| Scaling
and Root Planning |
| The
removal of hard and soft deposits from the teeth
and roots of teeth. This includes bacterial plaque
(germs) and the toxins they produce and the mineralized
form of plaque called calculus (tartar). It is
these deposits that cause irritation and infection
of the gums and bone loss around the teeth. Scaling
and Root Planing is a very technique sensitive
procedure that uses a combination of sonic, ultrasonic,
and hand instruments.
|
| Chemotherapeutic
Irrigation |
| This
is the direct delivery of an antibacterial or
antimicrobial solution into an infected area.
This procedure is often done in conjunction with
scaling and root planing.
|
| Direct
Delivery of Antibiotics |
| This
is the placement of antibiotic or antimicrobial
fibers, chips, or gels into an infected area
or areas. Unlike irrigation, these antibiotic
containing vehicles remain in the infected site
for several days exerting their effect.
|
| Bone
Grafting/Tissue Regeneration |
| This
surgical procedure replaces bone that has been
lost around the teeth as a result of advancing
gum disease. Various types of bone grafting materials
are used from synthetically derived bone to collagen-type
materials to the patients own bone. Often a "membrane" of
some type is used to help contain the graft within
the prepared bone site and help the graft to
heal properly.
|
| Gum
Grafting |
| A
surgical procedure designed to add protective
gum around the root of a tooth. Protective gum
is often lost as a result of recession of the
gum or trauma. Most often, the protective gum
used for the graft is taken from another area
of the patients own mouth where the protective-type
gum is abundant. The graft heals, the area will
continually maintain the new protective gum.
Gum grafts are very predictable and usually need
to be done only once.
|
| Root
Coverage Procedures |
| These
types of gum grafts are designed to cover the
roots of teeth that have been exposed due to
recession or trauma. These procedures are often
done as cosmetic procedures in areas of esthetic
concern. (See Before and After Page).
|
| Crown
Lengthening |
| This
surgical procedure is designed to assist your
restorative dentist in getting a restoration
(cap or filling) to properly fit your tooth.
When decay or tooth fracture goes beneath the
gum line your dentist may require that more tooth
structure be exposed surgically so that he or
she may properly restore the tooth.
|
| Supportive
Periodontal Maintenance |
| Once
your gums have been brought back to health it
is imperative that a maintenance schedule be
designed to fit your needs. Typically your teeth
will be cleaned, scaled, and polished every three
months. Three month intervals help keep the plaque
levels around the gums minimal and thus significantly
reduces your risk of re-infection. Maintenance
is the key to successful treatment.
|
| Cosmetic
Gum Sculpting |
This
procedure is generally done for cosmetic purposes
to eliminate a “Gummy Smile” and
to even out the gum line prior to cosmetic
dentistry.
|
| Sinus
Lift Augmentation |
| Often
the sinuses will enlarge in size following loss
of the upper back teeth. This often will preclude
placement of dental implants in the upper back
areas of the mouth since the sinus is an air
filled space and dental implants need to be surrounded
by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft
is a surgical procedure that replaces the sinus
cavity into its original position and replaces
the bone that has been lost as a result of the
enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically
takes 9-12 months to heal before the dental implants
can be placed into the grafted bone.
|
| Autogenous
Bone Grafting |
| Occasionally,
areas where dental implants are to ideally be
placed do not have sufficient bone quantity to
predictably place the dental implants. In these
cases it is often necessary to
"borrow" bone from another area of your
mouth to graft into the deficient area. Often the
area of choice is from the chin or in the back
of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.
|
| Implant
Site Development |
| When
a tooth needs to be removed due to infection
it is not uncommon to have lost bone from around
the infected tooth. In these cases various types
of bone grafting can be done at the same time
the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement
of a dental implant at a later date.
|
| Computer
Enhanced Treatment Planning |
| We
have a special software called "simplant" on
our computer which allows us to evaluate your
dental cat scan in three dimensions for bone
quality, bone quantity, and bone location for
the best possible placement of your dental implants.
This also allows us to work closely and smoothly
with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal
result where your dental implants are concerned.
|
| Implant
Maintenance |
| Once
your dental implant restoration is completed
it is important to keep the area clean and infection
free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and
tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just
one tooth replaced by an implant or several a
professional cleaning schedule will be necessary
to keep your implants healthy. The time interval
for these professional cleanings will be determined
by your individual needs.
|
