Advanced Gum Disease Treatment for the Cary and Raleigh, NC Area
Gum Disease Treatment in Cary, NC
You may not realize it but swollen and bleeding gums can be a whole lot more serious than “I guess I need to floss a little bit more”. According to a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention almost half of Americans suffer from varying degrees of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease first affects the gums of your mouth, but continuing research shows there is a significant link between your oral health and your overall health. Some even tie heart disease, diabetes, pancreatic cancer and even low birth-weight babies directly to periodontal disease.
Gum Disease Treatment with Advanced Technology
Dr. Acton and his dedicated team at Cary Family Dental near Raleigh, NC have invested the time and resources to understand gum disease and how to effectively treat it. In fact, we offer a cutting-edge gum disease treatment technology called LANAP.
Types of Gum Disease
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis and can eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage.
Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.
Periodontitis
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.
- Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
- Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.
- Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.
- Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.
Treatment Options
Periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, but if it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be needed.
Scaling & Root Planning
Scaling and root planing is a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Scaling and root planing is sometimes followed by adjunctive therapy on a case-by-case basis.
Most periodontists would agree that after scaling and root planing, many patients do not require any further active treatment. However, the majority of patients will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain health.
Period Maintanence
After scaling you come back 6 weeks later to have your first perio maintenance (PMX) to check pockets and how your gums are healing. Periodontal maintenance is similar to regular dental appointments, but provides a deeper cleaning on a more frequent basis.
LANAP
(Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is a phenomenal new periodontal disease treatment technology designed to offer a better solution than those of gum disease treatment protocols of years past. Older periodontal disease treatments called for invasive treatments; cutting and drilling away tooth and gums, or even extracting teeth entirely. The LANAP treatment allows us to remove the periodontal disease and bacteria with laser precision. Your gums can then heal quickly and return to their natural, healthy state.
Periodontal Disease FAQ
What Can I Do to Minimize My Risk for Periodontal Disease?
To minimize your risk of future periodontal disease, you must be mindful of the risk factors stated above. Gingivitis is usually well managed by adopting excellent oral hygiene practices. Periodontitis is more difficult to manage. Protocols recommended by your dentist may include:
NON-SURGICAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY
- Root cleaning (scaling and root planing) at the appropriate intervals to manage your risk for bone loss
- Antibacterial mouth rinses
- Oral antibiotics
- Customized home care instruction
- Smoking cessation counseling
- Surgical Periodontal Therapy
- Recontouring of gum and bone around affected teeth to allow better access for professional root cleaning and daily home care
SURGICAL PERIODONTAL THERAPY
- Recontouring of gum and bone around affected teeth to allow better access for professional root cleaning and daily home care
What Happens If I Do Nothing About My Periodontal Disease?
As uncontrolled periodontitis is progressive in nature, it will lead to increased bone loss and eventual tooth loss; ultimately affecting your ability to eat and speak. There are also connections between periodontal disease and other chronic diseases of the body such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. In pregnant women, periodontal disease is strongly linked to preterm, low birth weight.
What is LANAP?
LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) is a phenomenal new periodontal disease treatment technology designed to offer a better solution than those of gum disease treatment protocols of years past. Older periodontal disease treatments called for invasive treatments; cutting and drilling away tooth and gums, or even extracting teeth entirely. The LANAP treatment allows us to remove the periodontal disease and bacteria with laser precision… literally! Your gums can then heal quickly and return to their natural, healthy state.
Benefits of LANAP Periodontal Disease Treatment
More Comfortable | No cutting. No stitches. Less bleeding. LANAP periodontal disease treatment is much more comfortable than previous treatment options. This means you can get the care you need and don’t need to worry about the discomfort previously associated with gum disease treatment.
Quick Healing | Because the source of inflammation is (gum disease) is removed and less invasive methods are used, your down time turns into up time much faster.
Saves Teeth | The laser precision of LANAP allows us to exactly address and eradicate the harmful bacteria and disease without needing to remove teeth.
If you have sore or bleeding gums and are hesitant to visit the dentist to address it, stop! We can effectively and comfortably treat the issue and restore you to optimal oral health, so call the experts at Cary Family Dental in Cary, NC near Raleigh today!
Schedule an Appointment with Cary Family Dentists
Contact our dentist office in Cary near Raleigh, NC to get started on treatment for gum disease. Schedule a consultation today!
What Our Patients Are Saying!

If you're looking for the perfect dentist, then look no further. Kindness and care is at the forefront of everything they do and it really shows.
The atmosphere was superb and very friendly walking in.
Ana the dental hygienist and Blanca were EXTREMELY informative throughout every step. Ana was so accommodating through everything and was really involved with what you wanted from the visit and moving forward with oral care!
Each step of the way she would go over everything and explain everything from the up most thoroughness. She was super kind and made the atmosphere very uplifting.
The doc/dentist that came in was super respectful and friendly. He also was very informative and showed a lot of trust in his dental hygienist which I believe she is very knowledgeable in the field!
Over all great first time, they got me set up with a care plan that will hopefully help me get back on track!!
Thank you and would recommend to everyone!!
Great place. They were super gentle and fast. Ana is a star hygienist. Best dentist i have been to in a very long time
Beware! They are known to DECEIVE people into thinking they accept dental insurance. Paid way too much for my dental cleaning and they led me to believe I wouldn’t have to pay anything since cleanings are fully covered by my insurance.
Dr. W is amazing as well. He is genuine, thorough, and a good human.
The staff are friendly, timely, and on point. The office is modern, clean, and in a great location.
This practice blew me away so much that I have already referred them to clients and friends.
So happy that I found them. I would give them 10 stars if I could.
Yesterday and I have no pain dentures feel great I lost most of my teeth after Bariatric surgery broken chipped rotten teeth I was in paint for 3 years till I found Cary Family Dental I tried aspen affordable dentures and many others always got the run around Cary family dental did everything in there office one stop shop thanks again to
Cary Family dental
Yesterday and I have no pain dentures feel great I lost most of my teeth after Bariatric surgery broken chipped rotten teeth I was in paint for 3 years till I found Cary Family Dental I tried aspen affordable dentures and many others always got the run around Cary family dental did everything in there office one stop shop thanks again to
Cary Family dental
I’m absolutely appalled by the treatment my two children, ages 16 and 14, received at Cary Family Dentistry. My husband and I have been long-time patients, so we trusted them for our children's first non-pediatric dental appointments. Unfortunately, this experience has made us lose all trust in this practice.
Due to my children’s busy school and sports schedules, we scheduled their appointments on a day when my husband and I were in the office, but they were out of school. The office is just minutes from our home, and my 16-year-old son drove them both to their appointments. From the moment they arrived, the staff acted shocked that my daughter was 14 years old and proceeded to treat her with extreme disrespect.
The real issue came when the staff began loudly discussing, right outside my daughter’s room, how “irresponsible” it was for us not to attend her appointment. They made unnecessary and hurtful comments about her teeth, wrongly assuming she had just recently had a cleaning, saying things like “why is she even here?” and that the hygienist didn’t want to “waste her time.” These remarks were not only inaccurate but incredibly inappropriate. They repeatedly questioned why she was there at all, adding to the distress.
My daughter, who was already anxious about her first adult dental visit, called me in tears after the appointment, heartbroken by the way they had spoken about her and our family. The level of unprofessionalism is absolutely shocking, and no patient—especially a minor—should ever be made to feel so belittled and embarrassed.
This is NOT a family-friendly practice, and I am devastated that my children’s first experience with an adult dentist was such a nightmare. We will be finding a new dentist who actually cares about and respects their patients. If you value professionalism, kindness, and a welcoming environment, I highly recommend looking elsewhere.
The team is not only incredibly pleasant but also highly knowledgeable. They took the time to explain every step of the process, which helped alleviate my nerves and made me feel confident in my decision to choose them as my new dentist. Their professionalism and genuine care for their patients truly shine through. I appreciated how the staff took the time to listen to my concerns and answer all of my questions thoroughly.
Overall, my experience at Cary Family Dental exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend Cary Family Dental to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled dental team.
Kelly is a wonderful dental hygienist too!!! Dr. Wooten is fantastic too!!! They’re all fantastic!!!
So customer buys at extra cost a warranty dentist gets paid no impact to them. I can see there business model evolving. No accountability.
I can do better and I did.
This is the response to the owners response.
The response was canned and as expected. If you dedicated to excellence I would say you are in need of a quality control audit bigly. Save your $10 words and canned fairytale response as the actions do not meet the Truth.
Leigh 🙂
Came out the dentist, cheeeesing 😁!!!
100% Highly recommend!!!
My most recent experience with hygienist Liz confirmed all my previous experiences. This is a great place and I highly recommend it.
I have requested getting numbed for my dental cleanings for a number of years because my teeth are so sensitive. However, Fanta is so gentle and thorough in cleaning my teeth that I no longer request anesthesia.
I also had a veneer fracture and was dreading getting it replaced. Dr. Kristin Madden made me feel comfortable as soon as she came into the room with her gentle touch, kindness and infinite patience. The new veneer was even more beautiful than my old one. Dr. Madden meticulously matched my tooth color and covered more of the tetracycline staining of my tooth so that my smile is as amazing as Dr. Madden. I trust her to do anything in my my mouth.
I would highly recommend Cary Family Dental to anyone looking for a practice who is attentive, provides great service, with exceptional customer service from calling to schedule an appointment, follow-up, to leaving their office.
I had missed my last dental appointment at my old practice because they had very limited hygienists, so I was behind on my current cleaning. I feel so much better since my cleaning today, and very happy that I chose Cary Family Dental my dental care 🦷 🤩🤩🤩
Karen is my hygienist and she makes my visits very welcoming. Everyone here is very pleasant.
Keep smiling.




















