- Dental ExaminationYour gums and teeth are examined to learn the extent of your Periodontal Disease. The gums are checked for bleeding, swelling, firmness and abnormal contours. The teeth are checked for movement and sensitivity. Your bite and other factors that can affect your Periodontal Disease are assessed. Full mouth x-rays less than a year old can help the doctor detect breakdown of bone surrounding your teeth. We use digital x-rays to minimize the amount of radiation exposure. Periodontal Probing is done to find out how severe your disease is and to plan your treatment. It involves measuring the depth of the spaces (pockets) around each tooth.
- X-raysRoutine dental x-rays – X-rays can be effectively used to screen for bone loss in the upper and lower jaw, and the dentist can provide interventions for preventing and treating periodontal disease. It is believed that minimizing periodontal disease will help treat osteoporosis.
- Teeth Cleaning
- CrownsYour dentist may recommend crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. Perhaps your tooth is decayed or broken below the gumline or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.
- BridgesA dental implant provides several advantages over other tooth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth. The other common treatment for the loss of a single tooth is a tooth supported fixed bridge. This requires that adjacent teeth be ground down to support the cemented bridge.
- Gingivectomy and GingivoplastyYou may have asked your dentist how to improve a “gummy” smile because your teeth appear short. Your teeth may be the proper length but they may be covered with too much gum tissue. To correct this a procedure called a gingivectomy can be performed.
- Deep CleaningThe dentist is able to conduct deep cleaning treatments such as scaling and root planing to remove hardened calculus (tartar) deposits from the gum pockets. An antibiotic may be prescribed to ensure that the bacterium is completely destroyed and the periodontal infection does not spread. In most cases, periodontal disease can be prevented with regular cleanings and proper home care.
- DenturesDeformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. This defect may have been caused by periodontal disease, wearing dentures, developmental defects, injury or trauma. Not only does this deformity cause problems in placing the implant, it can also cause an unattractive indentation in the jaw line near the missing teeth that may be difficult to clean and maintain.
- Dental ImplantsA key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper posterior area of the jaw has traditionally been a difficult area to place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and the close proximity to the sinus. If you’ve lost bone in that area due to reasons such as periodontal disease or tooth loss, you may be left without enough bone to place implants.
- Oral Surgery
- Flap SurgeryThe gum is gently separated from the tooth, creating a “flap” and access to the infected pocket. Deep deposits of plaque and tartar can then be removed. It also reduces the pocket and the areas where bacteria can grow. Little or no gum tissue is removed.
- Osseous SurgeryYour bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck. When you have periodontal disease this supporting tissue and bone is destroyed forming “pockets” around the teeth.
- Ridge Augmentation
- Bone GraftingThe bone and gum tissues should fit snugly around your teeth like a turtleneck around your neck.
- Cosmetic Dentistry