Gum disease affects millions of Americans. This serious condition, which can occur without symptoms, has been linked to tooth loss, bad breath, heart disease, and cancer.
The best defense against gum disease is prevention. Regular brushing, flossing and professional cleaning will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and reduce your risk of developing an infection.
We provide a range of periodontal services to prevent and treat gum disease, as well as to correct congenital defects and restore lost or damaged gum and bone tissue.
Scaling and root planing
One of the main causes of gum disease is inflammation of the gums. Inflammation results when anything irritates the gums, and left untreated it can make your gums vulnerable to infection. Scaling and root planing removes two of the main sources of irritation: tartar and irregularities on the roots of your teeth. Using special tools, we make sure the surface of your roots is smooth so your gums don’t get irritated.
Tooth extraction
If a tooth can’t be restored it can place other teeth at risk of infection or damage and it will need to be extracted. We may also extract teeth to prepare your mouth for dentures or during orthodontic treatment. After extraction we’ll discuss replacement options for the lost tooth.
Ridge/socket preservation
When a tooth is extracted or knocked out the remaining socket can collapse, causing the adjacent teeth to shift. This can lead to complications. To prevent it from happening, we preserve the socket by filling it with material.
Frenectomy
Babies are sometimes born with frenula, small pieces of connective tissue such as the one between your upper lip and upper gums, that are too short. This can result in discomfort and difficulty speaking. To treat this we surgically remove or alter the frenulum.
Crown lengthening
Crown lengthening refers to the process of removing gum tissue from around the base of a tooth to expose part of the root. It’s used for cosmetic purposes to make a smile look less “gummy,” and it is also used during placement of dental restorations such as crowns and bridges.
Sinus Augmentation
Dental implants need to be placed in bone tissue to function. When we are placing implants in the upper jaw, we often need to augment the bone between the jaw and the sinuses. This bone can be very thin and cannot support an implant without augmentation..
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Gum disease can be prevented with periodontal treatment. Call today to learn more.