Phone: 606-324-6494 | Fax: 606-325-4144
Periodontists are dentistry's experts in treating periodontal/gum disease. They receive up to three additional years of specialized training in periodontal disease treatment in both non-surgical treatments and periodontal plastic surgery procedures. Periodontists are also experts in replacing missing teeth with dental implants.
Placement and treatment of dental implants (and related procedures)
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
- The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.
Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment – also known as a deep cleaning or scaling/root planing. A thorough scaling to remove accretions from the roots surfaces of the teeth. This procedure is generally done using local anesthetic.
Surgical Periodontal Therapy – Takes the scaling/root planing a step further when there is more extensive disease and more bone loss. The gums are reflected back from the teeth to allow access to deeper areas than could be achieved using non-surgical therapy. Also allows access to deformities in ridge for correction and also placement of bone grafts to regenerate lost bone (see hard tissue grafting procedures).
Soft tissue grafting procedures – Procedures done to replace gums lost as a result of disease or worn away due to aggressive tooth brushing.
Hard tissue grafting procedures (bone grafting) – Bone grafting material is added during surgical therapy to regenerate lost bone as result of periodontal diseases. A membrane may also be used in conjunction with the bone graft material. Bone can also be added to deformities in the ridge as a result of loss of teeth and to augment for implant placement.
Periodontal Plastic Procedures – Treatments to enhance your smile.
- Esthetic crown lengthening (reduce “gummy smile”)
- Uneven gum line
- Exposed root surfaces
Periodontal Maintenance – Patients treated for periodontal disease require more frequent visits to maintain their periodontal status after therapy. Depending on the severity of disease, patients treated for periodontitis are often seen every 3 months for maintenance. Ideally, these visits are alternated between the periodontist and general dentist.
