Advanced care
Dr. Michael Cady, who completed a 2.5-year residency in periodontics, focuses on the gums and bone supporting your teeth. Discuss gum disease, recession, and the care or referrals appropriate for your needs.
Located in
Eagle River, AlaskaComfort
Complimentary nitrousPayment
Most insurance · CherryThe Gum Health Explorer · Signature experience
One tooth in its gum and bone. See how healthy tissue, gingivitis, a pocket and recession differ, how the pockets are measured, and what treatment does and does not change.
Conceptual study Not a diagnosis, not your mouth, and not to scale.
From healthy gums to advanced gum disease, in one cross-section. Many people have no pain at any stage.
Stage
Pink, firm gum tissue fits snugly around each tooth. The shallow groove between gum and tooth, the sulcus, is usually one to three millimetres deep, and the bone sits just below where the gum attaches.
A question to bring“Are my gums healthy right now, and what should I watch for?”
Stage
Plaque along the gum line irritates the tissue. Gums look red or puffy and may bleed when you brush or floss. The bone and the attachment are still intact, so at this stage the change can be reversed with cleaning.
A question to bring“Is bleeding when I floss a sign I should come in?”
Stage
If inflammation continues, the attachment between gum and root breaks down and a pocket forms where bacteria and calculus collect below the gum line. The supporting bone begins to recede. Many people have no pain at all, which is why regular exams matter.
A question to bring“How deep are my pockets, and what do the numbers mean?”
Stage
Deeper pockets and more bone loss leave less support, so a tooth may feel loose; gums may recede and teeth can look longer. Treatment is matched to the stage, and caught early it is simpler and more comfortable.
A question to bring“What treatment is right for my stage?”
Signs to mention: bleeding when you brush or floss, red or puffy gums, persistent bad breath, receding gums, or a tooth that feels loose.
What the numbers from a periodontal exam mean, and what the X-ray adds.
Measuring
A periodontal exam measures the pockets between your teeth and gums with a fine, marked probe at several points around each tooth. Readings of one to three millimetres are usual for healthy gums; four millimetres or more suggests a pocket.
A question to bring“Which of my teeth have deeper readings?”
Measuring
The probe measures the pocket; the X-ray shows the bone level. Together they describe the stage and guide the plan, along with any bacterial testing the team recommends.
A question to bring“Can you show me the bone level on my X-rays?”
The slider moves an illustrated probe; it is not your measurement. Readings are taken at several points per tooth and interpreted with X-rays and your history.
What happens when the gum margin moves down the root, and why it matters.
Recession
When the gum margin moves down the root, the root surface is exposed. The tooth can look longer, feel sensitive to cold, and be harder to keep clean. Causes include gum disease, hard brushing, the position of the tooth and thin tissue.
A question to bring“What is causing my recession, and is it getting worse?”
Recession
Gum recession treatment is matched to the cause and the amount of exposed root. Options range from changing habits to procedures that cover or thicken the tissue; your dentist evaluates which is appropriate.
A question to bring“Would covering the root help my sensitivity or my cleaning?”
What daily cleaning, deep cleaning, laser therapy and maintenance each do.
Treatment and care
Brushing and cleaning between the teeth remove plaque before it hardens. Hardened plaque, calculus, cannot be brushed away.
A question to bring“Which tools would help me clean between my teeth?”
Treatment and care
A deep cleaning removes plaque and calculus from the root surface below the gum line so the tissue can heal and the pocket can shrink. The area is numbed when appropriate. Lost bone does not grow back on its own.
A question to bring“What will my deep cleaning involve, and how many visits?”
Treatment and care
Legacy lists laser periodontal therapy among its treatments. Your dentist explains when it is appropriate for your stage and what to expect.
A question to bring“Is laser therapy an option for me?”
Treatment and care
After treatment, maintenance visits with the hygiene team keep pockets clean and track the measurements over time, so changes are caught early.
A question to bring“How often should I come in for maintenance?”
Treatment is matched to the stage and to you. An examination with Dr. Cady comes first; ask our team about a consultation and any referral or insurance requirements.
The illustration is conceptual and not to scale. It does not show your mouth, measure anything, or diagnose gum disease, and it is pending clinical review. A periodontal examination is needed to discuss your gums, bone and options.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what you’re noticing and we’ll take it from there.
Periodontal care focuses on the gums and bone that support your teeth; Dr. Cady completed a 2.5-year post-doctoral residency in periodontics. A periodontal exam goes beyond a regular checkup: we measure the pockets between your teeth and gums, check for recession and bone loss on X-rays, and identify the bacteria involved.
Gum disease is a leading cause of adult tooth loss and is linked to heart disease and diabetes. Early treatment is simpler, more comfortable, and protects the investment you’ve made in your teeth.
Talk to the team
Bleeding gums, recession, or a tooth that feels loose deserve a careful look — and at Legacy that doesn’t mean a referral across town. Dr. Michael Cady, residency-trained in periodontics and a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, practices here, alongside your regular dental team.
Periodontal evaluation
Tell our front office you’d like a gum-health evaluation with Dr. Cady. No referral needed — you can book directly with us.
Call (907) 622-7874 →Request a visit →Learn more: gum disease guide · meet Dr. Cady · laser therapy
Helpful questions
Bleeding when you brush or floss, red or puffy gums, persistent bad breath, receding gums, or teeth that feel loose. Many people have no pain at all—which is why regular exams matter.
We numb the area for deep cleanings, when appropriate. Discuss comfort options and what to expect for your particular treatment with the team.
Call our team to ask about a consultation with Dr. Cady and any referral or insurance requirements. Referring dentists can find the existing referral form on our forms page.
Begin with a conversation
Call (907) 622-7874 to arrange your visit. New patients welcome from Eagle River, Anchorage, and the Mat-Su Valley.
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