Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality of care in
a compassionate and safe environment. In order to do this, we
use the most current periodontal procedures, instruments, medications,
and sterilization techniques.
We know that preventing the spread of infectious diseases such
as AIDS, herpes, hepatitis and even the cold virus is critical
and take sterilization very seriously. For this reason we use
extensive sterilization procedures, going well beyond those recommended
by the American Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control.
We use barrier techniques such as disposable masks and gloves
and change them for every patient. Every piece of equipment is
wiped-down with antibacterial solution prior to every operatory
procedure. Sterile water delivery systems are utilized. We use
autoclave sterilization for all instruments prior to dental examination
and treatment. You can be assured that our staff has been specifically
trained on sterilization procedures and their importance.
While no dental procedure is 100% comfortable, we go to great
lengths to minimize any discomfort you might feel. Many of our
patients make statements like, "This wasn't even painful?
How did you do that?" The following are some of the latest
techniques we use to provide you with as comfortable an experience
as possible.
Patient comfort is one of the most important aspects of care.
Different patients have different needs for pain and anxiety control
medication. Depending upon the procedure and your wishes, there
are many medications we can prescribe.
Injections of dental anesthesia can become more painful if not
precisely done or if the injection is done at too rapid a rate.
We recognize this and take extra care when giving injections.
For those patients that would feel more comfortable with conscious
sedation, we are pleased to offer both intravenous sedation and
nitrous oxide analgesia. Both of these techniques will make you
feel relaxed and at ease. Although you will be awake, you will
not be aware of your surroundings. Conscious sedation can allow
you to remain calm during dental procedures, with minimal recollection
of your visit.
We strive to stay on the leading edge of periodontal techniques
and equipment. In order to do this, we take a great deal of continuing
education. We also utilize advanced equipment in our office. This
includes:
Panoramic Radiography to be able to more precisely diagnose and
treat periodontal disease. It also allows us to more accurately
place dental implants.
Our most recent technological
advancement is the acquisition and use of the
PerioLase Laser and the laser assisted new attachment
procedure (LANAP) protocol. The use of this laser
results in less pain, bleeding, swelling and recovery time.
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that gets under
the gums and into the bone around your teeth. This infection must
be removed and the area given a chance to heal. There are two
generally accepted treatments for this depending upon the severity
of your infection.
The upper level of infection in the pockets around your teeth
can be removed using specialized instruments. This procedure is
called, “Scaling and Root Planing”, “Phase One
Treatment” or “Initial Therapy”. It is done
under local anesthesia and is quite different from the routine
dental cleaning or “deep cleaning” that is traditionally
done in the general dentist's office.
If your infection has spread into the bone which supports your
teeth, and is below the level that can be reached in “Upper
Level Infection Removal”, then a surgical procedure must
be done to pull back the gums and remove the lower level of infection.
When getting a crown, the general dentist must prepare your tooth
to receive the crown. Sometimes there is not enough tooth structure
above the gumline to accomplish this. Crown lengthening provides
more tooth for your crown. This ensures a more stable crown with
less gum irritation afterwards. Also, if you have a "gummy"
smile or uneven gum line, crown lengthening can help your teeth
to look longer and more even.
Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and
gently recontours excess gum and bone tissue to expose more of
your natural teeth.
Your jawbone is what supports your teeth and gums. Unfortunately,
periodontal disease dissolves parts of your jawbone. This causes
bone loss and eventual loss of teeth. The first step is to remove
the periodontal disease and stop the bone loss. Then, in many
cases, various bone grafting techniques can be used to grow back
some of the jawbone that was lost.
Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and
gently opens the area filling in the missing section with bone
grafting material.
Longer teeth or exposed tooth roots can look unsightly. They
can also increase your sensitivity to heat, cold or sweets. In
some cases, gum tissue can be placed in these areas.
Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and
gently places a gum tissue graft over the area.
Some localized, topical antibiotics can enhance your periodontal
treatment. In certain isolated circumstances, placement of antibiotic
medicine can also reduce infection.
Procedure: Topical Antibiotics, in various forms, are precisely
placed in isolated areas to improve healing. Afterwards the results
are closely monitored during follow-up visits.
Sometimes after an extraction there will be a sunken spot in
your gumline. This looks unsightly and can jeopardize the appearance
of a bridge that goes over the area. Grafting material can be
inserted under the gum to fill out this depression.
Ridge augmentation can also be used to build up an area so that
a dental implant can be placed.
Procedure: The periodontist gives you a local anesthetic and
gently opens the area. He then fills the sunken area with grafting
material.
Each procedure is done with your comfort and safety in mind.
We work closely with your general dentist to ensure you get the
best possible result in accordance with your general dentist's
wishes. Please feel free to ask questions before, during, or after
any of these procedures.
|
