Millions of Americans each year suffer from gum disease, yet only a small percentage actually receives treatment. Gum disease has been linked to a variety of health complications including but not limited to heart disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and low birth-weight babies. Gum disease is an epidemic in this country and around the world, and until now the majority of the treatment options available included invasive surgery...

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Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth. While dentures take some getting used to and will never feel exactly the same as one’s natural teeth, today’s dentures are natural-looking and more comfortable than ever. There are two main types of dentures: full and partial...

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Periodontal Plastic Surgery refers to cosmetic procedures performed on the gums to enhance the appearance and health of the smile. Those who feel that they have a "gummy" smile can greatly benefit from esthetic crown lengthening. This relatively simple procedure usually takes about an hour to perform and is essentially a "gum lift". 

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If plaque and tartar is left on the teeth, as we mentioned before, it provides the right conditions for bacteria to thrive. The bacteria irritate the gums which can cause them to bleed more easily. You may notice this if you are brushing your teeth or eating, and your gums bleed a bit. This is the early stage of gum disease called gingivitis.

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Occlusal, or bite, adjustment is a procedure performed to remove tiny interferences that keep teeth from coming together properly.  These interferences can prevent the jaw from closing in its anatomically correct position.

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Dental extractions are performed for a variety of reasons including tooth decay, injury, and for orthodontic treatment.  Extractions are a relatively common procedure in most dental offices.  The difficulty of the procedure varies depending on the case and the patient, however anesthesia is used to numb the area and prevent pain during the procedure.  

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Periodontal maintenance therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent periodontal disease in in the gum tissue and bone.  Periodontal maintenance is usually necessary for patients who are susceptible to periodontal disease or who have been treated for gum disease.  Maintenance visits to the periodontist will help prevent additional dental problems in the future.  Treating the disease in its early stages saves...

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Osseous surgery, or flap surgery, is usually performed when a pocket around a tooth (or teeth) has not responded to other treatments.  The procedure is performed in order to create a clean environment around the tooth so that the tooth can be retained rather than lost.  Osseous surgery is generally tried only after other treatments have been explored and tried and usually is performed when the pocket depth has worsened over time.

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Gum recession is one of the most noticeable results of periodontal disease (gum disease) and is the movement of the gum line down the root of a tooth. 

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A gingivectomy is usually performed when a patient has severe periodontal disease that cannot be cured with scaling and root planing or other periodontal procedures.  Gingivectomies are performed to remove and reshape loose, diseased gum tissue and to reduce the depth of pockets between the teeth and gums. 

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Periodontal disease causes bone loss around teeth, which can increase the chances for tooth loss. Once a tooth has been lost, the supporting jaw bone will disappear over time. This can make wearing dentures uncomfortable. However, simple techniques are now available to regrow lost bone, provide support for dental implants, or to improve esthetics beneath a fixed bridge.

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Ridge augmentation is a common procedure performed to help recreate the natural contour of the gums.  Often, after a tooth is removed, the bone in the jaw will begin to deteriorate and recede.  The height and width of the socket, which was supported by the tooth, will begin to shrink after the tooth is removed.  Many patients will eventually develop an indentation in the gums or jawbone where the tooth used to be.  

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When one or more teeth are extracted from the mouth, soft tissue and bone can begin to collapse.  Without the tooth root to stimulate it, the surrounding jawbone will almost immediately begin to collapse and shrink.  If there is too much bone loss, it may be impossible to place dental implants and it may become more expensive, more invasive, more time consuming, and more uncomfortable to replace the lost bone.

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Often patients who have lost teeth in the upper jaw require a sinus lift in order to have dental implants placed.  This is because the bone in the area where teeth are missing naturally beings to shrink, or resorbs, over time.  As a result, the sinuses expand to occupy the empty space where the bone used to be.  With insufficient bone to securely place the dental implant, a sinus lift is necessary to move the sinus where...

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