Periodontal Services

Gum Disease Treatment

Up to 80% of American adults have some form of gum disease. This begins when plaque builds up below the gum line, releases toxins, and eventually turns rock-hard, causing teeth to separate from the gums. If you have gum disease, you may notice symptoms ranging from mild to severe. For many patients, their symptoms are so minor they do not realize there is a problem until the gum disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Symptoms such as chronic bad breath, bleeding gums, sore gums, pockets between teeth, loose teeth, and changes in the way teeth fit together are signs of a problem. Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, and more. In fact, studies show that patients with gum disease are twice as likely to have heart disease.

Laser Gum Therapy

This is a non-surgical way to treat gum disease. During the procedure we will use a dental laser to decontaminate and reduce gum pockets, which can hold potentially life-threatening bacteria. When left untreated, gum disease can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. Laser dentistry procedures are virtually pain-free, require less anesthesia, and result in minimal bleeding.

Gum Grafting

We provide gum grafts to treat gum recession. If your gums have receded, it can expose the tooth roots, increase sensitivity, and put you at a higher risk for disease and decay. During the grafting procedure, the exposed tooth root is covered, which alleviates tooth sensitivity and improves esthetics.

Perioderm

This is a type of gum grafting procedure in which the gum grafts are not taken from your own palate, but from a donor. It is used to treat gum recession and is a successful option for many patients.

Pinhole Technique

This procedure was invented and patented by John Chao, DDS, MADG to correct gum recession. It provides patients with a scalpel-free, suture-free procedure to help restore dental wellness and protect roots. During the procedure, a small hole is made with a needle, and then we use specially designed instruments to gently loosen the gum tissue and slide it over the exposed root structure. This creates an instant cosmetic improvement, faster recovery time, and minimal discomfort after treatment.

Extractions

As with any of our treatments, we will partner with you before, during, and after your dental extraction to make sure you are comfortable and confident in your treatment options. We perform this procedure to treat a host of dental conditions including advanced gum disease, misaligned wisdom teeth, and more. This straightforward and simple procedure also benefits patients who have broken, cracked, and/or excessively decayed or damaged teeth. We will work with you to determine if tooth extractions are right for you as well as discuss tooth replacement options, including dental implants or mini dental implants.

Aesthetic Gum Surgery

This type of procedure is used to remove excess gum tissue, which can give you a bright, beautiful, and whiter smile. Gum recontouring is a good treatment option for patients with a “gummy smile” — meaning too much gum tissue shows when they smile.

Crown Lengthening

We perform this procedure to recontour the tissue around a tooth to lay the groundwork for restorative or cosmetic dental treatments. It is used as part of a crown replacement treatment, and provides the necessary space between the supporting bone and crown. This also prevents the crown from damaging the bone and gum tissue.

Providing Advanced Technology & Compassionate Care

From our beginning, we have been committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of care. We utilize a range of advanced systems in our practice to ensure you receive treatments that are as pain-free and non-invasive as possible. This includes intraoral cameras, digital 2D and 3D radiography, DentalVibe Injections, and more. We also offer IV sedation for patients who have dental anxieties.

Lichen Planus:

Lichen Planus is an autoimmune disease of the skin or the mucosal membrane of the mouth. It is one of the most common dermatologic diseases of the mouth. Lichen Planus appears as very fine grayish-white lines on the gums and cheeks of patients, usually on both sides of the mouth. It can occur on other areas of the body, but generally is confined to the mouth. Lichen Planus is not curable, but it can be treated. We start with a conservative treatment of warm salt-water rinses, then move to a special mouth rinse called “Magic Mouth Rinse”, which contains several ingredients compounded by a pharmacist. The patient rinses with this solution three times a day. The goals of treatment are to keep patients comfortable and to prevent Erosive Lichen Planus. Erosive Lichen Planus is a more aggressive form of Lichen Planus. It causes the skin of the mouth to fall off (sloughing of the skin), which is painful and makes eating difficult for patients. Many times, steroids are used for a short time to get the disease in check. If you have these symptoms, and feel you need advice, contact our office for a consultation. before and after use of Magic Mouth Rinse