Gum Disease Tacoma, WA

At MK Periodontics and Implants, a culture of caring guides our work. From the first time you speak with our practice to your final checkup, our staff will personalize your treatment in a way that makes you most comfortable. You’ll never be just a “number” to us.

As board-certified periodontists, Dr. Karbakhsch and Dr. Katafuchi specialize in treating gum disease and related concerns for Tacoma patients. During your appointment, we’ll take the time to answer your questions and respond to any concerns you may have. We’ll also plan carefully and make sure you’re confident about your choices before making any decisions.

In short: we’ll do everything we can to make your time with us as personal, relaxed, and pain-free as possible.

What Is Gum Disease?

Dr. Karbakhsch and Dr. Katafuchi know that many people are nervous about treatment. They may have even had a negative experience with a different dentist or specialist.

Know that for us, care is equally as important as the outcome. It’s the support and attention you’ll receive, the gentle and effective treatment you’ll get, and the partnership you’ll have with your doctor. You can expect all of this and more when you visit our practice.

The treatment we recommend for our Tacoma patients will depend on the progression of their gum disease. It helps to understand that gum disease is, essentially, a bacterial infection. If left untreated, the infection can break or loosen the gum seal’s attachment to your teeth and can cause bone and tooth loss. The more quickly we can diagnose the problem, the more conservatively we can fix it.

Learn about Gum Disease and Arthritis.

Am I A Good Candidate for Gum Disease Treatment?

We encourage you to share your full health history during your regular dental appointments so that your dentist can be on alert for signs of gum disease. Dr. Karbakhsch and Dr. Katafuchi work collaboratively with many Tacoma dentists, making treatment easier to plan and schedule for our patients.

The study continues into the connections between gum disease and other conditions. Gum disease can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Activities that cause gum recession can also result in gum disease. These include poor oral hygiene, rigorous tooth brushing, and improper flossing techniques.
• People with diabetes, cancer, or an autoimmune disease are more susceptible to gum disease.
• Patients who have an inadequate gum seal, especially on the teeth that receive crowns, may invite gum disease.

Dr. Karbakhsch and Dr. Katafuchi can discuss these and other factors with you during your appointment.

Gum Disease Treatment: The Initial Visit

Our office team welcomes the opportunity to get to know you, to answer your initial questions, and to make you comfortable with the care you’ll receive.

During your initial visit, you’ll have a chance to meet our administrative, clinical, and surgical staff and to take a short tour of the office. As part of the appointment, gum disease patients will typically:

• Discuss their symptoms and questions.
• Have photos and diagnostic X-rays taken.
• Provide a detailed health history so that we can tailor treatment to their needs.

Whether you see Dr. Karbakhsch or Dr. Katafuchi, we will take the time to get to know you, to review the information that we’ve collected, and to listen to and address your concerns. We’ll also offer choices for how to address these problems.

After your doctor provides a diagnosis and reviews treatment options for gum disease, we will invite you to go over financial and insurance-related questions with our benefits representative. If prior authorization isn’t necessary, you may be able to have your treatment on the same day as your consultation.

What Should I Expect With Gum Disease Treatment?

Dr. Karbakhsch and Dr. Katafuchi will take the time to prepare a plan based on your individual needs. Below is a description of common techniques that we use to address gum disease.

Scaling and Root Planing

To control the bacteria that live beneath the gum tissue, your doctor may perform scaling and root planing. During the procedure, the doctor will remove bacterial buildup from the periodontal pockets and clean and smooth the tooth root.

Rinses, Antibiotics, BEMER, and Nutritional Counseling

Dr. Karbakhsch and Dr. Katafuchi usually combine scaling and root planing with a regimen of antimicrobial rinses. Our Tacoma gum disease patients may also receive antibiotics, non-invasive BEMER therapy to enhance their body’s natural healing processes, and nutritional counseling to prevent future inflammation and damage to their health.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Your doctor may conduct a procedure to clear away the infection, reduce the periodontal pockets, and restore lost bone and tissue. Our practice will also use BEMER therapy right after surgery to help you recover more quickly and with less discomfort.

Here’s what you can anticipate in our care:

• Procedures take place at our Tacoma office.
• Our doctors perform gum disease surgery with patients under light oral sedation or under IV sedation monitored by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
• We want you to feel at home in our office and to be as comfortable as possible during your procedure. Patients will often put on a headset, listen to music, take off their shoes, and relax under a blanket as they wait for the sedation to take effect.

We will collaborate with your general dentist and, if necessary, with your medical doctor to ensure that the approach we will use meets your health requirements. By the end of treatment, our goal is for you to have a healthier, more comfortable, and more aesthetically appealing smile — and a great experience in our care.

 

Visit MK Perio in Tacoma For Gum Disease Treatment And Improve Your Health

Contact MK Periodontics and Implants in Tacoma, WA online or by phone at (253) 752-6336 to schedule your appointment.