Periodontal Maintenance & Laser Gum Disease Treatment in Santa Rosa, CA
Gums that bleed when you brush, look puffy, or seem to be pulling away from your teeth are early signs of gum disease. Dr. Darren Gonzalez treats active gum disease with PerioLase laser technology, then protects your progress with periodontal maintenance visits. The goal is simple: stable gums, secure teeth, and a clear plan for keeping them that way.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the gums caused by plaque and tartar building up along and below the gumline. The early stage, gingivitis, causes red, swollen gums that bleed easily. Left untreated, it can become periodontitis, which breaks down the bone and tissue holding your teeth in place. Watch for bad breath that lingers, gums pulling back, or teeth that feel loose.
Gingivitis can be reversed. Periodontitis can be controlled.
How Gum Disease Treatment Works
Treatment starts with finding out exactly where your gum disease stands, then matching the care to what your measurements show.
- Measure. Dr. Gonzalez measures the pocket around each tooth and uses digital imaging to check the bone.
- Deep clean. Scaling and root planing removes tartar and bacteria below the gumline.
- Treat with PerioLase. When deeper pockets need more, the laser targets the infected tissue that remains.
- Re-check. A follow-up visit measures whether the pockets have tightened and the bleeding has stopped.
- Maintain. Periodontal maintenance visits keep the bacteria under control.
Where PerioLase Fits In
PerioLase is a dental laser designed for periodontal treatment. It uses pulsed laser energy to target infected tissue and bacteria inside the gum pockets while preserving the healthy tissue around them. Dr. Gonzalez adds it to a deep cleaning when your measurements show the disease needs more than scaling alone can reach.
PerioLase is most often considered for deeper gum pockets, gum disease that stays active after an earlier deep cleaning, or patients hoping to avoid traditional gum surgery. Not every case needs a laser, and Dr. Gonzalez recommends it only when your measurements support it.
PerioLase vs. Traditional Gum Surgery
Traditional gum surgery opens the gums with a scalpel so the roots can be cleaned, then closes them with stitches. PerioLase treats the infected tissue from inside the pocket instead, which gives some patients a more conservative option. Advanced cases with significant bone loss may still need surgery or bone grafting, and Dr. Gonzalez will tell you if a periodontist referral makes sense.
Does Laser Gum Treatment Hurt?
Most patients feel pressure, not pain. The area is numbed before treatment, and lasers often cause less discomfort than traditional tools. Expect your gums to feel tender for a few days, then settle.
Why Periodontal Maintenance
Is Every 3 to 4 Months
Periodontal maintenance is ongoing care for patients who have been treated for gum disease, usually scheduled every 3 to 4 months instead of every 6. Bacteria refill deep gum pockets faster than a 6-month schedule can keep up with. Each visit cleans below the gumline and re-measures your pockets, so you see which areas are stable and which need attention. The goal isn’t to restart treatment every time. The goal is to protect the stability you worked to regain.
Why Choose Darren Gonzalez DDS for
Periodontal Care in Santa Rosa
Darren Gonzalez DDS is a one-doctor practice, so the same dentist who treats your gum disease tracks your pocket measurements at every maintenance visit. Nobody here will judge you for how long it’s been since your last cleaning. Dr. Gonzalez uses both PerioLase and the Solea laser as part of our laser dentistry services, so treatment and follow-up stay under one roof on Montgomery Drive.
What Our Patients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually not. A general dentist can treat most gingivitis and early to moderate periodontitis with deep cleanings, laser treatment, and periodontal maintenance. A periodontist, a dentist who specializes in gum disease, is typically needed for advanced cases that require gum surgery or bone grafting. Dr. Gonzalez will tell you if a referral makes sense.
PerioLase isn’t a promise to regrow lost gum or bone. Its job is to remove infected tissue and bacteria so the disease stops actively damaging the support around your teeth. Bone that has already been lost doesn’t grow back on its own, which is why treating gum disease early protects more of what you have.
It depends on your gums, which is why PerioLase isn’t used for every patient. The laser earns its place when deeper pockets or ongoing inflammation need more than a deep cleaning can reach. For milder gum disease, a standard deep cleaning and good home care are often enough, and Dr. Gonzalez will tell you which approach your measurements call for.
Periodontal pockets collect bacteria that a regular cleaning doesn’t reach. Periodontal maintenance cleans below the gumline every 3 to 4 months to keep gum disease from becoming active again.
Most people keep their teeth when gum disease is treated and maintained. Treatment removes the bacteria causing the damage, and periodontal maintenance keeps the infection from coming back. The earlier treatment starts, the more bone and gum support your teeth keep.
Schedule a Gum Health Visit in Santa Rosa
Bleeding gums are worth a look before they turn into loose teeth. One visit shows you what stage you’re in and which treatment fits. Book an exam with Dr. Gonzalez and leave knowing exactly where your gums stand.
At Darren Gonzalez DDS, Dr. Darren Gonzalez and his experienced team provide personalized dental care for individuals and families in a welcoming, comfortable environment.
Useful Links
Working Hours
Mon: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Tue: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Wed: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Thu: 8:00AM-5:00PM
Fri: 9:00AM-1:00PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed