• 10777 Sunset Office Dr Ste. 310, Sunset Hills, MO 63127
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Gum Disease

Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in St. Louis, MO

Periodontal disease is incredibly common. Without treatment, it can lead to tooth and bone loss or other serious health issues.

At Justin M. Schlaikjer, DDS, Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we use advanced care to treat all types of gum disease in-house.

Find out how our St. Louis, MO, office can improve your periodontal health using the latest techniques…

What Is Gum Disease?

Also called periodontal disease, gum disease happens when bacteria in the mouth leads to infection and inflammation of the gums. It is a progressive disease that starts out as common gingivitis. If left untreated, it leads to periodontitis, a more serious condition that extends below the gumline and can lead to loose teeth and tooth loss.

What Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the early form of gum disease. Good oral hygiene and regular teeth cleaning appointments can usually keep gingivitis in check. However, once plaque solidifies into tartar, you need professional cleaning to stop the progression of the disease. Treatment may include scaling and root planing, which removes bacteria from the teeth and under your gums. It also smooths tooth roots to discourage bacteria from sticking.

What is a Periodontitis?

Periodontitis is advanced gum disease that occurs when bacteria spreads deeper into the gums. At this point, pockets develop between your gums and teeth, giving bacteria a place to thrive. An untreated infection will attack the tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place, and may lead to tooth loss. Dr. Schlaikjer tailors treatment to get the inflammation under control and restore your oral health.

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Experiencing Symptoms of Gingivitis or Periodontitis?

Justin M. Schlaikjer, DDS Can Help

Timing is essential when it comes to preserving your oral health. If you have symptoms of gum disease, Dr. Justin M. Schlaikjer can see you quickly to perform urgent dental care.

If your symptoms are mild, it is important to seek treatment before the infection spreads and causes extensive damage. Early treatment greatly increases your odds of keeping all your teeth, preventing the need for additional dental procedures.

Our St. Louis business is open Monday through Friday, with morning hours Tuesday through Thursday. Send us an email to set up a visit or call:

Phone Number:

Logo for the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP)
American Dental Association (ADA) logo in blue
Small NASP logo, North America Society of Periodontists emblem

Why You Should Treat Gum Disease in Its Earliest Stages

Prevent Tooth Loss

By eliminating gum disease, Dr. Schlaikjer can also address symptoms like bad breath and bleeding gums and reduce the risk of serious consequences such as tooth loss. Periodontal treatment can even protect your heart and respiratory health.

Improve the Look of Your Smile

After removing the tartar and plaque buildup that causes gum disease, you can enjoy a healthier, brighter-looking smile. Advanced gum disease can also cause gum recession, which makes teeth appear too long and makes you look older.

Save Time & Money

Treating gum disease early can save you money. The earlier you treat periodontal disease, the lower your chances of needing expensive surgical procedures or expensive restorative work in the future, such as dental implants to replace lost teeth or bone grafting to treat jawbone atrophy.

Professional Periodontal Treatment Can Reach Areas That You Can’t

Many patients think that they don’t need to visit a dentist or specialist for periodontal care because they practice proper oral hygiene on their own. However, brushing and flossing is not always enough to prevent gingivitis and periodontitis. Even patients who follow recommended oral hygiene practices can still develop tartar deposits underneath the gumline, where it is impossible to reach with regular toothbrushes, flosses, and picks.

Dr. Schlaikjer uses special tools at his St. Louis practice to access and remove bacteria that cause periodontal disease, reducing your risk of advanced periodontitis and other health problems associated with gum disease.

How can you tell if you need gum disease treatment?

If You Have Any of These Symptoms, Schedule an Appointment at Our St. Louis Office:

Redness or Swelling

Swollen or tender gums are often indicators of gum disease. You might also notice bleeding gums when you brush or floss.

Gum Pockets

Gum tissue that appears to pull away from the tooth, forming a pocket, can leave a large space for bacteria to form.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is not only uncomfortable for you. It can make professional or romantic relationships more difficult.

Sores or Lesions

If you notice pus between your teeth or sores throughout your mouth, these can be indicators of serious periodontitis.

Do You Have Symptoms of Gum Disease?

Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Have gaps appeared between your teeth and gums? Early treatment of gum disease saves you money by heading off damage that would need expensive treatments to repair.

Dr. Schlaikjer has more than a decade of experience helping his patients in St. Louis overcome gum disease and prevent the damage it inflicts. As a periodontist, he has specialized training to manage both gingivitis and periodontitis. In addition, he uses the latest technology to make treatment effective and more comfortable.

Leave us a message online or request a consultation by phone:

Phone Number:

Our periodontist has advanced training to treat all levels of periodontal disease...

Early stage gingivitis illustration showing inflamed gums and plaque – used by Dr. Schlaikjer to educate patients

Early

If you suffer from gingivitis (early gum disease), your treatment may simply include scaling and root planing (also known as a deep cleaning). 

Moderate stage of gum disease illustration for periodontal health awareness at Sunset Hills dental office

Advanced

If you have periodontitis (an advanced form of gum disease), your treatment may include gum surgery or LANAP® therapy. 

Graphic showing advanced stage of gum disease with receding gums and tartar buildup – Dr. Schlaikjer patient education

Severe

If your gum tissue has receded or any teeth have been lost, you may need restorative care like a gum graft or dental implants.

Restore Your Smile With All-on-4 Implants

Patients looking for a secure and reliable solution often turn to dental implants when they want to replace missing teeth. Unfortunately, many discover they have lost too much bone due to advanced periodontitis. In order to qualify for implants, they may have to undergo lengthy bone graft treatments first.

Dr. Schlaikjer has a solution that lets many patients qualify for implant-supported dentures without having to undergo bone grafts.

He offers All-on-4® dental implants that support a full denture on just four implants. Because the All-on-4 method uses fewer implants, patients can get by with having less jawbone bone structure than is required for traditional implants. All-on-4 also shortens the overall treatment timeline.

If you want the health benefits and security that implant-supported dentures offer, the All-on-4 method may be the answer you are looking for.

All-on-4 dental implants illustration for advanced periodontal treatment options in Sunset Hills, MO

A Closer Look at Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease treatment, or periodontal treatment, does not refer to one particular procedure. It is a treatment plan personalized according to the severity of your symptoms and condition.

As a doctor specializing in periodontal diseases, Dr. Schlaikjer can customize an effective treatment plan that helps to restore both the health and aesthetics of your gums.

Map showing nearly half of U.S. adults over 30 suffer from gum disease – awareness graphic for Schlaikjer Perio

See how non-surgical periodontal therapy, a process called scaling and root planing, works…

LANAP Restores Gum HealthWithout Incisions 

Less painful than traditional gum disease treatment, LANAP uses the PerioLase® MVP-7™ laser to treat gum disease This eliminates the need to use traditional oral surgery tools on the gums when treating patients at our St. Louis practice.

Thanks to the use of a soft tissue laser, most patients recover from LANAP treatment within a day. By comparison, traditional oral surgery treatment recovery times can take up to four weeks.

Laser treatment has the added benefit of prompting the body’s natural healing response, leading to new bone and soft tissue. 

3D rendering of laser targeting infected gum tissue for periodontal therapy in St. Louis area

Our St. Louis office uses laser dentistry to address periodontal disease with minimal discomfort and bleeding.

Illustration of laser-assisted gum disease treatment in Sunset Hills, MO at Dr. Schlaikjer’s periodontal office

Paying for Periodontal Treatment 

Living with gum disease is harmful to your oral health. Receiving treatment from a periodontist like Dr. Schlaikjer greatly reduces your risk of health complications and the need for additional dental procedures. It can also improve your quality of life.

Insurance Coverage

As a restorative dentistry procedure, gum disease treatment should be covered by dental insurance, at least in part.

Financing Options

If dental insurance is unable to cover the costs, CareCredit® and LendingClub® allow patients to pay for treatment in installments rather than all at once. Most major credit cards are accepted too.

What Patients Are Saying!

Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in St. Louis, MO

Contact JUSTIN M SCHLAIKJER DDS

Periodontics and Implant Dentistry in St. Louis, MO

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Our Address:

  • 10777 Sunset Office Dr Ste. 310,
    Sunset Hills, MO 63127

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Working Hours:

  • Mon-Thrs: 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
    Fri: 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
    Sat & Sun: Closed
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