeding and recession, and review X-rays to assess bone levels. This gives us a precise picture of where you currently stand.
Based on your evaluation, we outline a specific plan, whether that's a single deep cleaning, a staged scaling and root planing process, or a referral for more advanced care.
Using local anesthetic for comfort, we clean below the gumline to remove bacteria and tartar, applying antimicrobial treatment where it's needed most.
A few weeks after treatment, we re-measure pocket depths to confirm the gums are responding well and adjust the plan if any areas need further attention.
We move you to a maintenance schedule, usually every three to four months, to keep bacteria levels low and catch any new changes immediately.
We equip you with specific brushing and flossing techniques and product recommendations so your efforts at home reinforce the work we do in the chair.
Gum disease treatment works best when it's consistent, well-monitored, and delivered by a team that actually takes the time to explain what's going on in your mouth. That's the approach we've built our periodontal program around, and it's part of why families throughout Eagle Mountain trust us with their general dentistry and gum health needs.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease - inflammation of the gum tissue without bone loss - and it's fully reversible with a professional cleaning and good home care. Periodontitis is more advanced; by this stage, the infection has started breaking down the bone and ligaments supporting your teeth, and the damage is permanent even though the disease can be managed and controlled.
We use local anesthetic to numb the treatment area before deep cleaning, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain during the procedure. Afterward, some mild soreness or sensitivity is normal for a day or two, similar to what you might feel after a very thorough standard cleaning, and it typically resolves quickly.
Most patients who have been treated for gum disease move to a maintenance schedule of every three to four months, rather than the standard twice-a-year cleaning. This more frequent interval keeps bacterial buildup under control and allows us to catch any new pocket depth changes before they become a bigger problem.
Gum tissue that has already receded does not grow back on its own, but treatment can stop further recession and protect the exposed root surface. In cases of significant recession, we coordinate with a trusted periodontal specialist for soft tissue grafting, which can rebuild gum coverage and reduce sensitivity.
Yes. Research has linked chronic periodontal infection and inflammation to a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and complications for people with diabetes. Treating gum disease not only protects your teeth but also helps reduce a source of ongoing inflammation that can affect the rest of your body.
Most dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing and periodontal maintenance, though coverage levels vary by plan. Our team will review your benefits with you before treatment starts and walk you through any out-of-pocket costs so there are no surprises.
Lake Mountain Dental
From routine cleanings to advanced care, our team is ready to welcome you and your family. Schedule your visit today - we'd love to see you smile.
4342 E Pony Express Pkwy, Eagle Mountain, UT 84005
