At Sloan Family Dentistry, we believe periodontal health is the foundation upon which everything else in dentistry is built. You cannot have a truly healthy mouth without healthy gums and bone, and you cannot have optimal overall health without a healthy mouth. This is not simply a dental philosophy — it is increasingly supported by a substantial and growing body of medical research.
The links between periodontal disease and systemic health are among the most well-documented relationships in modern medicine. Chronic periodontal inflammation has strong, established connections to cardiovascular disease and compromised glycemic control in diabetic patients — with research consistently showing that periodontal disease makes blood sugar harder to manage, and that treating it can meaningfully improve glycemic outcomes. Perhaps most compellingly, emerging research is drawing an increasingly clear connection between periodontal disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have identified periodontal pathogens in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and researchers have proposed that chronic oral inflammation may contribute to the neuroinflammatory processes central to the disease’s progression. While the science continues to evolve, the signal is strong enough that we take it seriously — and believe our patients should too.
We screen every new patient for periodontal disease as part of their comprehensive exam — and we continue to monitor existing patients at every visit. Periodontal health can change over time due to factors like stress, systemic illness, hormonal shifts, medications, and more. Because early intervention produces the best outcomes, this is not something we ever overlook or deprioritize regardless of how long we have known a patient.
When periodontal disease is detected, we provide thorough non-surgical treatment including scaling and root planing — a deep cleaning procedure that removes bacterial buildup from beneath the gumline and allows the supporting structures of the teeth to heal. Following active treatment, we work with patients on a structured periodontal maintenance schedule to keep the condition managed and prevent recurrence.
For cases that progress beyond what non-surgical therapy can address, we refer to trusted periodontists throughout the valley — specialists we have carefully selected based on the quality of their care. Our commitment to your periodontal health doesn’t end at the referral — we remain involved in your overall treatment and coordinate closely with our specialist partners to ensure continuity of care.