Services
Scaling and Root Planing Therapy
Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, minerals and some food leftovers: the bacteria provides a substrate and the minerals harden it with time, turning into to tartar. Plaque is removable with routine brushing; tartar is not. Tartar causes inflammation of the gums. Chronic inflammation of the gums is Gingivitis.
Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing is a specialized skill that removes plaque and tartar from the root of the tooth, which is made up of cementum, a substance that is softer than enamel and consequently more vulnerable. By scaling substrate from the cementum, bacteria have nothing to cling to and, therefore, tartar does not form. This is an important part of stopping and preventing periodontal disease.
Clinical Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is required when your tooth needs a new crown or filling, but the extension of the crown or filling is too far below the gum line. The edge of that restoration is deep below the gum tissue and not accessible. It is also usually too close to the bone or below the bone. This situation prevents your general dentist from placing a stable, healthy restoration.
The procedure involves adjusting the levels of the gum tissue and bone around the tooth in question, to create a new gum-to–tooth relationship. This allows your dentist to reach the edge of the restoration, ensuring a proper fit to the tooth. It should also provide enough tooth structure so the new restoration will not come loose in the future. This allows you to clean the edges of the restoration when you brush and floss to prevent decay and gum disease. The procedure takes approximately one hour.
Osseous Surgery
Connective Tissue Grafting
Osseous surgery is used to reshape deformities and remove pockets in the alveolar bone surrounding the teeth. It is a common necessity in effective treatment of more advanced periodontal diseases.
The ultimate goal of osseous surgery is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease. Despite the word “surgery,” the procedure is reported to feel more like a thorough cleaning. The specific goals of surgery include: Reducing bacterial spread, preventing bone loss, enhancing the smile, and facilitating home care.
Connective tissue grafting is the procedure used to cover the exposed root surfaces so they will not decay. There are two types of soft tissue grafting, free gingival grafting and connective tissue grafting. Of the two, free gingival grafting is the more painful and less effective procedure for covering root surfaces; it is commonly used to prevent recession. We use another more comfortable and predictable procedure called connective tissue grafting to repair areas of recession. Connective tissue grafts form a long-term attachment to the roots to ensure that they remain covered for decades. This procedure is especially useful for covering roots in areas that show. The color match is excellent and it is hard to tell where the graft was done.
Bone Grafting
Dental Implants
Dental bone grafting is a specialized periodontal procedure that has been developed to reestablish jawbone that has been lost. This loss can be a result of: Dental Infection of Abscess, Periodontal Disease, or Trauma. There are various reasons for replacing lost bone tissue and encouraging natural bone growth, and each technique tackles jawbone defects differently. Reasons that bone grafting might be needed include: Sinus Augmentation, Socket Preservation, Ridge Augmentation or Regeneration.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
Endosteal (in the bone) is the most commonly used type of implant. The various types include screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures.
Hygiene Program
It only takes twenty four hours for plaque that is not removed from your teeth to turn into calculus (tartar)! Once your periodontal treatment has been completed, it is recommended that you have regular maintenance visits (periodontal cleanings), usually four times a year. At these appointments, the pocket depths will be carefully checked to ensure that they are healthy. Plaque and calculus that is difficult for you to remove on a daily basis will be removed from above and below the gum line.
In addition to your periodontal cleaning and evaluation, your appointment will usually include: examination of diagnostic x-rays, examination of existing restorations, examination of tooth decay, oral cancer screening, oral hygiene recommendations, and teeth polishing.