Gum Disease Treatment That Targets the Cause
Bleeding gums, recession or a deep-cleaning recommendation can be unsettling. Gum disease treatment in Seattle at SMILES ON 35th is built from what's causing your inflammation. Dr. Rubecca Shahid combines a simple saliva test with comfortable laser care to help you keep your teeth.
Bleeding gums are worth a closer look
Gum disease is inflammation, and it's treatable, especially when the cause is known.
Maybe you've noticed pink in the sink, gums pulling back from your teeth, or you've been told you need a deep cleaning and aren't sure why. It's natural to worry about losing teeth, or about what ongoing inflammation means for the rest of your health.
Gum disease is chronic inflammation, and research links it to heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The good news: early gum disease can be reversed, and advanced gum disease can be controlled and kept stable. We test for the bacteria behind it, then treat them directly, with gentle laser care that helps your gums heal comfortably.
See what your first visit includes
Healthier gums, calmer inflammation
Treating gum disease protects your teeth today and supports your health for the years ahead. Here's what you can expect as your gums heal and inflammation settles.
Removing the bacteria and tartar below the gumline lets tender, bleeding gums heal and tighten around your teeth again, so brushing and flossing stop being something you dread.
Your treatment targets the bacteria your saliva test finds, so it addresses what's driving inflammation, not only the symptoms you can see.
Laser gum care means less bleeding, less discomfort and faster healing than traditional approaches alone, so you can get back to your day sooner and feel the difference quickly.
Gum disease is a leading reason adults lose teeth. Controlling it early helps protect the bone and gums that hold your teeth in place, so your own teeth can last for decades and keep serving you well.
Because gum disease is linked to heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, calming gum inflammation is one practical step toward protecting your health for the long term.
A gum plan built for you
Gum disease ranges from gingivitis, inflamed gums, to periodontitis, where infection reaches the bone. Your plan uses the tools your case needs, chosen from your results.
Guided by your saliva test
A simple saliva test shows which gum disease bacteria are present, so prescriptions and rinses target them.
Laser gum therapy
A CO2 laser treats infected gum tissue with less bleeding and faster healing, alongside a deep cleaning below the gumline.
Medication trays
Custom Perio Protect trays hold medication gently against your gums at home, reaching below the gumline.
Home-care tools
You leave with the right brushes, rinses and techniques for your gums, and know why each one matters for keeping them healthy.
Who gum disease treatment helps
It's for you if your gums bleed when you brush, look red or swollen, or are pulling back from your teeth, or if another office has recommended a deep cleaning and you'd like a fuller explanation first.
Treatment built from your own test results, with comfortable laser care, is one of the most effective ways to calm inflammation, keep your teeth and support your overall health.
Book your comprehensive exam
From exam to stable gums
Exam and saliva test
We measure your gums, take digital X-rays and test for the bacteria behind your inflammation, all in one visit.
A personalized plan
We show you what we found on screen and recommend a conservative treatment plan matched to your results.
Treatment
A deep cleaning below the gumline, laser therapy and targeted medication, as your case needs, with numbing for comfort.
Maintenance by risk
Cleanings are scheduled by your risk, often every three to four months at first, with retesting to track your progress.
A gentle dentist who champions your lifelong health
Dr. Rubecca Shahid owns SMILES ON 35th in Wedgwood and leads your care herself, gently and with time to listen. Her own health struggles, then her mother's diagnosis, left her asking what the point of all our hard work is without the health to enjoy it. Longevity dentistry is her answer: care that protects your mouth and your health, so you can enjoy the life you're building.
Her care is conservative: she saves natural tooth wherever she can, chooses the least invasive option that will last, and recommends only treatment that truly helps you. When a tooth needs more, she shows you why. She is empathetic and thorough, with clear choices and no pressure.
She champions your long-term health and has trained to deliver on it. A Kois Center graduate, one of about 1,200 dentists worldwide, she completes nearly eight times the continuing education Washington requires every year. Her training spans prevention, function and sleep, restoration and smile design, so one dentist who knows you can plan each stage, close to home.
- Advanced training in diagnosis, treatment planning and bite stabilization from the Kois Center
- Biomimetic Dentistry Practitioner with mastership from the Alleman Center
- Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
I came to longevity dentistry through my own health journey, wanting to understand why problems start and how to prevent them. What I needed then is what I want for you now: more good years, a smile you feel good about, and a dentist who listens.
Gum care with the whole body in mind
Gum disease is a health issue as much as a dental one. These are the reasons our approach reflects that, from the training behind it to the tests that guide it.
Gentle laser care
A CO2 laser treats infected gum tissue with less bleeding and faster healing, for treatment that feels gentler.
Saliva testing in our office
Your treatment is built from your own results, not a one-size-fits-all deep cleaning.
Trained in whole-body health
Dr. Shahid is trained in treating gum inflammation and analyzing your health history and markers, to build a plan that supports your total body health in partnership with your physician.
Plant-based aftercare
Plant-based rinses and gels support healing without the sting of harsh chemical rinses.
Hear it from our patients
Before you book, it helps to hear from people who have been in the chair. Read what patients say about their visits and treatment at SMILES ON 35th.
Read more reviewson Google (opens in a new tab)I've been to SMILES ON 35th five or six times in the past two years for checkups, cleanings and a few crowns. Everyone has been friendly: the assistants, the hygienists and the front desk. Dr. Shahid is good-natured, has a great sense of humor and takes time to answer all my questions. I'm impressed with the state-of-the-art technology, like a low-radiation X-ray wand that can target a single tooth and photos from inside the mouth of the tooth being worked on. And I feel zero pain during her work. I definitely recommend her.
Gum disease questions
Early gum disease, called gingivitis, can usually be reversed with treatment and good home care. Advanced gum disease, called periodontitis, can't be fully undone, but it can be controlled and kept stable so you keep your teeth.
Most patients find it comfortable. We numb the area first, and laser therapy means less bleeding and tenderness afterward. Oral sedation is available if dental visits make you anxious.
Laser gum treatment uses a CO2 laser to remove infected gum tissue and reduce bacteria below the gumline. It typically means less bleeding, less discomfort and faster healing.
Yes, research links gum disease to heart disease, as well as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The link is an association, not proof that one causes the other, but controlling gum inflammation is one practical way to look after your overall health.
Bleeding gums are usually a sign of inflammation from bacteria below the gumline. It's an early warning worth checking, because treating it early can reverse the damage.
Often every three to four months at first, then adjusted to your risk as your gums heal. Regular maintenance keeps them stable.
Reviewed by Dr. Rubecca Shahid Updated
More care for your gums and health
See what a saliva test reveals, how we connect oral and overall health, or how we keep the whole family's gums healthy.
