MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENT FOR RECEDING GUMS
Gum Tissue is Important to Your Oral Health
Your gum health is just as important as the health of your teeth and jaw bone. Your gums assist in holding your teeth in place, preventing bacteria from attacking your sensitive tooth roots and jaw bone, and adding aesthetics to your smile. When you are affected by gum recession, the soft gum tissue surrounding your teeth begin to pull back from their natural position. Without seeking treatment for receding gums, you run the risk of damage to your teeth and even eventual tooth loss.
Symptoms of Gum Recession:
- Teeth look elongated
- Discoloration near the gum line
- Small gaps between teeth
- Teeth feel loose or shift
- Sensitivity to hot or cold beverages
State-of-the-Art Techniques for Receding Gums
At Williamsburg Dental Arts, we offer leading gum recession treatments to restore longevity to your gum health. We believe in minimally invasive treatments to ensure a faster healing process and more comfort for our patients. Traditional gum grafting involves two surgeries; one to remove a piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth, and a second to suture that tissue to the site of recession. We offer three alternatives for a more gentle and quicker treatment for gum recession:
- 1. The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique – Our doctors are certified in the Pinhole Surgical Technique, which involves no scalpels or sutures and minimal bleeding. We simply make a small pin-sized hole in your gums just above the site of recession and gently reposition your gum tissue back to the appropriate levels. This covers exposed tooth roots and can be done in one visit. Many patients can go back to their normal routine right after treatment as well.
- 2. Tunnel Technique – This gum recession treatment gently creates a small “tunnel” of space underneath the site of recession before inserting the graft material to cover the site of recession. Small sutures are then applied to hold the graft in place while it heals. After a short healing time, the graft will appear natural in your gums and smile as well as protect your teeth.
- 3. Alloderm® – This approach to gum grafting uses donor tissue from another source instead of from the roof of your mouth. We apply this tissue to the site of recession and use sutures to hold it in place. The result is a natural-looking gum line with the graft blending in seamlessly to your smile.
Restore Your Smile with Experienced, Precise Treatment
Gum recession can be an embarrassing situation that has severe consequences if not treated in a timely and effective manner. Our doctors are extremely precise with every treatment and use surgical microscopes for a detailed and exact view during surgery. For those who may have anxiety about their treatment, we offer effective sedation options to relax you and ensure your gum recession treatment is as painless as possible.
If your smile has been affected by gum recession, schedule an appointment with our office today!
GENTLE LASER THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF GUM DISEASE
Over 50 percent of all Americans suffer from some degree of gum (periodontal) disease, but with regular hygiene visits, this condition can be prevented (source). Gum disease occurs when bacteria and plaque get below the gum line and infect the hard and soft tissues of the mouth. If treatment is not received, you run the risk of tooth loss and jaw bone deterioration. Research has also found a connection between gum disease and our systemic health, linking it to heart disease and stroke. At Williamsburg Dental Arts, we offer gentle and minimally invasive laser gum disease therapy to keep your mouth clear of infection.
Symptoms of Gum Disease:
- Swollen or inflamed gums
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Bleeding gums
- Receding gums
- Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks
Advanced Laser Therapy to Treat Gum Disease
Our practice strives to stay up-to-date with the latest in dental technology to offer our patients an improved experience and modern treatment. This is why we have invested in an advanced BIOLASE® dental laser for minimally invasive treatment of gum disease. This technology uses gentle laser light to eliminate harmful bacteria while leaving healthy tissue unharmed. Plaque buildup is carefully removed to allow for proper gum reattachment and healthy hard and soft tissue is stimulated for regeneration. Unlike traditional gum disease surgery, there is no cutting or sutures involved and very minimal bleeding. Treatment can usually be completed in one visit and patients are able to quickly return to their daily routines.
Keep Your Smile Healthy for a Lifetime with Laser Therapy
Laser gum disease therapy adds longevity to your smile and gum health. By treating gum disease early, we can prevent the destructive effects of periodontitis. And for those who already have advanced gum disease, laser therapy is a gentle alternative for your routine periodontal maintenance visits. Our doctors are skilled and certified in laser dentistry and regularly attend continuing education courses to learn new techniques and treatments for effective care. Most of our patients enjoy the minimally invasive nature of laser surgery when compared to traditional methods, and report a quicker healing time.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of gum disease, contact our office today to experience gentle laser therapy!
SCALING & ROOT PLANING
Deep Clean Your Tooth Roots and Gums to Prevent Disease
Scaling and root planing is a common dental technique to deep clean your teeth of bacteria and plaque buildup. We utilize ultra-fine dental instruments that can access the area below the gum line where a toothbrush and dental floss are unable to reach. Our doctors will gently scrape away any buildup that is occurring on the tooth roots and causing irritation to the gums. Without this treatment, your gums can begin to recede, exposing the sensitive tooth roots to damage or disease. Scaling and root plaining is often used during periodontal maintenance treatment plans in order to prevent gum disease from recurring.
ARRESTIN GUM THERAPY
ARESTIN® is Clinically Proven to Kill Gum Disease Causing Bacteria
Those who are susceptible to gum (periodontal) disease can benefit from gentle ARESTIN® antibiotic treatment in conjunction with scaling and root planing to halt the progression of the disease and kill bacteria infecting gum tissue. ARESTIN is a powder filled with the antibiotic minocycline that kills bacteria within an infected periodontal pocket. Proven in clinical studies, ARESTIN is used to gently fight infection for up to 21 days, controlling the disease and reducing the size of periodontal pockets. This process helps prevent periodontal disease from returning to your gums and is more effective than just scaling and root planing alone.
SALIVARY DNA TESTING
The latest of the DNA technologies, this easy and sophisticated swab takes less than 30 seconds to perform. If there are signs of early gum disease that are not responding to traditional treatments or if there is a genetic predisposition to gum disease in your family, this is a highly recommended test.
After a 7 day, in-lab analysis, a full spectrum of periodontal DNA markers is available for your doctor to review. By seeing the exact bacterial spectrum, your doctor can then create a specific plan of action to address the pathogenic bioflora with either traditional therapy or a specific probiotic regiment. Say goodbye to bad breath, tooth loss and gum recession ?
Definition of Periodontic Terminology
Bacterial PlaqueBacterial plaque is a sticky film consisting of bacteria that coats teeth and can lead to tooth decay without proper oral hygiene.
Alveolar Bone LossAlveolar bone loss occurs when the bone containing the tooth sockets in the mouth decreases due to infection or resorption.
CalculusCalculus, also known as tartar, refers to the hardened dental plaque that forms on teeth due to a lack of proper oral hygiene.
Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation A comprehensive periodontal evaluation is an effective and professional method for examining a patient’s teeth, plaque, gums, bite, bone structure and any potential risk factors to one’s oral health.
Dental Prophylaxis A dental prophylaxis is a thorough cleaning procedure that helps to prevent periodontal disease, gingivitis and the spread of plaque on the teeth.
Gingival Flap SurgeryGingival flap surgery is a procedure in which the periodontist separates the gums from the teeth temporarily to reach the root of the tooth and nearby bone.
Inflammatory Disease An inflammatory disease can result from oral inflammation and can lead to other disorders such as a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea and more.
Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases A necrotizing periodontal disease is a disease that involves the necrosis of gingival tissues and lesions forming in the mouth.
Peri-Implantitis Peri-Implantitis refers to the inflammation of the soft and hard gum tissue that surrounds a dental implant and can be a result of losing supporting bone.
Periapical Abscess A periapical abscess is an abscess that forms from inflammation containing pus in the tissue surrounding the tooth.
Periodontal Ligament A periodontal ligament is a tissue that connects the tooth to the bone and is destroyed by advanced periodontal disease.
Periodontal Pockets Periodontal pockets form when disease destroys surrounding bone and tissue, resulting in pockets that can create space for bacteria to live in.
Periodontitis Periodontitis is a lethal gum infection that results from poor oral hygiene, damaging soft tissue and destroying the bones that support the teeth.
Periodontium The periodontium is the tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth, gums, periodontal ligament and bone.
Regenerative ProceduresRegenerative procedures can include services such as bone grafting that replaces missing bone in the jaw with bone from the patient, a donor or a substitute material.
Root Scaling and Planing Root scaling and planing is a non-surgical procedure that involves removing plaque and calculus from the pockets around the root before smoothing the surfaces of the root to help everything heal.
Root Surface Debridement During a root scaling procedure to remove tartar from the surface of the teeth, a professional will also use root surface debridement to ensure the teeth are clean.
