Periodontist in Palo Alto
Scaling and Root Planing • Gum Graft Surgery
• Pocket Reduction Surgery • Periodontal Maintenance
Why Choosing the Right Dentist in Palo Alto is the Best Move for Your Gums
Finding a good dentist in Palo Alto shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. We see so many neighbors from College Terrace and Green Gables who come in feeling a bit embarrassed. Maybe their gums bleed when they brush, or they noticed their teeth look “longer” than they used to. If you are looking for a dentist in Palo Alto, you want someone who knows that your gums are the foundation of your whole smile. If the foundation is shaky, the rest of the house doesn’t stand a chance.
Living near Stanford or working over at HP Garage means you have a lot on your plate. It is easy to ignore a little bit of pink in the sink when you brush. But we’ve learned that ignoring gum issues just makes them bigger later on. We are here to help you get things back on track without making you feel bad about it. We treat our patients like friends we see at the Mitchell Park Library or the California Avenue Farmers’ Market.
Periodontist
When things get more serious than a regular cleaning, you need the skills of a Periodontist. This is someone who focuses entirely on the gums and the bone that holds your teeth in place. A lot of people ask us, “Who is the best periodontist near me?” Truth is, you want someone who explains things simply and doesn’t use big scary words.
Gum disease is super common in Palo Alto because people are busy and stressed. Stress can actually make your gum health worse! If your gums are puffy, red, or pulling away from your teeth, that is your body telling you it needs help. We use the latest tools to stop the infection and save your natural teeth. Our goal is to make sure you can keep eating those crunchy apples from the Foothills Park trails for years to come.
Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
If we find that bacteria has moved deep under your gum line, we usually suggest Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning). Think of this like a “reset button” for your mouth. A regular cleaning just hits the surface, but this goes deeper.
Last year, a teacher from Palo Alto High came in because her teeth felt a little loose. We did Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning) to get all the hard tartar out from the roots of her teeth. This lets the gums heal and tighten back up around the tooth. We make sure you are totally comfortable during the process. Most people say it feels like a big relief once it’s done and the “heaviness” in their gums goes away.
Periodontal Maintenance
After we get your gums healthy, we don’t just send you on your way. We use Periodontal Maintenance to keep things that way. This is a special kind of cleaning for people who have had gum disease in the past.
We see our Periodontal Maintenance patients more often than a regular check-up—usually every three or four months. This is because gum bacteria grows back fast. By staying on top of it, we make sure the infection never gets a foothold again. It’s way better to come in for a quick visit at our office near Town & Country Village than to wait and need surgery later. We keep a close eye on your “pockets” to make sure they stay small and easy to clean.
Gum Graft Surgery
Have you noticed your teeth looking older or feeling really sensitive to cold drinks at Coupa Cafe? That is often because the gums have receded. When the roots are showing, it can hurt and it doesn’t look great either. That’s where Gum Graft Surgery comes in.
During Gum Graft Surgery, we take a little bit of healthy tissue and move it to the spot where the gums are too thin. This covers the root and protects it from decay. It also makes your smile look much younger and more even. We’ve done this for lots of neighbors in Professorville who wanted to stop that stinging pain when they drink cold water. It sounds scary, but we make it a very smooth process.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Sometimes, even after a deep cleaning, the “pockets” around your teeth are just too deep to keep clean at home. Bacteria hides down there where your toothbrush or floss can’t reach. In these cases, we do Pocket Reduction Surgery.
This sounds intense, but it is really just about folding back the gum tissue to clear out the hidden bacteria and smoothing out the bone. Then we tuck the gums back in so they fit snugly against the teeth. Pocket Reduction Surgery makes it much easier for you to keep your teeth clean on your own. It is one of the best ways to stop tooth loss if you have advanced gum disease. We want to help you keep your natural teeth as long as possible!
Helpful Advice for Our Palo Alto Neighbors
We know that dental work can be expensive and time-consuming. Here is what we tell our friends:
-
Don’t ignore bleeding: Gums are not supposed to bleed. If your hand bled every time you washed it, you would go to the doctor, right? Your mouth is no different.
-
Electric toothbrushes are worth it: Especially for our tech-savvy crowd, get a good one. It does a much better job than a manual brush.
Floss is your best friend: It’s the only way to get the stuff between your teeth that causes gum disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
We love being part of the Palo Alto community. Whether you are a student at Stanford or retired in Crescent Park, we are here to help you keep a healthy, happy smile. We’ve been helping people with their gums for a long time, and we would love to help you too. Don’t wait until your teeth feel loose to give us a call!