Procedures

Treatment of Periodontal Disease

In keeping with our practice philosophy, all of the services provided will be performed with a commitment to excellence and a dedication to compassion and quality.

Examination

At your initial visit, a comprehensive periodontal examination will be performed, and we will provide a diagnosis. Examinations may focus attention on an area of concern to you or your referring dentist. We also provide consultation examinations for dental implants, cosmetic periodontal procedures, and second opinions. If necessary, X-rays may be requested from your referring dentist or they can be taken in our office. We will develop a treatment plan with your overall well-being a priority and propose any recommended treatment to you at that time.

Treatment Options

There are a wide variety of procedures that we may use to treat periodontal (gum) disease. There may be several treatment options reviewed, and the recommended treatment will be focused on the goal of maintaining your teeth or dental implants in a healthy, comfortable, and functional state.

Non-Surgical Treament

Depending upon the findings at the time of your examination, we may recommend a course of non-surgical, non-invasive therapy. This stage of treatment will often include comprehensive oral hygiene instruction, teaching you methods to keep your teeth clean and healthy for years to come. In addition, we may recommend a thorough deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing. Sometimes these deep cleanings and good home care are all that are required to obtain the state of oral health we are trying to help you reach.

Other non-invasive techniques which may be benenficial in select cases include both systemic and locally applied drug therapies.

Bite guard appliances may be recommended to help manage clenching and grinding habits. These appliances may also be beneficial for certain people where the bite may effect the severity and progression of periodontal disease.

Surgical Therapies

Periodontal surgery may be beneficial when we determine that the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and non-surgical treatment does not adequately control the disease process.

The most commonly recommended surgical treatments include:

Pocket Reduction Procedures “Gum Surgery”
Regenerative Procedures “Bone Grafts”
Crown Lengthening “Gummy Smile”
Soft Tissue Grafts “Gum Recession”
Ridge Augmentation Procedures “Ridge Defect”
Dental Implants “Tooth Replacement”

Cosmetic Procedures

In addition to treating periodontal disease, we also perform cosmetic procedures geared toward improving not only function but also the esthetics of your smile.

Cosmetic procedures include:

Crown Lengthening “Gummy Smile”
Soft Tissue Grafts “Gum Recession”
Ridge Augmentation Procedures “Ridge Defect”
Dental Implants “Tooth Replacement”

We will be happy to work in consultation with your referring dentist to enhance planned restorative procedures, and we can evaluate your smile and provide a range of treatments available to help achieve the look you want.

Periodontal Recalls (Maintenance)

Following the active phase of periodontal treatment, whether or not surgery was utilized, it is likely that a preventive recall system or periodontal maintenance program will be recommended. The intervals for these thorough routine cleanings vary, and they are an important part of the treatment process aimed at helping you keep your teeth or dental implants healthy for the rest of your life.

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