We offer a wide range of periodontal procedures that can treat periodontal disease, or gum disease, in damaged hard and soft tissues in the mouth. Periodontal procedures are typically performed to save or rebuild the jaw bone and/or gums in order to save teeth or allow for the placement of dental implants. They can also be used to enhance your smile by correcting problems like long or short teeth, uneven gum line, receding gums, exposed roots, and indentations in the gums or jawbone.
Home care is an extremely important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but even excellent home care cannot prevent bacteria and plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden, becoming calculus. We will recommend a periodontal maintenance program that is best for you based on how quickly you develop calculus and your past and current periodontal health. During your maintenance visits, we will perform an oral examination as well as a dental cleaning.
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. During the scaling process, specialized dental instruments are used to remove dental plaque and calculus from beneath the gums. Planing is the procedure used to smooth the tooth’s root after the scaling process. Root planing helps the gums heal and reattach themselves to a cleaner and smoother root surface.
Dental implants replace missing teeth and protect existing teeth by helping to preserve bone structure. Dental implants are composed of three pieces: a small screw made of a biocompatible metal called titanium, an abutment that connects the screw, and the final restoration.
The health of the mucosa, the smooth, pink lining inside the mouth, is vital for overall oral well-being. Changes in its color or texture may signal underlying issues, including the potential for oral cancer. It’s imperative not to overlook symptoms such as unhealing sores or lumps within the mouth’s interior surfaces. We urge patients to report any irregularities during their visits, as timely biopsies can be crucial for early detection and treatment. Our practice emphasizes the importance of awareness and proactive communication for maintaining oral health.
Crown lengthening is commonly used to expose more tooth structure, crown lengthening involves the removal of gum tissue and/or bone to expose more of a tooth’s structure.
A pocket depth reduction is a surgical procedure used to smooth and reshape affected bone under the gum tissue. This procedure is performed when a pocket around a tooth (or teeth) has not responded to other treatments. It creates a shallow pocket making it difficult for bacteria to survive and damage bone, resulting in bone loss and ultimately, tooth loss.
If a tooth can not be saved using restorative materials such as fillings or crowns, it may need to be removed to prevent infection, maintain oral health, or before dental implant placement.
