Periodontal Therapy
Periodontal disease (commonly known as gum disease) ranges from more mild forms called gingivitis to more severe forms called periodontitis. Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection that disrupts the connection between teeth and their supporting gum and bone.
Periodontal disease is quite common and patients in earlier stages often report no symptoms. However, if left untreated, the bone and other supporting tissues of the tooth can deteriorate, leading to tooth loss.
Symptoms include red, painful, swollen and bleeding gums, often during brushing and flossing.
Significant research shows a connection between oral health and overall health, making early detection, diagnosis and treatment more important than ever. These early signs are often detected by your dentist and dental hygienist.
Our periodontal practice can provide advanced periodontal therapy to slow and often stop the disease process and help you regain oral health. These treatments include:
Treatment Options
- Scaling & Root Planing – Known as a “deep cleaning,” this removes plaque and calculus (tartar or the hard deposits that form on teeth) and other bacterial toxins from periodontal pockets. The goal is to smooth roots to prevent future adherence of plaque, calculus and toxins.
- Antibiotic Therapy – Often used with other therapie to treat acute bacterial infections and more severe types of periodontal disease.
- Surgical Periodontal Therapy – Performed to gain greater access to the roots of teeth and underlying bone for further debridement and to reshape bone lost during the disease process. The process allows better access to clean at home and in the office following treatment.
- Regenerative Periodontal Therapy – Done to regenerate bone and other supporting tissue of the tooth. Often combined with other types of surgical periodontal therapy to further maximize benefits and regain what was lost.
- Periodontal Maintenance – Used to maintain the results of both non-surgical and surgical earlier therapies. Periodontal cleanings are of the utmost importance for disease control to prevent the return of disease and to allow early and swift detection of dental concerns.
- Periodontal Plastic Surgery / Soft Tissue Grafting – More commonly known as gum grafting, these procedures are used to cover exposed root surfaces and improve /thicken tissue around teeth and dental implants.
- Crown Lengthening – May be performed on a single tooth or multiple teeth. This procedure is often recommended for esthetic reasons (to create a more balanced, proportionate smile (gummy smile treatment)) or functional reasons (to access dental decay or damaged tooth structure hidden below the gumline or prepare a tooth for a crown or veneer).
- Adjunctive Orthodontic Therapy – To expose impacted canine teeth in children and young adults or SFOT (surgically facilitated orthodontic therapy) to increase soft tissue and bone with the added benefit of possible reduced treatment time. Often done in partnership with your orthodontist. Your orthodontist may also recommend Soft Tissue Grafting or other above therapies before, during, or after orthodontic therapy for ideal esthetic outcomes and to maintain teeth in health and function.
- Emergency Dentistry – Common dental emergencies we treat include dental implant emergencies, severe tooth pain or infection, broken or cracked teeth and extractions.