6 Procedures You Can Expect to Find at a Professional Periodontics Practice

Periodontics is a type of dentistry that focuses on the area that surrounds and supports your teeth. This area includes the cementum that covers the roots, the alveolar bone, the periodontal ligament and, of course, the gums. A professional periodontist will help you prevent and diagnose periodontal diseases and will provide periodontal disease treatment. The following are six of the periodontal disease treatments and procedures that a professional periodontist offers:

periodontal disease treatments

1. Laser Periodontal Therapy

Patients suffering from gum disease may choose to undergo laser periodontal therapy. Laser periodontal therapy is a form of surgery that involves cutting the gums and stitching them following the surgery. Laser periodontal surgery provides a number of benefits over traditional gum surgery, including less swelling, less bleeding, less tissue removal, quicker healing, and less pain.

A periodontist will use a special probe to identify any pockets that have formed between the patient’s gums and teeth as a result of gum disease. The diseased gum tissue will then be removed using a laser light. A laser is then used to close the pocket to prevent bacteria from infecting the area.

2. Dental Implants

Dental implants are small posts made of titanium or a similar material that are placed in the jawbone where teeth are missing. There, they undergo osseointegration, in which the titanium bonds with the jawbone. Once the dental implants have bonded, they provide a foundation for a dental prosthesis, such as a denture, bridge, or crown.

3. Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling is one of the simple periodontal disease treatments in which plaque and tartar is removed from the surface of the patient’s teeth, which can extend underneath the gum line. Root planing is a process in which the surface of the roots of the teeth are smoothed to help prevent the growth of plaque and tartar.

4. Bite Adjustment

An abnormal bite can result in premature wearing of teeth, loosening of teeth, and temporomandibular joint disorders. Bite adjustment procedures help prevent these issues by reshaping the teeth so that bite pressure is distributed evenly across all of the patient’s teeth. Braces and bite splints may be used as well.

5. Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is another of the periodontal disease treatments that is performed on patients who have experienced jawbone atrophy. Bone grafting is often performed prior to dental implant procedures to restore the jawbone’s functionality and appearance.

6. Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures

For patients who want to improve their smile, there are a number of cosmetic periodontal procedures from which to choose, including:

  • Gum grafting: A gum grafting procedure uses donor gum tissue to reduce the recession of the gums, to cover undesirable tooth roots, and to protect tooth roots from potential tooth decay or loss.
  • Gum reshaping: Gums that have developed abnormally may contribute to a more juvenile appearance. Gum reshaping can help reduce gum overgrowth and create a more visually pleasing smile.
  • Crown lengthening: If patients feel their teeth look too short, it’s usually because they have high gum lines. Crown lengthening involves reshaping excess bone and gum tissue to expose more natural tooth.
  • Ridge preservation: Once a tooth is removed, the jawbone associated with that tooth will begin to deteriorate due to a lack of use. Ridge preservation is a procedure that uses bone grafting to support a newly empty socket so that the jawbone does not atrophy.

These are six of the periodontal disease treatments that a periodontist typically will offer. For information about any of these procedures or about periodontal disease treatments in general, contact Central Florida Periodontics & Implantology today.