Periodontal & Dental Implant Services

A tooth that can not be saved with restorative materials may need to be removed. Before removing your tooth, the area will be numbed with anesthesia. The tooth is then loosened using a special dental instrument known as an elevator. After it is loosened from the socket, it is gently removed by a forcep, a dental instrument commonly used in dental extractions. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a tooth. 

The smooth, pink skin lining the mouth is called mucosa.  Abnormalities in the color or texture of this skin can sometimes indicate pathology.  Any concerns with the skin in the mouth, a sore that is not healing properly or a lump on the inside of the cheeks, palate, gums or lips may merit a biopsy so that the tissue sample can be tested for oral cancer.  Please do not ignore these warning signs and  mention any concerns you may have during your visit. 

The LANAP® procedure helps avoid the use of traditional surgery and sutures by utilizing specialized lasers and techniques to remove bacteria from periodontal pockets in the gum tissue.

Tartar and plaque on the tooth surfaces can harbor bacteria, allowing for the development of Gingivitis. Often causing discomfort and swollen or bleeding gum tissues, Gingivitis can progress to an infection in the the gum tissues, known as Periodontitis. This infection of the gums can create periodontal pockets, separating teeth from the surrounding gum and bone structure. If left untreated, this condition will lead to tooth loss.

To repair the damage to the tissue, the infection needs to be cleaned out, and the pockets must be sealed. What previously required surgery and stitches can now be accomplished through laser treatment. The LANAP® procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that uses laser technology to remove the diseased tissue and bacteria. The laser is also used to help seal the pocket so that new germs can not get back in. This treatment minimizes trauma to the gum tissue, providing a more comfortable procedure for the patient than traditional methods and significantly reducing healing time.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is a new therapy used to treat gum recession with no blades, no cutting and no stitches.  Using specially designed instruments, the patient’s existing gum tissue is loosened and repositioned to correct recessive gum tissues, often improving both aesthetics and health.  With this minimally invasive procedure, receding gums can often be corrected with minimal patient discomfort and a rapid recovery and healing time for the treated gum tissues.  

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) and around the side of the eyes ( crow’s feet lines) in adults for a short period of time (temporary).

JUVÉDERM® XC is the smooth gel filler that is use to instantly smooth away wrinkles around your mouth and nose. With just one treatment, you’ll get smooth and natural-looking results that can last up to a year.

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. During the scaling process, specialized dental instruments are used to remove dental plaque and calculus from beneath the gums. Planing is the procedure used to smooth the tooth’s root after the scaling process. Root planing helps the gums heal and reattach themselves to a cleaner and smoother root surface.

Home care is an extremely important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but even excellent home care cannot prevent bacteria and plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden, becoming calculus. We will recommend a periodontal maintenance program that is best for you based on how quickly you develop calculus and your past and current periodontal health. During your maintenance visits we will perform and oral examination as well as a dental cleaning.

During an oral examination, a visual inspection is performed to detect normal and abnormal structures of the entire mouth, head and neck. Along with radiographs, an examination detects cavities, abnormalities in existing dental restorations, gum and bone recession and any other abnormal findings within the mouth, head and neck

A dental cleaning, also known as an oral prophylaxis, is the removal of dental plaque and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Specialized instruments are used to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth. First, an ultrasonic device that emits vibrations and is cooled by water is used to loosen larger pieces of tartar. Next, hand tools are used to manually remove smaller deposits and smooth the tooth surfaces.