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.
Gum Disease Treatment
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 effects 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.
Top Quality Gum Disease Treatment
Dr. Acton and his dedicated team at Cary Family Dental near Morrisville and Apex, NC have invested the time and resources to understand periodontal disease and how to effectively treat it. In fact, we offer a leading-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.
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 us
Schedule an Appointment with Cary Family Dentists
Contact our dentist office in Cary, NC to get started on treatment for gum disease. Schedule a consultation today!
What makes us different
Extended Hours & Weekends
Emergency Care
We See Your Entire Family
We Accept Most Insurances
5 Star Customer Experience
Quality Office Space
What Our Patients Are Saying!
If you are looking are excellence, look no farther. Dr. Acton delivers, every time. The most personable staff, the best equipment, and his level of expertise make going to the dentist so very enjoyable. I have confidence in his treatment plans and his ability to provide therapeutic service. The ambience of the office is professional and tranquil. And there is plenty of parking. So very grateful! Looking forward to my new crown next month…say’s the person who used to hate seeing a dentist. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Cat
The Hygenist, the Doctors, the entire team is so amazing. I can honestly say after 50 years, I AM NO LONGER TERRIFIED OF THE DENTIST!!! Thank you Cary Family Dental - see you soon!!Leigh 🙂
I have a very well and professional dental and dentist services on my visit from staff to professional hygienist and follow up for more oral health care. Most satisfied and happy.
I changed dentists due to insurance coverage in October 2022. Today was my third visit for a cleaning and I had probably the best experience with a dental hygienist ever. Liz did an amazing job. She is very careful using the high-pressure water to clean close to the gums. There was no discomfort after Liz finished my cleaning. Dr. Wooten is excellent and thorough as well. Today's experience at Cary Family Dental was the “cats’ meow” and they have the best lib balm!
As someone who's struggled with dental anxiety and cavities, I totally recommend Cary Family Dental. They help me feel comfortable & have reduced my dental problems!
Just moved to the area and found CFD through Google reviews. They were 100% on point. This is probably my favorite dentist office I've been too. My hygienist Ana was so wonderful, as was Dr. Madden. I felt very welcomed and very well taken care of!
Had a great experience and very through cleaning. They discussed my needs and helped me reach my goals 🙂
Hygienist and dentist were both very nice, knowledgeable, and time efficient. My fears of the dentist have resolved now that I found these caring people. Thanks!
I went to Cary Family Dental for the first time and was really happy with my experience - easily a perfect 10/10! The staff there, including the dentist, were super nice. I want to give a special shout-out to Ana, as she did an amazing job and was really really good at what she does, very friendly, professional and great with explaining everything.Came out the dentist, cheeeesing 😁!!!100% Highly recommend!!!
First time and had a great experience! Karen the hygienist was so kind!
I give this Dentist and all of his staff a 5 star. From the time you walk in their front door you are welcomed and put at ease. I had the dental hygienist named Ana today she was so sweet kind and gentle on some of my sensitive teeth. Everyone is so professional and kind in this office. I would continue to HIGHLY recommend this dental office for your dental needs.
I have been coming here for years. The people are great. Dr Acton is amazing. A special thanks to Janet and Rande. They made my visits extra easy. They are so professional and compassionate. Thank you so much for caring.
The best experience with a dentist office I've ever had! From setting up my first appointment to arriving for my first appointment the team at the front desk was super friendly and helpful. My hygienist, Karen, was great and took the time to walk me through the appointment and answer all my questions. Dr. Davis was great as well, he explained everything clearly and I learned new things I hadn't know in all my time going to other dentists. So glad I joined this group!
Cary Family Dental has been my go to dental practice for many, many years now. The care given is top rate. Dr Acton, the founder, has always provided state of the art dental technology for his patients. All of the dentists and hygienists are extremely client focused and knowledgeable.My most recent experience with hygienist Liz confirmed all my previous experiences. This is a great place and I highly recommend it.
I typically hate going to the dentist but Cary Family Dental are a whole different experience! My hygienist, Karen, was super compassionate and thorough in explaining their process and what to expect on my follow up appointment. Dr Davis was very understanding and did not rush through the exam. I have left dental practices for their lack of trustworthiness and transparency but Cary Dental is top notch! They are not even in my network but the overall care is so worth the extras billed. I love my experiences here! Thank you for all you do.
Tori my hygienist was great. I was anxious about my appointment today because of my recent gum recession. She was very cautious and I had no pain. Dr. Wooten is great also. I’ve been going to Cary Family Dental for awhile now and always have a positive experience. Staff is very friendly too!
I always look forward to my appointments at Cary Family Dental. From the moment you set foot in the door, you are greeted with kindness and exquisite customer service. I didn't have to wait almost at all to go back for my cleaning, and all of the dental hygienists are incredibly thorough and awesome! Karen, who I have had several appointments with over the past few years, does an incredible job while maintaining an engaging conversation that makes it seems like the cleaning flies by. The dentists are all knowledgeable and kind as well, and seem to truly want to ensure your experience is the best it can be. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a new dentist!
I highly recommend Cary Family for all your dental needs. The office is very clean and welcoming. My hygienist Liz did an amazing job! She made sure I was comfortable and was very thorough with my dental cleaning! I have also met Drs Davis, Madden, Acton, and Wooten. All of the doctors are very professional and personable !
Cary Family Dental is without any doubt the best dental care I have ever experienced. I had always excellent dentists in Switzerland and NYC, but the professionalism, treatments, and the staff & dentists are worldclass. Every treatment is well explained! I am lucky I finally found my dentist in the US.....
Amazing dentist and hygienist!!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 had the most amazing visit today despite not having been to a dentist for 5 years due to fear. I was super impressed with the hygienist who was so calming and they even asked about possible barriers to care which is so important. Dr Wooten and the hygienist took the time to explain the plan of care and why. They also are willing to do nitrous gas for my upcoming procedure. So amazing thanks you guys!
I’ve never liked going to the dentist. I’ve been to four different places in the last 3 years. BUT, I loved Cary Family Dental! I had Karen as my dental hygienist and she was great! She made me feel very comfortable and at ease! My dentist was Dr.Davis, who is is very knowledgeable and was incredibly helpful with the questions I had!
I only have great things to say about Cary Family Dental. Everyone is super friendly & professional. Over the years I have seen Dr. Acton & most recently Dr. Wooten & both Dr's make you feel important & cared for. Dr. Wooten's assistant Amber is so kind & friendly & she actually really made my day today. I highly recommend this dental practice.
What a wonderful experience at Cary Family Dental today! This is an extremely well run practice, light years above my previous experiences. I was a new patient today and had the pleasure of meeting Dana who was kind, thorough, but gentle and a wonderful listener. This office is modern and beautiful and very clean. The process of scheduling and paperwork was seamless and I enjoyed not having to stop for checkout at the end as they keep a card on file for charges. I was seen by Dr. Madden who was also very nice and did a comprehensive check. I will absolutely return and recommend this practice highly. 10/10 stars. Thank you!
My experience with Cary Family Dentist was fantastic! My dental hygienist, Josie, was amazing to talk to and very knowledgeable. Her comments were sourced with evidence based research. I would highly recommend her as your dental hygienist. Doctor Wooten was very professional and knowledgeable as well. I would highly recommend Cary Family Dentist if you are new in the area and looking to establish care with a knowledgeable and professional dental team.
To say that I had wonderful experience during my first cleaning at Cary Family Dental for someone with dental anxiety says a lot about their practice, my new hygienist, Candice, and Dentist! Candice informed along the way what she was doing and the tools she was using before starting. I loved that my teeth were polished prior to the cleansing of my gums. That helped to ease my nerves a bit. Overall, from scheduling my first appointment to arriving, my experience was top notch!! I expressed a concern with a dental issue and my dentist focused in on that area and eased my concern.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 🦷 🤩🤩🤩
The best- I have seen Dr. Madden for two cleanings now and she is great! Their office is amazing, staff is super helpful and the dental hygienists are the BEST! So friendly and always making sure you are comfortable. Cary Family is technically out of network for me but they cover the difference for preventative care cleanings. I have cavities that need to be filled and my insurance plan isn’t the best, but Dr. Madden was quick to refer other dentists in the area that may be in network for me. I will be going back for everything except for restorative care or until I have better insurance.
Dr Acton and his wonderful staff make going to the dentist fun. Not easy to say about dental appointments in general but true for Cary Family Dental. Patients are treated like family, and Dr. Acton employs the latest technology to get the best results. Wish there were more stars as I would give them 10.
Thank you Cary Dental! I cannot say enough good things about this office. I had very bad experiences with the dentist as a child/teenager and this has negatively impacted my visits to the dentist as an adult. It made me a very reluctant, fearful dental patient. I feel very grateful to have found Dr Acton & his office staff. They are all very welcoming, caring & kind. Dr Acton and his assistants Hannah & Randy explain everything, are patient & very gentle. I just had a dental cleaning with Candice who was incredibly understanding, compassionate & efficient. She made my cleaning such a good experience. I met Dr Madden today and she was also kind & gentle. I highly recommend Cary Family Dental.
My husband and I would like to thank Liz the Hygienist, for being extra thorough with my husbands teeth. We would like to Thank Dr. Acton and Hana for all the Treatment done for various fillings and other procedures, they are both very gentle with the mouth and care about their patients comfort, this goes a long way for someone who hasn’t had the best luck with dentists and who has a mouth full of need. Last but not least we would like to thank Mackenzie at the front desk for revising and breaking down his treatment plan for him. I highly recommend this dentistry!
Everyone was very nice, knowledgeable and professional. Ronnie has a great Dental Hygienist. Her name is Casey Eubanks! She knows how to specially go the extra mile to make sure the patient is at ease and has a great experience under the circumstances of my son having special needs! We live out of town but worth the drive knowing getting great patient care! Very Clean office as well!
Cary Family Dental hands down is the best dental office around! They treat you like family and have so much respect for you as a patient. Both my hygienist Carrie and Karen have been amazing and Dr.Madden is the definition of poise and class! Highly recommend if you are in the area!
I had a wonderful experience! Everyone is friendly and welcoming! My hygienist, Casey, was outstanding. She was thorough and explained everything she was doing. She took her time and was not rushed. I will definitely be back!
They really make taking care of your teeth a breeze, even for bigger procedures. They also have movies and TV available on the ceiling and other amenities. More importantly though is that they are a fun and friendly group to work with and exceptionally talented at what they do.
A fabulous place! Not only is the office absolutely gorgeous, but the care and service I received was great! I went in for a new patient visit, was able to get a cleaning and see the dentist! I thought the dentist was very thorough which I appreciated. 10/10 experience and they even gave me a welcome gift. I’d recommend Cary Family Dental to anyone needing a new dentist in the triangle area, they were just fantastic!
OH MY GOSH! I AM BRAND NEW @ CARY FAMILY DENTAL BUT LET ME TELL YOU I LOVE THEM! I CALLED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT & THEY GOT ME IN THE NEXT DAY! I WAS DELIGHTED WITH ALL OF THE LOVELY PEOPLE, THEY SMILED AND SPOKE TO ME WITH SUCH POSITIVITY AND I RECEIVED AWARD WINNING CARE I COULD NOT STOP SMILING AND LAUGHING AS EVERYONE IS SO PLEASANT YOU MUST COME HERE I HAVE ALREADY SCHEDULED MY NEXT APPOINTMENT! THANK YOU CASEY AND EVERYONE @ CARY FAMILY DENTAL!
Always a great experience. I had 2 cavities filled today and the dentist and the assistant were wonderful. They cared for my comfort during the procedure.
I have been a patient at Cary Family Dental for over a decade. The Dentists/Team are absolutely wonderful! They are all professional; and, stay on the cutting edge of technology with state of the art procedures. I always feel that they keep my dental health a top priority! I always leave satisfied. I highly recommend them!
First impressions last and Cary Family Dental did provide the best impression for a new patient like myself. I’ve been with my previous dentist for years and sadly decided it was time for a change after having experienced less favorable visits the past year and a half. Everything from the time I pulled up to my parking space to the quick tour of the office to my very detailed (and impressive teeth cleaning!) and conversation with Dr. Davis, the process has been seamless, organized, easy peasy and very professional. I’ve also had experienced great dental hygienists in the past but Kim is hands down the BEST I’ve ever had. Very knowledgeable, personable, gentle and efficient and I don’t think I will ever be the same again when it comes to my teeth cleaning! Lol Thank you Dr. Davis and team for taking such great care of me during my recent visit. Most importantly, thank you for listening to my concerns and providing me with the knowledge I needed to make the right decision for my dental health. Looking forward to returning and getting back on track to a great dental health!
Very pleased with all the treatment so far and scheduling. It's a nice new clinic on Kildaire farm rd. Liz was AWESOME! She's truly a perfectionist. No one in the past has cleaned that well and throughly. She was super patient & cares for her patients. We will continue to use this for our dental needs. THANK YOU!
This place is NOT like other places where they just want rip you off and take your money. In fact if you are looking for a dentist that is clean, organized and have a wonderful/professional staff! Seriously, look no farther!. I was seeking today for a dentist and I found this place with these many 5 stars reviews . I’m usually very skeptical about dental stuff and who touches my teeth. But I can’t describe how glad that I called this place and I scheduled an appointment SAME DAY for consultation. First the building is gorgeous and CLEAN! Staff are very friendly! They have the best customer service and very efficient. You can reach out to them by phone , email and text. Prompt Responses to any questions or concerns. Tiffany met with me first to address my concerns. She asked me all these important questions. She is an amazing and detailed on explaining things and making me feel very comfortable. And then Dr. Madden came to see me to check my teeth. I can’t tell you how much this doctor is WONDERFUL , CARING and PROFESSIONAL. I highly recommend to go see HER! She has knowledge and she recommends things/treatment that will keep your teeth healthy. Don’t waste your time or money looking somewhere else. This is one of the best dental clinic I ever been. Highly recommended!
I would recommend Cary Family Dental to anyone. Went for a routine cleaning. Easy to tell they are a well run office with new equipment, efficient and friendly staff, and affordable. Dr. Davis and Karen were exceptional in the care I received.
Cary Family Dental has an excellent staff. They are all kind from start to finish. They make you comfortable when you get into the client rooms so that you can be totally relaxed while getting a cleaning, x-rays, or any other procedure. The dentists are very patient oriented and make you feel welcome. The dental assistants that have helped me are extremely knowledgeable and will answer any and all questions. Today, I had Karen as my dental technician. She is extremely professional, personable and her technique is flawless and painless. Way to go Karen. Keep up the good work! If you have not been to Cary Family Dental before and need your teeth cleaned, ask for Karen. You will be glad you did!
Cary Family Dental is a great office. The staff were courteous, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and kind. The site is beautiful and comfortable. I really appreciated their efforts to support safety and social distancing too. I felt cared for from the moment I arrived till the moment I walked out the door.
I could not be happier with my choice to establish care with CFD! I am new to the area, so it was overwhelming to place my trust in a new practice to do cleanings, whitening, and more cosmetic things. My hygienist, Carrie, and Dr. Acton were nothing short of amazing. They explained everything thoroughly and made sure all my questions were answered before I left. I am super excited to continue my care through them and to see my end results!
This was the best experience I have ever had at a dentist. The office was clean, inviting, and not intimidating. The dental hygienist was communicative and comforting. I never felt judged for not having been to the dentist in a while and always felt at ease. The dentist was just as thoughtful and comforting. Couldn't recommend this practice enough.
Ameenah and Dr. Madden are amazing at what they do. I have never been a fan of going to the dentist, but they make the experience easy and comfortable. These ladies are amazing and get 5 stars for being professional lovely people.
Cary Family Dental is a great place to go to take care of your teeth. I do periodontal cleanings and always come to Karen (my favorite dental hygienist there) each time. She is super friendly, very professional, and provides exceptional service. You are always in good hands with Karen. Overall, the staff here are very gentle and kind. They explain very well the procedures and execute them flawlessly. Thanks again Karen and Cary Family Dental, can't wait to come back!
The visit was awesome! They were kind and efficient in taking care of my teeth. After searching for a dentist office since my recent move down here, I can safely call this place my new dental home!
Thank you so Much Dana and Dr. Madden. I can not tell you enough how much I appreciate you both and the staff. I could not have picked a better Dental Office.
Great dentist. Very pleased with everything.Karen is my hygienist and she makes my visits very welcoming. Everyone here is very pleasant.
One happy camper! Karen is a superstar and actually she’s in very company. The entire staff is very nice and professional. I have never experienced such a comprehensive exam. I don’t have dental insurance so I purchased their plan and it’s a terrific value.Keep smiling.
Cary Family Dental is an excellent choice for your dental needs. I have been a patient of Dr. Acton's for 19 years. You can trust him to listen to you and address your needs and/or fears. He has the most up to date procedures and invest in training all of the staff on both the latest techniques and customer service. The front office staff is also always courteous and helpful. They handle all the insurance questions efficiently and with a smile. I feel safe and well cared for at each of my appointments.
Everyone at this place is amazing. I've moved around quite a bit and this is the only dentist that I've found that made me feel very comfortable each and every time. They take the time to explain everything and all your options. Unfortunately, I have to leave because I moved further away, but I would absolutely highly highly recommend this Dentist to anyone without hesitancy.
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