Periodontal disease is one of the most consequential conditions in all of dentistry — and one of the most personally meaningful areas of clinical focus at Metro West Dental and Implant Institute in Creve Coeur, MO. Dr. Khaled Y. Shabany completed three years of post-graduate specialty training in periodontics at Northwestern University and has spent more than 30 years treating periodontal disease with the proactive, whole-patient approach that consistently produces better long-term outcomes than the monitor-and-wait philosophy he wishes was done differently throughout the broader profession.
Metro West does not monitor periodontal disease while it advances. Our practice identifies it, communicates it honestly, and implements appropriate therapy as quickly as possible to prevent the progression that makes a manageable condition into one with genuinely serious consequences for both oral and overall health.
What Is Periodontal Disease & Its Stages?
Periodontal disease develops when bacterial biofilm accumulates along and beneath the gumline and triggers an inflammatory response that progressively destroys the gum tissue and bone supporting the teeth. The condition advances through recognizable stages with meaningfully different clinical implications and treatment requirements at each level of progression:
- Gingivitis — The earliest and only fully reversible stage, characterized by red, swollen, and bleeding gums without bone loss, responding well to professional cleaning and improved home care when addressed promptly
- Mild to moderate periodontitis — Bacteria have established below the gumline, forming periodontal pockets and initiating bone loss that requires more intensive professional treatment to manage effectively
- Advanced periodontitis — Significant bone loss has occurred, teeth may be mobile, and the risk of tooth loss without aggressive intervention is genuinely elevated and clinically urgent
Diagnosis & The Importance Of Early Treatment
Periodontal disease is diagnosed at Metro West Dental and Implant Institute through comprehensive clinical evaluation, including systematic pocket depth measurements, assessment of gum tissue attachment levels, evaluation of bleeding on probing, and CBCT imaging that reveals the three-dimensional extent of bone loss with accuracy that two-dimensional radiography cannot consistently provide. Early detection and prompt treatment are the two most clinically important factors in favorable periodontal outcomes — and Dr. Shabany’s specialty training means that the diagnostic precision and treatment quality available at Metro West Dental and Implant Institute reflect genuine periodontic expertise rather than generalized dental management of a specialty condition.
How Periodontal Disease Is Treated
Treatment at Metro West Dental and Implant Institute is always tailored to the specific stage and severity of each patient’s periodontal condition. Treatment approaches include:
- Scaling and root planing — Thorough non-surgical deep cleaning, removing bacterial deposits from beneath the gumline and smoothing root surfaces to support tissue reattachment
- Laser periodontal treatment using Fotona laser technology — A minimally invasive alternative or adjunct to conventional periodontal therapy that targets bacterial populations within periodontal pockets with significantly less discomfort and faster healing than traditional surgical approaches produce
- Surgical periodontal treatment when non-surgical approaches have not achieved adequate pocket reduction or tissue reattachment
- Ongoing periodontal maintenance at the frequency each patient’s clinical situation requires
Preventing Recurrence & Maintaining
Gum Health
Following active periodontal treatment at Metro West Dental and Implant Institute in Creve Coeur, MO, consistent professional maintenance at appropriate intervals is the most important factor in preventing disease recurrence. The proactive approach that defines all care at Metro West means that maintenance appointments are used to monitor tissue stability, identify any early signs of disease reactivation, and implement additional therapy promptly when clinical findings indicate it is needed before progression occurs.
Call our office or book your periodontal consultation online today.