Gum Disease Is the Leading Cause of Tooth Loss. It Is Also Largely Preventable.
Half of American adults over age 30 have some form of gum disease, and most of them do not know it. Periodontal disease rarely causes pain in its early stages. Gums bleed a little at brushing, pockets deepen slowly, bone recedes quietly. By the time it is noticeable it has often already caused damage that cannot be undone. Patients from Poteet and Castroville bring their families to Fountain of Youth Dental for periodontal therapy in San Antonio TX because Dr. Cappetta, DDS, a member of the Academy of General Dentistry with over 35 years of general dentistry experience, screens for gum disease at every checkup and treats it at the stage where treatment is still most effective.
Gum disease is caused by bacterial plaque and tartar accumulating at and below the gum line. The bacteria produce toxins that trigger an inflammatory response in the gum tissue. Over time the inflammation destroys the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place. What begins as gingivitis, which is reversible with a professional cleaning and better home care, can progress to periodontitis, which causes irreversible bone loss and eventually tooth loss if left untreated. The connection between gum disease and systemic health is well established. Research links periodontal disease to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Treating gum disease is not just about saving teeth.
The Stages of Gum Disease and What They Mean
Understanding the stages of periodontal disease helps patients recognize the symptoms early and understand why Dr. Cappetta recommends specific treatment at each stage. Gingivitis is the earliest and only reversible stage. The gums appear red, swollen, and bleed during brushing or flossing but the bone and connective tissue are not yet affected. A professional cleaning that removes the plaque and tartar causing the inflammation, combined with improved home care, is often sufficient to reverse it completely.
Mild to moderate periodontitis develops when gingivitis is left untreated. The gum tissue begins to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets where bacteria accumulate below the gum line, and bone loss begins. Scaling and root planing is the standard treatment at this stage. Advanced periodontitis involves significant bone and tissue loss, deepening pockets, and in some cases loose teeth. Treatment at this stage often requires a combination of deep cleaning, laser therapy, and referral to a periodontist for surgical intervention when non-surgical treatment is no longer sufficient.
What Happens at Your Periodontal Therapy Appointment
Periodontal therapy at Fountain of Youth Dental begins with a thorough evaluation before any treatment is performed. Dr. Cappetta measures the depth of the gum pockets around every tooth using a periodontal probe, assesses bone levels on X-rays, evaluates recession and furcation involvement, and reviews contributing factors in the patient’s medical history. Diabetes, smoking, certain medications, and genetic predisposition all affect how aggressively gum disease progresses and how well the tissue responds to treatment.
Scaling and root planing is the primary non-surgical treatment for mild to moderate periodontitis and is completed under local anesthesia for patient comfort. The hygienist uses ultrasonic scalers and hand instruments to remove plaque, tartar, and bacterial toxins from above and below the gum line, then smooths the root surfaces to discourage bacteria from re-adhering and to encourage the gum tissue to reattach. Fountain of Youth Dental also offers soft tissue laser therapy, an option available from Dr. Cappetta as one of the elite six percent of dentists nationwide certified in both hard and soft tissue laser dentistry, which removes infected tissue from the pockets with precision and minimal post-treatment discomfort.
