1. Home
  2. Expert
  3. Neal C. Raval

expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Neal C. Raval

Periodontist

Dr. Neal Raval practices Periodontics in Bellevue, WA. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and in the placement of dental implants. Dr. Raval has expertise in the treatment of oral inflammation and often treats problematic periodontal cases, such as those with severe gum disease or a complex medical history. Some treatments that Dr. Raval provides are scaling and root planing and root surface debridement.
Learn More About Me
Dr. Neal C. Raval
  • Accepting new patients

Is gum disease possible in a 3 year old?

Gum disease is very rare in such young children. The gum pain is likely due to the gums being very dry at night. I would highly recommend she have at least a prophylactic cleaning READ MORE
Gum disease is very rare in such young children. The gum pain is likely due to the gums being very dry at night. I would highly recommend she have at least a prophylactic cleaning done by her/his dentist and to brush the teeth really well every night.

Cheers,

Neal C. Raval, DDS, MSD

Since yesterday I can feel my gums being slightly inflamed. What could be the reason?

You must have bacteria subgingival (under your gums) that can only be removed with a ultra-sonic instrument. These bacteria cause inflammation and bone loss around your teeth which READ MORE
You must have bacteria subgingival (under your gums) that can only be removed with a ultra-sonic instrument. These bacteria cause inflammation and bone loss around your teeth which unfortunately will cause the teeth to fall out of left untreated. The disease is called Periodontitis and can appear in a chronic form or aggressive form. I highly recommend you have it looked at by a periodontist. Feel free to call our office at 425-453-1010 to have an appointment made. I hope you find get the disease taken care soon by us or someone else.
Best wishes,
Neal C. Raval, DDS, MSD

When can I return to work after gum graft surgery?

We usually recommend to treat them all in a single session. There are different options with gum grafts. If you use your own tissue the recovery is a little longer but the long READ MORE
We usually recommend to treat them all in a single session. There are different options with gum grafts. If you use your own tissue the recovery is a little longer but the long term outcome seems to be more stable in general. I recommend to be on light duties for 3-4 days.
If you would like to come in for a complimentary second opinion please don't hesitate to call our office at 425-454-1010. Please mention that Dr. Raval offered this and they will schedule you for a complimentary consult. We also go over all your recovery options at the time of the consult. Hope you have a great start into 2018!
Neal Raval

Gum disease and heart disease

There is a link between active periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. It is not so much the soft plaque on our teeth that cause the disease but more the active pathogens READ MORE
There is a link between active periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. It is not so much the soft plaque on our teeth that cause the disease but more the active pathogens within your gums that are responsible for the association. If you have active gum disease (bleeding gums), I highly recommend you have this checked by a periodontist. Please feel free to schedule a complimentary consultation in our office in 2018. Our number is 425-453-1010. Wishing you all the best for 2018!
Dr. Raval

Can salt water gargling help in curing tonsillitis?

Salt water reduces the amount of bacteria he will have in his mouth. This will certainly help w his sore throat, also use lozenges to keep the throat moist. Wish you speedy recovery! READ MORE
Salt water reduces the amount of bacteria he will have in his mouth. This will certainly help w his sore throat, also use lozenges to keep the throat moist. Wish you speedy recovery!

At what age should braces be worn to get rid of the gap between the frontal teeth?

You should definitely take her to an orthodontist. More than happy to recommend a great orthodontist in your area. Please email us at neal@bellevueperio.com with your area and READ MORE
You should definitely take her to an orthodontist. More than happy to recommend a great orthodontist in your area.
Please email us at neal@bellevueperio.com with your area and we can connect you with an orthodontist near you.
The reason to see an Orthodontist ASAP is that your daughter is still growing at this time and the orthodontist can take real advantage of that while moving her teeth.
Happy 2018!
Neal Raval

Dentures have caused gum injury. What can I do?

You need to come in to get them looked at and likely adjusted. Our jaw bone changes every year a little bit and dentures unfortunately will not adapt to that but can be relined READ MORE
You need to come in to get them looked at and likely adjusted. Our jaw bone changes every year a little bit and dentures unfortunately will not adapt to that but can be relined and adjusted to fit the new shape. It is actually really simple to do. Please feel free to call our office to come in for a denture consult. We will likely be able to address it that day if it is a simple fix. An ill fitting (not well fitting) denture can cause serious breakdown of your existing teeth.
Happy 2018!
Dr. Raval

Can I consume cough syrup while breast feeding?

There are many different cough syrups. Some are breast feeding friendly. To be 100% safe you should check with your pediatrician which one is best suited for you. I wish you a READ MORE
There are many different cough syrups. Some are breast feeding friendly. To be 100% safe you should check with your pediatrician which one is best suited for you. I wish you a speedy recovery!

Can gum bleeding in a diabetic patient get serious?

Unfortunately your concern is very real. Bleeding gums is a symptom of active periodontal disease (this is where you loose bone around your teeth). Periodontal disease, if unstable READ MORE
Unfortunately your concern is very real. Bleeding gums is a symptom of active periodontal disease (this is where you loose bone around your teeth). Periodontal disease, if unstable which it sounds like you have can cause your diabetes to become worse and vice versa. I highly recommend you see a periodontist for correct diagnosis and treatment. In our office we will work very closely with your primary care physician and endocrinologist to get your diabetes under control and stabilize your periodontal disease at the same time. Hope you get this taken care of. Best wishes, Neal Raval

I often have a throat infection. What is the reason?

You may have either a recurring bacterial infection and your body never fully recovers before it is completely gone or you have a virus.
Have you taken any antibiotics yet?

What is the course of treatment for bleeding and swelling gums?

You should seek out a periodontist for a consultation. If you have good homecare and floss on a regular basis, but still have bleeding and swollen gums, you may have a more aggressive READ MORE
You should seek out a periodontist for a consultation. If you have good homecare and floss on a regular basis, but still have bleeding and swollen gums, you may have a more aggressive form of periodontitis. This requires interventional therapy likely with systemic antimicrobial therapy. Most dentists say they can treat gum disease,m but I would highly recommend to seek an expert in this case here.

Can a tooth cleaning procedure cause inflammation?

You likely have more severe gum disease than what your dentist initially anticipated and the bacteria have over populated the area now. Without seeing you for a consult, it is READ MORE
You likely have more severe gum disease than what your dentist initially anticipated and the bacteria have over populated the area now. Without seeing you for a consult, it is difficult to tell you exactly what is going on, but you should consider seeing a periodontist to have your gums evaluated. Bleeding gums can cause significant bone loss around your teeth in a short time. Hope this helped.

Please call our office and ask to come in for a 50% off exam with any needed X-rays per Dr. Raval, we would love to get you back to your ideal dental health. Our number is 425-453-1010. Happy Holidays, Dr. Neal

Why are my implants not working?

Are you a heavy smoker, have uncontrolled diabetes or very poor home care? If not, it unfortunately could also be due to user error/lack of experience of the treating doctor. Feel READ MORE
Are you a heavy smoker, have uncontrolled diabetes or very poor home care? If not, it unfortunately could also be due to user error/lack of experience of the treating doctor. Feel free to call our office for a complimentary second opinion on your case. The team will get you scheduled for the exam with myself and we can evaluate the area together. Dental implants should be a fun and pleasant experience. It should not be a routine for implants to fail!

My root canal is infected again. What should I do?

If the root canal was not completed well the first time around it may need to be retreated. In some cases a hidden root might be there as well. If you want to email us a radiograph READ MORE
If the root canal was not completed well the first time around it may need to be retreated. In some cases a hidden root might be there as well. If you want to email us a radiograph to neal@bellevueperio.com I would be able to help you significantly better.
The tooth may also be cracked and this can be undiagnosed for some time. When a tooth is cracked it will in most cases need to be extracted and you can replace it with a dental implant. Best wishes, Neal

My stitches done for gum grafting have become loose. What can I do?

Sutures are only supposed to stay in for a maximum of 6 weeks if at all. The fact that you still have sutures in place makes me a little concerned. Stitches also accumulate plaque READ MORE
Sutures are only supposed to stay in for a maximum of 6 weeks if at all. The fact that you still have sutures in place makes me a little concerned. Stitches also accumulate plaque and bacteria and you do not want that around your recently grafted teeth.
I would recommend you make a follow up appointment to have those sutures removed. If you live near one of our offices, they can schedule you also to have them removed. We would charge a minimal exam fee that would be covered by dental insurance if you have benefits remaining. I hope this is useful.

Happy Thanksgiving and a fun Black Friday!

Dr. Neal

Gum recession

Gum recession can occur for many reasons and ultimately is a form of periodontal disease which means you have lost or are losing bone around your teeth. It can be due to traumatic READ MORE
Gum recession can occur for many reasons and ultimately is a form of periodontal disease which means you have lost or are losing bone around your teeth. It can be due to traumatic home care, too many bacteria in your mouth, orthodontic tooth movement, periodontal susceptibility and many more. I would highly recommend a consultation with a periodontist who can address and review the exact cause in your situation. Gum grafts are potential options to address this. Most dental insurances will cover any needed procedures for gum disease. I also want to inform you that it is easier to treat at the beginning phase of recession and frequently reversible. We would be happy to see you for a consultation. If you would like to come in for it to be evaluated, please do not hesitate to call our offices at 425-453-1010.


Best wishes,
Dr. Neal

Is the HPV vaccine compulsory for kids?

It is not compulsory but I highly recommend getting vaccinated against the known strains of HPV. This does not need to occur just yet in your son but I would consider it when he READ MORE
It is not compulsory but I highly recommend getting vaccinated against the known strains of HPV. This does not need to occur just yet in your son but I would consider it when he turns 10 years old.
I hope this was helpful.

Cheers,
Neal

What if only one tooth is crooked?

Braces can address multiple teeth or just isolated teeth. In most cases to address a single crooked tooth (or multiple) you need to move other teeth to make space for that tooth. READ MORE
Braces can address multiple teeth or just isolated teeth. In most cases to address a single crooked tooth (or multiple) you need to move other teeth to make space for that tooth. If you want to come in we could go over this in more detail but is sounds your orthodontic treatment may be very short. Hope this answer helps if not please let us know. Dr. Neal

What is a dry socket?

A dry socket is when the blood clot is lost in the initial healing phase after an extraction. It is usually quite uncomfortable and you may feel like having a bad taste in your READ MORE
A dry socket is when the blood clot is lost in the initial healing phase after an extraction. It is usually quite uncomfortable and you may feel like having a bad taste in your mouth.
Treatment involves cleaning out the socket again and forming a new blood clot. This is done under local anesthetic and only takes a few minutes once you are numb.
I hope this was helpful.
Dr. Raval