Periodontal Services

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a prosthesis that interfaces with the bone of the jaw to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, or facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor.

This dental surgical procedure is done to restore the function and look of teeth, gums, and bones that are damaged due to periodontal disease. People with severe or moderate-to-advanced diseases around their gums and the tissues that support their teeth are usually candidates for periodontal surgery.

Periodontal Surgery

Periodontal Maintenance

Your periodontist will recommend periodontal maintenance post periodontal surgical treatment or after scaling and root planing. This is because bacteria tend to stay either below or above the gum line. These colonies cause gum irritation and inflammation. Preventing this type of infection is the main goal of dental cleanings. Studies have shown that for patients with a history of periodontal disease, it is critical that they have a periodontal maintenance cleaning by a professional dental care provider such as a dentist or hygienist every 3 months.

Periodontal Disease

What is periodontal disease? The main causes of periodontal disease are infections and inflammation of the gums and the bone that surround the teeth. When gingivitis occurs in the early stages of gum disease, the gums may swell, turn red, and even bleed. If left untreated, this will lead to irreversible damage to the supporting bone and jaw structure that support the teeth and eventually lead to tooth loss. Research has also shown periodontal disease can contribute to increased risk factors for many systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, premature birth, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and dementia, just to name a few.

Bone Grafting

Why are bone grafts needed? In a surgical process called bone grafting, diseased or damaged bones are repaired and rebuilt using transplanted bone. You can use a bone graft to repair damaged and missing bones practically anywhere in your mouth. To perform the graft, your surgeon may use bone from a tissue bank, synthetic grafts, or from your own mouth.

Implant Dentures

In order to support dental prostheses like crowns, bridges, dentures, or facial prostheses or to serve as an orthodontic anchor, dental implants are inserted into the jawbone. After a few months (a 3-6 month period of integration of the implant into the jaw bone), the implant is then exposed and used as an anchor to support the crown, denture, or prosthesis.

Gum Grafting Surgery

In many cases, gum recession can be reversed using gum grafting, often called a gingival transplant or cosmetic plastic surgery for gum reconstruction. For this surgical treatment, your dentist could suggest that you see a periodontist or a gum specialist. In some cases, a small portion of tissue from the roof of your mouth or from neighboring healthy gum tissue is initially removed by your periodontist before performing a gum graft. This tissue is then transplanted and secured in place by a few small sutures, then allowed to heal. If multiple teeth are affected and you are a good candidate, dermal tissue (human cadaver connective tissue) can be used to eliminate the need to harvest the gum from the roof of the mouth.