Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment

Yes, there are other options to save your smile!

Dr. Fred Alger has developed a highly effective non-surgical gum disease treatment program to help patients prevent, control, and manage periodontal disease before it advances to more severe stages. This approach focuses on deep cleaning methods that remove infection and restore gum health — without the need for surgery.

Understanding Gum Disease and Periodontal Health

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by bacterial infections that damage the soft tissue and bone supporting your teeth. These bacteria thrive below the gum line, loosening the gum’s attachment and creating deep spaces called periodontal pockets. Once these pockets exceed approximately 5 millimeters in depth, harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly, leading to bone loss, exposure of the tooth root, and ultimately, tooth loss if left untreated.

Fortunately, early to moderate stages of gum disease can often be reversed with non-surgical therapy.

What Is Non-Surgical Gum Disease Treatment?

The cornerstone of non-surgical care is scaling and root planing, sometimes called a deep cleaning.

This periodontal treatment removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from beneath the gums to allow healing and reattachment of the gum tissue.
Here’s how it works:

• Local anesthesia is used to numb the area for comfort.
• Specialized hand tools and ultrasonic instruments are used to clean the surfaces of the tooth roots and remove tartar buildup.
• The roots are smoothed (planed) to eliminate rough spots where bacteria tend to accumulate.
• As the gums heal, pocket depth decreases, and the gums can reattach more firmly to the teeth.

This non-surgical periodontal treatment is an effective way to reduce infection, inflammation, and the progression of gum disease.

Proof That Non-Surgical Treatment Really Works

Ever the learning practitioner, Dr. Alger decided to evaluate the success of his own methods. He compared the before-and-after results of more than 3,000 diseased gum pockets treated non-surgically in his Gahanna office.

The findings were remarkable — there was a 69% reduction in pockets deeper than 5 millimeters after traditional scaling and root planing.

This means most patients experienced measurable improvement in gum health, decreased infection, and tighter gum attachment without needing surgical treatments.

While not every case achieves complete pocket reduction, this therapy is often the first step toward controlling periodontal infection and preventing future tooth loss.

Investing in New, Alternative Treatments

Dr. Alger continuously invests in advanced technology to improve patient care. One of the most exciting additions is “The Perioscopy Alternative”, an innovative tool that enhances non-surgical gum therapy.

This technique uses a miniature camera, called an endoscope, to view areas deep below the gum tissue during root cleaning procedures. The enhanced visibility allows for a more thorough removal of bacteria and calculus in hard-to-reach places—especially in deeper periodontal pockets.

Early results from over 1,700 diseased pockets treated using Perioscopy showed:

• A 90% reduction in 5 mm gum pockets
• A threefold improvement in healing compared to traditional deep scaling alone
• Less discomfort, lower cost, and faster recovery time than surgical options

This breakthrough gives patients the best chance to manage gum disease with less pain and no incisions, making it an ideal choice for many cases of moderate periodontal disease.

Why Non-Surgical Treatment Matters

Early intervention is the best way to avoid more complex surgical procedures later. By removing bacteria early, patients can:

• Halt gum recession and prevent further bone loss
• Protect their natural teeth and supporting structures
• Avoid flap surgery or gum grafting unless absolutely necessary
• Improve their overall oral health and lower risks linked to heart disease or systemic infection

With regular periodontal maintenance, daily brushing and flossing, and professional guidance from Dr. Alger’s team, you can maintain a healthy gum line and prevent disease from returning.

What to Expect After Treatment

Following scaling and root planing or Perioscopy, you may experience mild sensitivity or tenderness for a few days. This is normal and can be managed with warm saltwater rinses or mild pain medication. Most patients return to normal routines immediately, with minimal disruption or recovery time.

To ensure continued healing, Dr. Alger will recommend routine checkups to monitor gum pocket depth and perform periodontal maintenance cleanings every 3–4 months.