Periodontic
Biopsy
Throughout the medical field, a biopsy is simply the removal of a tissue sample to determine if it is diseased. In dentistry, teeth and gums are sometime sent for biopsy.
If you have unexplained lesions in your mouth, they need to be examined by a dentist. They may or may not be cancerous, but they need medical attention nonetheless.
Crown Lengthening
It is no secret that dentists are committed to saving teeth. This is why a filling or crown is suggested instead of removing the tooth.
At times the decay, fracture, or infection extends deep down a root making traditional restoration impossible without a procedure called crown lengthening. Crown lengthening is a routine surgical procedure, which remodels the contour of the gum line. The procedure does not actually lengthen the crown, but rather lowers the gum line thereby giving access to healthy solid tooth structure on which to build. When there is not enough tooth structure to affix a crown, this is the only option. Sometimes a tooth has been broken below the gum line. In this instance, crown lengthening is very successful in exposing more of the tooth, so that the dentist has something to work with.
Frenectomy
A frenulum is a piece of tissue that prevents an organ from moving during development. There is a frenulum that attaches your upper lip to the gums, while another connects the lower lip to the gums. The frenum is supposed to become laxed or dissipate so it does not cause restriction. A frenulum that is too short or thick, will cause problems in speech patterns and tooth misalignment. In infants, a shortened frenulum underneath the tongue will inhibit proper breastfeeding. When the frenulum disrupts movement, growth, or development, corrective action is necessary to resolve the situation.
A frenectomy is a minor surgical procedure that is performed in our dental office. Dr. Steele and Dr. Reider have the ability to perform the procedure with new laser technology and takes less than 15 minutes. Using a laser causes very little bleeding and does not require stitches. A laser also results in less postoperative discomfort and a shorter healing time. Newborn children and infants are able to have procedure completed with only high strength local topical anesthetic. Adults have the choice of topical anesthetic or local anesthetic. If your child needs a frenectomy, there is nothing to worry about. The procedure is very successful and causes minimal discomfort. For more information about child frenectomies (tongue-tie and lip-tie) please see tongue tie tab under pediatric tab.
Occlusal Adjustment
Do you wake in the morning with sore jaws?
When you bite, do you feel like your jaw is lopsided? If so, then you may need an occlusal adjustment.
An occlusal adjustment corrects the alignment of the bite which may be a result of loose, shifting, crowded, or missing teeth. The result is an evenly distributed bite that eliminates irregular pressure on one side of the mouth. Once your bite is adjusted, your teeth will meet properly. Occlusal adjustment causes minimal pain at most. The adjustment is made by slowly reshaping the enamel bumps and grooves. In addition to the actual adjustment, splints or retainers may also be utilized to relax jaw muscles, determine proper alignment, or protect the tooth surfaces.
Who is a good candidate for an occlusal adjustment? Loose or shifting teeth will often not meet correctly. Patients who grind or clench their teeth may have an uneven bite and pressure distribution in the mouth, which is also corrected through an occlusal adjustment. Sometimes tooth sensitivity can be corrected through an occlusal adjustment as the treatment reduces pressure on the sensitive tooth.
If you suspect that you may need an occlusal adjustment, schedule an appointment.
Periodontal Splinting
Loose teeth are uncomfortable, especially when you try to eat food or chew gum. Teeth become loose because of periodontal disease, lost gum and bone tissue, injury, or pressure caused by tooth misalignment. A technique called periodontal splinting attaches weak teeth together, turning them into a single unit that is stable and stronger than the single teeth by themselves. The procedure is most commonly performed on the front teeth. The procedure is as simple as using composite material to attach, or splint, the loose teeth to the adjoining stable teeth.
Life is too short to live with loose teeth.
Contact our office today for a consultation.
Periodontal Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is insidious. It is a bacterial infection of the gums that starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria that attack the soft tissue around the gums. This is the early stage of gum disease known as Gingivitis. Left untreated, Gingivitis becomes Periodontitis which ultimately destroys the tissue surrounding your teeth AND the bone that holds your teeth in place. Except for bad breath and gums that bleed, there are very few early warning signals. The disease advances silently, often without pain, and before you know it, you are losing your teeth and you don’t know why.
Tooth loss is the most obvious indicator of gum disease but the disease and its affects influence many other issues. Scientific research has discovered linkage between gum disease and stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and premature infant birth – an increased risk for pregnant women. When your gums become diseased, your entire immune system is weakened.
Periodontal disease cannot be cured in an appointment or two. In fact, like being diagnosed with diabetes, it suggests that your body has a weakness and that you may be prone to difficulty the rest of your life. This does not mean that you cannot control it. The dental staff will educate you on causes and methods of care that will help you stabilize it and prevent further progression of bone loss. You can not ever get back the supportive tissues you lose as a result of the disease though so do not put off diagnosis or treatment. Start today!
Scaling & Root Planing
Coming Soon
How to Save a Tooth (Perio)
Description:
This lobby video explains procedures that can save natural teeth and preserve bone when gum tissue becomes infected.
