Periodontal Treatment
Advanced Care for Healthier Gums and a Stronger Smile
Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile. When periodontal disease develops, it can affect much more than the appearance of your gums. Without appropriate treatment, gum disease can lead to inflammation, bone loss, loose teeth, and eventually tooth loss.
At our practice, Dr. Ninel Wendover takes periodontal health seriously. She has dedicated significant time to continuing education focused on periodontal disease, its progression, and modern treatment techniques. Her commitment to ongoing learning allows her to offer patients a comprehensive approach to managing gum disease.
We are proud to provide a range of periodontal treatments, including Scaling and Root Planing (SRP), LANAP® Laser Periodontal Treatment, LAPIP™ Laser Implant Treatment, and Periodontal Maintenance.
Our goal is to control infection and inflammation, preserve healthy tissue, protect your natural teeth and dental implants, and help you maintain better oral health for years to come.
Personalized Periodontal Care
The Right Treatment for Your Individual Needs
Not all periodontal disease is the same, and not every patient requires the same treatment.
Some patients may benefit from traditional nonsurgical periodontal therapy, while others may require more advanced treatment to address deeper periodontal pockets, supporting bone loss, or complications involving dental implants.
Dr. Wendover carefully evaluates each patient's periodontal health, reviews their medical and dental history, and discusses appropriate treatment options based on the severity of their condition.
Our focus is on providing effective, individualized treatment while preserving natural teeth and healthy surrounding structures whenever possible.
Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)
A Deeper Cleaning to Help Control Gum Disease
Scaling and Root Planing, commonly referred to as a deep cleaning, is a nonsurgical treatment used to manage periodontal disease.
Unlike a routine preventive dental cleaning, which focuses on removing deposits from accessible tooth surfaces, scaling and root planing addresses plaque, tartar, and bacterial buildup beneath the gumline.
During treatment, specialized dental instruments are used to carefully remove deposits from the tooth and root surfaces. The root surfaces are also treated as needed to help reduce bacterial accumulation and support gum tissue healing.
Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing
SRP may help:
Remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gumline.
Reduce gum inflammation and bleeding.
Help periodontal pockets become shallower as tissues heal.
Improve the health of the surrounding gum tissue.
Slow or prevent further progression of periodontal disease when combined with appropriate ongoing care.
Depending on the extent of periodontal disease, treatment may be completed over multiple appointments. Local anesthesia may be used to help keep you comfortable.
Following treatment, your gums will be reevaluated to determine how well they have responded and whether additional periodontal care is recommended.
Scaling and Root Planing is often an important first step in controlling periodontal disease and helping patients regain healthier gums.
LANAP® Laser Periodontal Treatment
Advanced Laser Technology for Treating Gum Disease
For patients with more advanced periodontal disease, traditional deep cleaning alone may not always be sufficient.
LANAP® (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is a minimally invasive, laser-based treatment protocol designed to manage periodontitis while preserving healthy surrounding tissue.
Using specialized laser technology, LANAP targets diseased tissue and bacteria within periodontal pockets. The procedure also involves removing deposits from tooth roots and treating the affected area to support healing.
Unlike traditional periodontal surgery that may require cutting and repositioning gum tissue, LANAP uses a laser-based approach without conventional scalpel incisions or sutures as part of the protocol.
Potential Benefits of LANAP
For appropriate candidates, LANAP may offer:
Minimally Invasive Treatment: An alternative to certain traditional periodontal surgical approaches.
Preservation of Healthy Tissue: Laser technology helps target affected tissue while minimizing unnecessary disruption to surrounding healthy structures.
Reduced Bleeding and Swelling: Some patients may experience less bleeding and swelling compared with conventional surgery.
Improved Comfort: Some patients report less postoperative discomfort.
Support for Periodontal Healing: Treatment aims to reduce inflammation and support healing of the tissues surrounding the teeth.
Potential for Improved Attachment: In selected cases, periodontal attachment improvements may occur following treatment.
Who May Benefit from LANAP?
LANAP may be considered for patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis, particularly when deeper periodontal pockets or supporting bone loss require more extensive treatment.
However, not every patient with gum disease requires laser treatment.
Dr. Wendover will evaluate your periodontal condition and determine whether LANAP, Scaling and Root Planing, or another treatment approach is most appropriate.
Our goal is to help patients manage periodontal disease while preserving their natural teeth whenever possible.
LAPIP™ Laser Implant Treatment
Helping Protect the Health of Your Dental Implants
Dental implants are designed to replace missing teeth, but they still require healthy surrounding gums and supporting bone to remain stable.
Just like natural teeth, dental implants can develop inflammation and infection in the surrounding tissues.
When inflammation is limited to the soft tissue around an implant, it is referred to as peri-implant mucositis. When the condition progresses and involves loss of supporting bone, it is known as peri-implantitis.
Without appropriate care, peri-implantitis can threaten the long-term stability of a dental implant.
What Is LAPIP?
LAPIP™ (Laser-Assisted Peri-Implantitis Procedure) is a specialized laser-based treatment protocol designed to help manage peri-implantitis.
The procedure uses laser technology as part of an approach to treating affected tissues and reducing bacterial contamination around dental implants.
LAPIP is intended to help control inflammation and support healing while minimizing unnecessary disruption to surrounding tissues.
Potential Benefits of LAPIP
For appropriate patients, LAPIP may:
Help reduce bacterial contamination around affected implants.
Address inflamed or diseased tissue surrounding the implant.
Provide a minimally invasive treatment option.
Minimize disruption to healthy surrounding tissue.
Support healing and management of peri-implant inflammation.
Help preserve an affected dental implant when successful treatment is possible.
Signs of Problems Around Dental Implants
Patients with dental implants should be aware of potential warning signs, including:
Bleeding when brushing around an implant.
Redness, swelling, or tenderness of the surrounding gums.
Persistent bad taste or drainage near an implant.
Gum recession or changes in the tissue around an implant.
Discomfort when chewing.
Changes in implant stability.
It is important to understand that peri-implantitis can sometimes progress without significant discomfort.
Not every compromised implant can be saved, and treatment outcomes depend on the severity of the condition and other individual factors. However, early evaluation and appropriate care may improve the opportunity to preserve the implant.
If you notice changes around an existing dental implant, we encourage you to schedule an evaluation.
Periodontal Maintenance
Protecting Your Results for the Long Term
Successfully treating periodontal disease is only part of the process. Maintaining healthy gums afterward is equally important.
Periodontitis is a chronic condition that can recur or progress if it is not properly managed.
Periodontal Maintenance is a specialized program of ongoing professional care designed for patients who have previously undergone treatment for periodontal disease.
Unlike a routine preventive cleaning, periodontal maintenance focuses on monitoring and managing a history of gum disease.
What Happens During Periodontal Maintenance?
Depending on your individual needs, maintenance appointments may include:
Removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline.
Evaluating gum inflammation and bleeding.
Monitoring periodontal pocket depths.
Assessing areas of gum recession and supporting bone loss.
Checking for signs of recurring or progressing periodontal disease.
Reviewing home care techniques and recommending improvements.
Evaluating the health of dental implants when applicable.
How Often Is Periodontal Maintenance Needed?
Many patients with a history of periodontitis benefit from periodontal maintenance appointments approximately every three to four months, although the appropriate interval varies based on individual risk factors and disease stability.
Dr. Wendover will recommend a maintenance schedule based on your periodontal health, treatment history, and risk of disease progression.
Even when your gums feel healthy and you are no longer experiencing bleeding or discomfort, ongoing maintenance remains important.
Periodontal maintenance is not simply another cleaning. It is an essential part of managing a chronic condition and protecting the results of your treatment.
Dr. Wendover's Commitment to Advanced Periodontal Care
Continuing Education. Modern Technology. Personalized Treatment.
Dr. Wendover believes that healthy gums are essential to maintaining natural teeth and long-term oral health.
Recognizing the serious consequences of untreated periodontal disease, she has invested considerable time in continuing education focused on periodontal diagnosis, treatment, and advanced techniques.
Her commitment to ongoing education has helped shape the comprehensive periodontal services available at our practice, including traditional Scaling and Root Planing and advanced laser procedures such as LANAP and LAPIP.
We believe patients deserve to understand their condition, why treatment is recommended, and what they can do to protect their oral health moving forward.
Our approach emphasizes:
Early Detection: Identifying periodontal concerns before additional damage occurs.
Personalized Treatment Planning: Recommending care based on each patient's individual condition.
Advanced Technology: Incorporating modern laser treatment options when clinically appropriate.
Patient Education: Helping patients understand their periodontal health and treatment choices.
Long-Term Maintenance: Supporting ongoing periodontal stability after active treatment.
Whether your condition requires nonsurgical deep cleaning, advanced laser treatment, or continued periodontal maintenance, our team is committed to helping you protect your oral health.
Healthy Gums. Stronger Teeth. Lasting Confidence.
Periodontal disease can have serious consequences, but with appropriate treatment and continued care, many patients can successfully manage their condition and maintain their natural teeth.
At our practice, we are proud to offer a comprehensive approach to periodontal treatment that combines established techniques, advanced laser technology, and Dr. Wendover's commitment to continuing education.
Our goal isn't simply to treat gum disease. It's to help you protect your natural teeth, maintain healthier gums, and preserve your smile for years to come.
Contact our office to schedule a periodontal evaluation and learn which treatment options may be appropriate for you.