Periodontal procedures

Arestin: Fighting infection where it starts

You may have heard about gum disease, also known as "periodontitis" or "periodontal disease."

Did you know gum disease (periodontitis) is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults? Even more surprising, it’s been linked to serious health issues like heart disease and diabetes. Brushing and flossing alone can’t always fight the infection deep in your gums. That’s where ARESTIN® comes in.

After a thorough cleaning (scaling and root planing), Arestin is applied directly to the infected areas. This powerful antibiotic treatment targets the infection right at its source, helping to stop it in its tracks and protect both your smile and your health. Don’t wait—take control and fight gum disease with Arestin!

In medicine, a biopsy is the process of removing a small tissue sample to check for disease. In dentistry, biopsies play a crucial role in diagnosing oral cancer. When suspicious lesions appear in your mouth, a brush biopsy is often used to gather a sample and determine if further action is needed.

If you notice unexplained spots or lesions in your mouth, don’t wait to get them checked. While they may not be cancerous, they still need attention. Early detection can make all the difference in your health, so schedule an appointment with your dentist to have any concerns evaluated.

Bone grafting is a procedure that helps rebuild the jawbone, making it strong enough to support dental implants or other restorative treatments. It’s a common and effective solution, especially for those looking to restore their smile with implants.

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The process typically involves using bone from your own mouth—often from an area that's being prepared for a procedure. Sometimes, bone from a donor (known as cadaver bone) is used, which is carefully screened for safety. The bone is placed where it’s needed, allowing your jaw to heal and grow stronger, paving the way for a successful implant.

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If you’ve been told you need bone grafting, it’s a safe and reliable method to ensure that your dental restoration lasts for years to come.

Canine exposure is a dental procedure to help impacted canine teeth erupt properly. When a tooth becomes stuck beneath the gumline and fails to emerge naturally, it’s called an impacted tooth. Canines are particularly important for both function and appearance, so it’s crucial they come in correctly.

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The procedure involves making a small incision in the gum to expose the tooth, then using braces to guide it into position. An X-ray may be needed to assess the impaction, especially if a baby tooth is still in place. If you notice a loose tooth or suspect an impacted canine, this simple procedure can help restore both your smile and dental function.

It is no secret that dentists are committed to saving teeth. This is why we fill a cavity, instead of pulling the tooth. However, when decay reaches the point where a crown can't be placed, crown lengthening may be necessary.

This procedure involves reshaping the gum line to expose more of the tooth. While it doesn’t actually lengthen the tooth, it removes excess gum tissue to provide enough tooth structure for a crown. It's especially helpful if a tooth is broken below the gumline, giving the dentist the access needed for proper restoration.

A frenulum is a small piece of tissue that connects the lips or tongue to the gums. When it’s too short or thick, it can affect speech, cause tooth misalignment, or, in infants, make breastfeeding difficult.

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A frenectomy is a quick, minimally invasive procedure to correct this. Performed in-office with a scalpel or laser, the procedure takes less than 15 minutes. Using a laser results in less bleeding, no stitches, and quicker healing. While children typically require general anesthesia, adults only need a local anesthetic. The procedure is highly effective with minimal discomfort, making it a great solution for both kids and adults.

Gingivitis, and its more advanced form, periodontitis, can significantly damage your gums. As bacteria and plaque build up, the gums begin to stretch, forming pockets that cause receding gums and expose more of your teeth, affecting both function and appearance.

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Gum grafting is an effective procedure that restores your gums to a healthier, more natural state. Using soft tissue from the roof of your mouth, the graft covers exposed tooth and root surfaces, promoting new tissue growth to bring the gums back to their original position. This routine procedure involves minimal discomfort and recovery time, helping you regain a healthier smile.

Do you wake up with sore jaws or feel like your bite is off?

 

You may need an occlusal adjustment to correct the alignment of your teeth. This procedure is ideal for those with shifting, loose, or missing teeth, as well as those who grind or clench their teeth.

 

The goal is to evenly distribute your bite, eliminating irregular pressure on one side of the mouth.

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The adjustment is made using a fine dental drill and a computer scan to pinpoint areas that need attention. This precise technology ensures minimal tooth wear and a properly aligned bite. The procedure is quick, with minimal discomfort, and may also help with tooth sensitivity.

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Occlusal adjustments can improve the overall health of your bite and help relieve jaw pain—so if you're experiencing issues, talk to your dentist today!

Loose teeth can make eating or even talking uncomfortable, especially when they feel like they're about to pull away from the gums. Whether caused by gum loss, injury, or tooth misalignment, loose teeth can be both frustrating and painful.

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Fortunately, periodontal splinting is an effective solution. This simple procedure uses a composite material to bond weak teeth to adjacent stable ones, creating a stronger, more stable unit. Commonly done on the front teeth, splinting is a quick and popular treatment to restore confidence and function to your smile.

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Don’t live with the discomfort—ask your dentist if periodontal splinting is right for you!

Osseous surgery is a procedure designed to reshape the bone that supports your teeth, often used to treat periodontitis. When periodontitis causes bone defects around your teeth, osseous surgery removes and reshapes the affected bone to restore your dental health.

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Before the surgery, your dentist will perform scaling and root planing to clean the roots. After numbing the area with local anesthesia, the dentist reshapes the bone using specialized tools, removing any damaged areas. If necessary, bone grafting material is added to fill larger defects. Once the bone is restored, the gums are stitched back in place.

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This routine procedure has a high success rate and can greatly improve your oral health, ensuring your teeth stay strong and stable.

Your smile is often the first thing people notice, and it plays a big role in making a great first impression. If you’re self-conscious about a gummy smile, uneven gum line, or elongated teeth, cosmetic periodontal surgery can help.

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This procedure sculpts your gum line to create a more balanced and natural look by removing excess gum tissue or restoring receded gums with soft tissue grafts. The result? A smile that’s in harmony with your teeth and gums, reducing the risk of future gum issues.

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If you're ready to improve your smile, give us a call—because a great first impression starts with a confident smile!

Gum disease starts quietly, often without pain, making it easy to miss until it’s too late. It begins with plaque buildup, which hardens into tartar and harbors bacteria that attack your gums. Left untreated, this leads to Gingivitis, which can progress to Periodontitis, damaging both your gums and the bone that supports your teeth.

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While tooth loss is the most obvious sign, gum disease has been linked to serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even complications in pregnancy. As your gums deteriorate, your immune system weakens too.

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But here's the good news: the days of fearing painful dental surgery are behind us. With modern treatments, gum disease can be managed more easily than ever before. If you're noticing bleeding gums or bad breath, it's time to take action—your health depends on it!

Gingivitis is a common yet serious gum disease that can lead to tooth and gum damage if left untreated. It starts when plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, creating an environment where bacteria thrive. This causes your gums to become inflamed, bleed when you brush, or sometimes even when you eat. If you notice these signs, it's likely early-stage gingivitis, which is easy to treat with a simple cleaning.

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Treatment involves scaling to remove tartar from your teeth and, if needed, root planing to smooth the tooth roots and remove infected tissue. Scaling and planing are usually painless, but for advanced cases, your dentist may numb the area for extra comfort. The procedure is done in stages to ensure proper healing and to keep each appointment manageable.

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Don't let gingivitis progress into a bigger issue. Catching it early with a routine cleaning is an easy and effective way to keep your smile healthy!

Advanced periodontal disease can create deep gum pockets around your teeth, which are difficult to clean and can lead to further tooth and gum problems. These pockets may affect the appearance of your gums, but more importantly, they provide a place for plaque and bacteria to build up, increasing the risk of future infections.

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Pocket reduction surgery addresses this by cleaning the damaged areas around the tooth root and removing any decayed tissue. The goal is to reduce the pocket size so that it's easier to keep clean with regular brushing and flossing. In some cases, the gum may need to be sutured to ensure the pocket doesn’t trap bacteria and to promote healing.

This procedure helps restore your gums to a healthier state, reducing the risk of future complications and helping you maintain a cleaner, healthier smile.

If you’ve noticed your gums receding, you're not alone. While mild gum recession can often be managed with improved oral hygiene, more significant recession can expose the sensitive tooth roots, increasing the risk of infection and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Receding gums can also lead to more serious dental issues if left untreated.

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A soft tissue graft is an effective solution to restore your gum line. The procedure involves either taking tissue from the roof of your mouth or repositioning healthy gum tissue from nearby areas. This simple, highly successful procedure helps protect your teeth from further damage and can prevent the need for more invasive treatments down the road.