Periodontics

Strengthen your supportive structures

For the best chance of holding onto your natural teeth for a lifetime, take good care of your gums. Gum disease can cause the deterioration of your periodontium, eventually leading to tooth loss. Luckily, gum disease is preventable and treatable.

Gum disease’s heavy consequences

• Gum disease increases your risk of tooth loss, but also serious systemic illnesses.
• People with gum disease are 2-3x more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
• The link between systemic illness and gum disease is inflammation.
• Reducing inflammation in your mouth can reduce it elsewhere in your body.

Scaling & root planing

In its early stages, gum disease (gingivitis) causes gum inflammation, which can lead to your gums pulling away from your teeth and creating pockets. These pockets trap plaque and tartar and can cause serious infection. Scaling and root planing can halt and reverse this process.

What the procedure entails

• Scaling and root planing are also known as a deep cleaning.
• Scaling removes plaque and tartar buildup below the gumline.
• Root planing smooths the tooth root, encouraging gums to reattach.
• This deep cleaning can close your pockets—keep them closed with good oral hygiene!

Non-invasive gum surgery

Who doesn’t love to hear the words non-invasive when it comes to surgery? Thankfully, LANAP delivers. That stands for: Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. With the right wavelength, we can sterilize your gums and tooth roots and welcome your gums to reattach themselves.

What the procedure entails

• A tiny laser fiber (about the size of 3 human hairs) zaps diseased tissue.
• Natural clots form after the sterilization of your gums and tooth roots.
• LANAP causes minimal pain and requires no scalpels or sutures.
• Healthy gum tissue remains intact and new bone growth is stimulated.

Recovering your tooth roots

Did you know gum recession isn’t always caused by gum disease? In fact, it can be the result of brushing too hard, especially if you’re using a toothbrush with hard bristles. The Tunnel Technique can encourage recessed gums to once again cover your tooth roots.

What the procedure entails

• We start by cleaning exposed root surfaces with a doxycycline solution.
• Using a special tool, we’ll create space between your teeth and gums.
• We’ll insert a skin graft and use a single suture to hold it in place.
• After healing, the previously recessed gum tissue will cover your tooth roots naturally.

Your gums will return the favor

When you’ve got enough tissue elsewhere, what’s the harm in borrowing some to repair an area in need? That’s the theory put into practice for a gum graft, which typically involves suturing tissue from the roof of your mouth to your gums.

What the procedure entails

• First, we’ll make sure you’re as comfortable and as numb as possible.
• We may create a flap to use connective tissue for stitching to your gums.
• The roof of your mouth may also be stitched during the procedure.
• We’ll give you aftercare instructions to follow through the healing process.

Treating advanced gum disease

If your gum disease has persisted to the point of periodontitis, your tooth roots have likely become infected, too. To decrease the depth of your periodontal pockets, remove infected tissue, stimulate new bone and tissue growth, and prevent tooth loss, we may recommend osseous surgery.

What the procedure entails

• We’ll use topical and local anesthetic to ensure your comfort.
• A small incision will be made to expose areas of infection.
• Infection and buildup will be removed, then we’ll smooth uneven tooth edges.
• After cleaning, smoothing, and sterilization, sutures will be placed for healing.