Periodontal Care Can Protect Your Oral and General Health
What is Gum Disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease is an infection of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth that affects the gums, teeth and jaw bone. The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and is curable if caught and treated early on. If left to progress, gingivitis will develop into periodontitis and advanced periodontitis, which are incurable conditions that can cause tooth loss, jaw bone loss and even systemic conditions like heart disease or stroke.
Common symptoms of gum disease include:
- Swollen, inflamed and red gums
- Gum recession
- Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
- Loose, shifting teeth
- Constant bad breath (halitosis)
Periodontal Treatment at Winnetka Dental Care
We offer an array of periodontal treatments to restore the health of your gums and guard against the development of more serious conditions. Common procedures include:
Scaling and Root Planing
When bacteria and tartar attach to the tooth roots or implant post, it becomes impossible to clean without professional treatment. This will cause your gums to become inflamed and pull away from your teeth, making them more susceptible to further decay and damage. Scaling and root planing treatment uses small tools to clean bacteria and tartar from below the gum line, restoring the area to proper health.
If you are affected by periodontitis or advanced periodontitis, you will need routine periodontal maintenance every three months to ensure the disease does not return. This maintenance involves a deep cleaning of your teeth and the area below the gum line, including scaling and root planing.
Osseous surgery is the time-tested and traditional method of gum disease treatment. We will carefully remove the infected gum tissue from around your teeth, leaving only healthy tissue. The bacteria and tartar buildup on the tooth roots will be cleaned off and damaged jaw bone will be reshaped. Your healthy gums will then be sutured back around your teeth to heal.
The frenum is a tight piece of tissue that holds the tongue or lip in place. In some instances, this may be too tight and cause discomfort, difficulty eating, speaking or even wearing dentures or orthodontics. If you are tongue- or lip-tied, we offer gentle laser frenectomy treatment. Our dental laser can sever the frenum to free the lip or tongue without the need for scalpels or sutures and with minimal bleeding. The process is quick and virtually painless, usually not requiring sedation.
This treatment can be performed to rid gums of disease and infection or to aesthetically reshape the gum line. We use our dental laser to carefully remove the targeted gums, which prevents the need for scalpels. Our laser is incredibly precise and is able to reshape the gums with minimal healthy tissue lost. Our gingivectomy treatment causes minimal discomfort and typically allows for quick healing.
A venous lake is a blue blood-filled lesion that forms on the lips, most frequently the bottom lip. Our dental laser is one of the most effective treatments for removing this lesion without any scarring. This treatment usually only requires one visit and takes very little time to perform, with results seen about three to four weeks after the procedure.
Connective Tissue Graft
Gum recession is an oral concern that occurs when your gums begin to pull away from your teeth, exposing the sensitive tooth roots. When not protected by the gums, your tooth roots are more susceptible to damage or decay and can become loose or even fall out. We offer effective gum grafting treatments for receding gums as a time-tested method to saving your teeth. With gum grafting, we can restore the aesthetic appearance of your smile and protect your teeth from damage.
Gum grafting is the proven method of treating receding gums by effectively covering and fusing a graft material to the gum line. We can take a graft of tissue from your palate or a donor source and suture it to your existing gums in the area where recession is occurring. This graft will protect and cover the tooth roots and even out your gum line. After a healing period, the graft will blend seamlessly into your natural gums, restoring the appearance of your smile and holding your teeth firmly in place.
Common Symptoms of Receding Gums:
- Teeth appear longer
- Sensitivity to hot or cold beverages
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Small spaces between teeth
- Discoloration of teeth near the gum line
Schedule Your Appointment
Dr. Raghian can create a customized periodontal treatment plan to restore your gum health and meet your unique goals. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment and learn more.
Winnetka Dental Care welcomes patients with or without insurance. The staff will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will satisfy your needs and fit within your budget.
Payment is due at the time service is rendered unless other arrangements have been made in advance. The staff at Winnetka Dental Care offer a variety of payment options to ensure that your treatment and cosmetic procedures are affordable.
Winnetka Dental Care offers flexible payment plans through Health Credit Services. If pre-qualified, your personalized loan options will be immediately presented on screen. Installment loans are affordable monthly payments that fit your budget, with terms ranging from 12-84 months. Pre-qualification is simple and paperless. Simply click on the link below to apply.