Steel Valley Smiles

General & Family Dentistry

Periodontal Care.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults — and most cases are treatable when caught early. At Steel Valley Smiles, we monitor gum health at every visit and offer scaling and root planing, a thorough deep-cleaning procedure, when indicated. Healthy gums support everything else we do.

Gum disease is more common than most people realize — and the early stages often don't cause any pain at all. We check your gum health at every visit so we can stay ahead of it.

Included at every visit

Screening

Typically 1–2 appointments

Deep clean visits

Every 3–4 months if needed

Maintenance

Yes, for deep cleaning

Anesthetic used

Your gums are the foundation — everything else sits on them

Think of your gum and bone tissue as the structure that holds your teeth in place. When gum disease sets in, that structure starts to break down — slowly at first, which is why so many people don't notice anything wrong. We check pocket depths around every tooth at your regular visits, and if we see signs of disease, we'll tell you what we found and what we'd suggest.

How we address gum disease

1

Periodontal screening

We measure the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth at every visit. Healthy pockets are shallow; deeper pockets indicate that disease has been active. This takes just a few minutes and gives us a clear picture.

2

Scaling and root planing (if indicated)

This is a thorough cleaning that goes below the gumline to remove bacteria and deposits from the root surfaces. We use local anesthetic so you're comfortable throughout. Most patients need one or two appointments to complete the whole mouth.

3

Maintenance schedule

Once we've addressed active disease, regular maintenance visits — typically every three to four months — keep it under control. Most patients stay stable for years with consistent follow-through.

The connection to overall health

This is something Dr. D'Alesio talks about a lot: the bacteria that drive gum disease don't stay in your mouth. Research increasingly links chronic gum inflammation to heart disease, diabetes complications, and other systemic issues. Keeping gum disease in check isn't just about your teeth — it's a real part of whole-body health. We think it's worth understanding that connection, even if it's a bit more information than you came in for.

Signs worth mentioning at your next visit

Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
Redness, puffiness, or gums that look different than usual
Persistent bad breath that doesn't go away after brushing
Gums that seem to be pulling back from your teeth
Any tooth that feels loose or has shifted

Common Questions

I don't have any pain — how would I know if I have gum disease?

That's the tricky part: early and moderate gum disease is usually silent. Bleeding when you brush or floss is often the first sign, but many people don't notice anything at all. Regular checkups are genuinely the best way to catch it, because we're looking for changes that aren't obvious day to day.

Is the deep cleaning uncomfortable?

We use local anesthetic for scaling and root planing, so you shouldn't feel anything during the procedure. Afterward, your gums may be a little tender for a day or two — similar to how they feel after an intense cleaning. Most patients find it much more manageable than they expected.

Can gum disease be reversed?

In its earliest stage — called gingivitis — gum inflammation can often be reversed with a thorough professional cleaning and better home care. Once it progresses to periodontitis and affects the bone, we can stop it from getting worse and keep it stable, but the bone that's lost typically doesn't come back on its own.

Do I have to come back every three months forever?

Not necessarily. Some patients stabilize well and eventually return to a six-month schedule. Others do better staying at three to four months — it depends on how your body responds. We track it over time and adjust the schedule to what actually makes sense for you.

Questions about your gum health? We'll take a look and tell you what we find.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. D'Alesio. No pressure, no commitment — just clear answers.

Schedule a Periodontal EvaluationCall Us

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