Periodontal Treatment in Jacksonville, FL
The Importance Of Periodontal Care
Almost everyone is susceptible to gum disease – caused mainly by bacterial plaque: a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. The bacteria in this plaque produce toxins which constantly attack your gums and teeth. Unless plaque is removed, it hardens into a rough, porous deposit called calculus, or tartar. Brushing and flossing daily will help reduce tartar buildup but it will not completely prevent it.
It’s important to get professional cleanings to help remove this buildup and prevent gum disease. Regular cleanings can help keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy.
Limiting the Need for Surgery
We believe that the early stages of periodontal disease are best treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. Even in severe cases, non-surgical periodontal therapy often precedes surgical therapy. This is done to improve the overall tissue quality prior to surgery and also to help limit the areas requiring surgery.
Periodontal Disease Treatment Options
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
- Periscopic treatment
- Bruxism treatments
- Laser therapy
- Scaling and root planing
- Bite adjustment
Surgical Treatment Options
- Crown Lengthening
- Reduction Surgery
- Gum Grafting
- Guided Bone & Tissue Regeneration
More About Surgical Treatment Options for Periodontal Disease
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is usually performed to improve the health of the gum tissue, prepare the mouth for a procedure, or correct a “gummy smile”. A “gummy smile” describes an instance where teeth are covered with excess gum tissue, resulting in a less aesthetically pleasing smile.
The procedure involves reshaping or recontouring the gum tissue and bone around the tooth in question to create a new gum-to-tooth relationship. Crown lengthening can be performed on a single tooth, many teeth, or the entire gum line.
Reduction Surgery
Pocket reduction surgeries known as osseous surgery and gingivectomy surgery are aimed at gaining access to the tooth roots to remove tartar and disease-causing bacteria.
The ultimate goal of osseous surgery, is to reduce or eliminate the periodontal pockets that cause periodontal disease. Despite the word “surgery,” the procedure is reported to feel more like a thorough cleaning.
A gingivectomy is a periodontal procedure that eliminates excess gum tissue to make teeth look longer and more proportional in size.
Gum Grafting and Gum Disease
A gingival graft, or gum graft, is designed to solve the problem of gum recession. A thin piece of tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or gently moved over from adjacent areas to provide a stable band of attached gingiva around the tooth. The gingival graft may be placed in such a way as to cover the exposed portion of the root.
The gingival graft procedure is highly predictable and results in a stable, healthy band of attached tissue around the tooth.
Guided Bone & Tissue Regeneration
This procedure is used to stabilize endangered teeth or to prepare the jaw for dental implants.
During this surgical procedure, the pockets are cleaned thoroughly, and a membrane is installed between the soft tissue and the pocket in the bone. Some of these membranes are bio-absorbable and some require removal. The membrane covers the pocket so that fast-growing soft tissue is blocked, and slower-growing bone can begin to grow, or “regenerate” itself.
The effectiveness of the procedure generally depends on the patient’s willingness to follow a strict postoperative diet and careful oral care.
