Periodontics

Grafts

Many patients suffer from periodontal disease, or a loss of attachment between the teeth and the supporting structures. One method of treating this condition, especially in areas of recession is to graft tissue from another site in the mouth and reposition the tissue in the affected area. This is a successful method of treatment that leads to an improvement in health of the gum tissues and improved esthetics.

Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal (gum) disease progresses as the pocket between the tooth and gums get irritated by plaque, bacteria, and calculus (tartar). As this debris collects, sometimes deep in the pocket of the tooth, it becomes difficult for you to maintain proper cleaning of this area on your own. Dentists and dental hygienists have the ability to perform a “deep cleaning” or scaling and root planning of these hard to reach areas, which prevents the progression of the disease.

• Arestin®: To supplement the periodontal treatment provided in a deep cleaning, dental professionals can place medication in the periodontal pocket to further halt progression of the disease. Arestin® is an effective antibiotic treatment that is placed into the periodontal pocket following a deep cleaning. Over a period of up to twenty one days, small amounts of antibiotic are released into the pocket to improve the health of the gum tissues through antibacterial action.

Crown Lengthening

Sometimes patients’ teeth have deep fillings and decay that go slightly below the gingival margin (gumline). In order to properly restore these teeth, often a procedure called “crown lengthening” is performed in order to expose more of the crown of a tooth. Periodontists (gum specialists) surgically expose more of the crown of the tooth by slightly lowering the supporting bone to allow the general dentist to gain adequate access for restoring the tooth to ideal health.

Implants

• Anterior Teeth: Loss of a front tooth can be a traumatizing experience. Recent advances in dental technology have allowed dentists to restore these missing teeth while leaving adjacent teeth untouched, and allowing the patient to look and feel as if the tooth was never lost. Dental implants used in the front of the mouth are of a narrow diameter and are surgically placed into the patient’s bone where the tooth was lost. The dentist uses custom attachments and a lab fabricated porcelain crown to replace the missing tooth and restore the patient to optimum esthetics.

• Posterior Teeth: Back teeth are usually the first teeth in the mouth subject to decay, and sometimes unfortunately the first of the permanent teeth that a patient will lose. This can be due to a number of reasons; most often a cavity that has grown into a large infection that is untreatable or a failing root canal can lead to this outcome. With the latest advent in dental technology, these teeth are now able to be restored without touching the adjacent teeth. A dental implant can be placed surgically into the bone where the tooth was lost. Then, a dentist uses custom attachments and a lab fabricated crown to restore the patient to optimum esthetics and function.

• Implanted Supported Dentures: After the loss of several teeth, many patients end up requiring upper and lower dentures to restore the dentition. One of the biggest complaints for these patients is movement or instability of the denture, especially the lower denture. New technology offers a solution to this problem. By placing several dental implants in the jaw and placing custom attachments in the existing denture, it is possible for the denture to conveniently snap into place providing a secure, sound restorative option for denture wearers.