It is easy to focus on your teeth and forget about the gums and bone that support them, but your periodontal health is just as important. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults, and because it often develops with little or no pain, many people do not realize they have it until it has caused real damage.
At Guru Dentistry in Irvine, CA, Dr. Vanila Godara offers comprehensive periodontal care to catch gum disease early, treat it effectively, and help you keep your natural teeth for life. As a family-owned practice that handles your care in-house, we make it easy to stay on top of your gum health without being referred elsewhere.
Gum disease progresses in stages, and catching it early makes treatment far simpler. In its earliest form, gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily, usually with little discomfort. At this stage, good home care combined with professional cleaning can often completely reverse the inflammation.
If gingivitis is left untreated, plaque can spread below the gumline and develop into periodontitis. The bacteria release toxins that trigger chronic inflammation, gradually damaging the tissue and bone that support your teeth. At this stage, professional periodontal treatment becomes essential to stop the progression and save your teeth.
This nonsurgical deep cleaning is often the first line of treatment for gum disease. We carefully clean below the gumline to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the periodontal pockets, then smooth the tooth roots so it is harder for bacteria to reattach. This helps the gums heal and reattach to the teeth.
LANAP is an advanced, minimally invasive laser treatment for moderate to severe gum disease and a gentler alternative to traditional gum surgery. Using a specialized dental laser, we selectively remove diseased tissue and harmful bacteria while preserving healthy tissue, and the treatment encourages the body’s natural ability to regenerate lost bone and tissue. Most patients enjoy a more comfortable experience and a faster recovery compared with conventional surgery.
After active treatment, ongoing maintenance visits are key to keeping gum disease from returning. Unlike a standard cleaning, periodontal maintenance specifically targets bacteria below the gumline and is typically scheduled three to four times a year to protect your results.
Beyond your mouth, gum health is connected to your whole-body health. Untreated gum disease can lead to tooth loss, and research has linked chronic gum inflammation to a higher risk of conditions, including heart disease, diabetes complications, and stroke. Treating gum disease early protects not just your smile, but your overall well-being.
In its earliest stage, gingivitis can often be reversed with professional cleaning and good home care. Once it advances to periodontitis, it can be managed and controlled, but not fully reversed, which is why early treatment matters so much.
We prioritize your comfort. Local anesthesia is used during deeper cleanings, and laser treatments like LANAP are typically more comfortable than traditional gum surgery. Sedation options are available if you feel anxious.
LANAP uses a focused laser instead of cutting and stitching, which means less discomfort, less bleeding, and a quicker recovery for most patients, while still effectively treating advanced gum disease.
After treatment, most patients need maintenance visits three to four times a year. We will recommend a schedule based on the health of your gums.
Periodontal treatment is often partially covered. We accept all PPO plans and will help you understand your benefits, with financing available for any balance.
