The Science Behind LANAP Laser Dentistry

LANAP laser dentistry is a procedure that is being used, and has been newly introduced, to structure the laser-assisted treatment of periodontal disease. The surgical laser procedure is designed for the treatment of periodontitis through regeneration rather than through simple reception. The LANAP laser dentistry procedure is a protocol that deals with the inflammation, the infectious process, the occlusion, the tooth mobility, and the osseous components of periodontal disease. It is important to understand that the LANAP laser dentistry protocols are a key achievement in laser dentistry. We know that approximately 80% of Americans suffer from some form of periodontal disease, from the extremely mild to the very severe - 97% of those have moderate to severe periodontitis and do not get the treatment they need.

In order to properly understand how LANAP laser dentistry is an effective therapy, it is important to first understand what periodontal disease is. Periodontal disease, at its core, is when the teeth separate from the gums allowing pockets to exist under the gum line. These pockets can quickly become infected with bacteria and lead to tooth loss, degeneration of the bone, and other serious problems.  Often times the first symptom of a periodontal disease is bleeding of gums. Well over 90% of Americans will experience bleeding gums at some point during their life. It is important to note that if you have consistent bleeding gums you need to get inspected for gingivitis or the even more serious periodontal disease. The good news is that with the LANAP laser dentistry tools, we have an effective therapy to help treat periodontal disease.

Typically we find that the LANAP protocol using LANAP laser dentistry is a procedure that can be completed in two visits, although it has been known to be done in one appointment. On average each of these visits last roughly two hours and you will need to see the dentist for a one-hour post-operative appointment for an evaluation after about a week.   The procedure itself works by targeting a specific wavelength of laser light at the disease infected pockets, under the gum line, where the tooth has separated from the gum. This helps to address the underlying connectivity issues as well as the disease or infection.  Since the laser is extremely selective and pinpointed at the diseased tissue, the underlying connective tissue which connects the tooth and gums is allowed to heal and regenerate rather than having them affected, allowing for a much more rapid recovery.  Simultaneously, by removing the diseased tissue with a laser, healthy tissue has more room to grow and this works well for the re-connection and regeneration of the healthy tissue.

One of the things to understand about LANAP laser dentistry is that during the first year after the procedure typically no work will be done to disturb the periodontal tissue. In fact, we will only be treating caries and working on temporization.  If a patient requires restoration type dental work, we will do this before having the LANAP laser dentistry protocols implemented since very few patients want to wait a year for restorative dentistry.

The good news about this procedure is that it is far more comfortable than traditional methods of treating gum disease.  For this reason, many of our patients prefer laser dentistry.  To learn more about this procedure, call and schedule a consultation.

Gum Recession Risk Factors

Gum recession is a condition during which your upper or lower gums begin to “recede” or pull back from your teeth. When this happens, it often results in teeth having an elongated appearance and sensitivities to hot and cold foods and drinks. It can also often lead to a greater number of cavities and even gum disease, if not already present. While in some cases, gum recession is hereditary due to thin gingival tissue, for most people, receding gums can be avoided by limiting risk factors.

Smoking and Nicotine Use
Smoking and nicotine use are major risk factors for gum recession, and they are rated number one as the most preventable. Fortunately, this risk factor can be completely avoided, resulting in a healthier atmosphere for teeth and gums. Smoking can not only lead to gum recession, but it can also cause periodontal disease, a serious form of gum disease. These bad habits irritate and inflame your gums by reducing the oxygen in your gum tissue. Persistent smoking and nicotine use can eventually even cause bone loss. If you have the ability to reduce your risk by limiting nicotine use or quitting altogether, you can also avoid being one of the 40 percent of smokers who lose all their teeth by the end of their lives.

Periodontal Disease
While periodontal disease is a detrimental condition in itself, it is also a risk factor for gum recession. People who have periodontal disease for an extended period without having it properly treated often suffer from debilitating consequences like loose teeth, chronically sore and inflamed gums, and receding gums. Over three-fourths of American adults possess some form of gum disease, but very few people realize they have it until it causes significant damage to their gums and teeth. While 30 percent of people are genetically predisposed to having periodontal disease, with proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, you can reduce your risk of developing gum disease and by association, gum recession.

Poor Oral Hygiene Habits
Brushing your teeth too aggressively, not brushing and flossing adequately, and failing to visit the dentist regularly can all cause receding gums. Even if you are genetically predisposed to develop gum recession with age, it is important to seek out regular dental care, since a dentist can watch for recession and help you care for your teeth in a way that may slow the process. If you already have receding gums, a dentist can go over treatment options with you to prevent it from becoming worse with time and to fix the damage that has already occurred.

Malpositioned Teeth and Mouth Trauma
If you have malpositioned teeth, orthodontics may help reposition your teeth so your risk of developing gingival irritation and recession from excessive pressure and friction in certain areas is reduced. Mouth trauma is a common risk factor for receding gingival tissues, but this can be avoided by wearing a mouth guard during sports or seeking dental attention immediately following mouth injuries.

The best thing you can do to reduce your risk of gum recession is to visit a dentist at least twice a year. We can coach you on ways to reduce your chances of suffering the cosmetic and dental health consequences of developing receding gums.

Periodontist  >  Laser Dentistry

Visit a Sleep Dentist Before Your Wedding

As a sleep dentist, we work with a lot of brides that want to improve their smile in time for their wedding day. Issues like crooked teeth can be corrected with orthodontics but it can take months and even years for an orthodontic treatment to be completed. Many brides simply cannot wait that long due to a pending wedding date. In this case, cosmetic dentistry can be a useful tool for improving your smile.

Visit a Sleep Dentist for a Gummy Smile

One of the other reasons that brides visit us is to have their gums shaped so that they no longer have a gummy smile where the gums go up too high on the teeth. We can correct this problem by using lasers to remove some of the excess tissue and shaping your gums so that more of your beautiful teeth show through.

You Can Visit a Sleep Dentist to Replace Your Teeth

If you have lost some of your teeth due to an infection or dental damage, we can replace them in time for your wedding.  Instead of wearing dentures that can fall out or make you feel self-conscious, we can provide you with a permanent and secure way to replace your teeth – dental implants. For your wedding, you want to be able to smile and feel proud of how you look. You can, with dental implants securely in place. This is the only solution that replaces both your missing roots and your missing teeth. We complete the procedure by surgically implanting a small titanium post under your gums and securing it to your jawbone. The body responds to titanium like it would to natural matter and it begins to deposit bone tissue around the actual post. This process is called osseointegration and it works incredibly well. While the process can take a couple of months, once done your implant will be as secure as a natural root and we can secure your new tooth or teeth to it.

Why You Should See a Sleep Dentist

When performing procedures that are going to cause you irritation, we can simply put you to sleep. This way you will not feel anything and you will not have the anxiety that can come from undergoing a dental procedure. While preparing for your wedding you are going to have a lot on your plate. Things, like hiring the right catering company and finding the perfect dress, can be fun but they can also be stressful. Adding the anxiety of receiving dental care to this already full schedule, is not wise.  While the actual dental treatments are necessary for giving you a wedding day smile, the anxiety is not. As a sleep dentist, we can solve the problem by making it easier than ever for you to receive dental care. We simply put you to sleep so that you can feel perfectly relaxed and at ease about having your teeth replaced, gums treated or smile improved. To get started, call and schedule an appointment today.

How a Sleep Dentist Can Benefit You

As a sleep dentist, we are focused on your health but also on your comfort.  It is time to reevaluate dentistry and what your experience will be like.  In the past, patients did not have very many options. You visited the local dentist and received the same basic care, regardless of where you went.  Times have changed and we are offering patients an entirely different way to receive dental care – a way that we believe is far better.

What Visiting a Sleep Dentist is Like

When you visit our dental office for a procedure like dental implants or gum repair, we can put you to sleep.  This is the easiest and most comfortable way to receive dental care because you can come in, sit down, fall asleep and wake up when it is over.  Instead of feeling anxious or uncomfortable during your treatment, you can be entirely relaxed physically, mentally and emotionally.  This is a win-win for anyone that is concerned about feeling stressed when receiving dental care.

Additional Benefits of Visiting a Sleep Dentist

#1 The procedure will be over quickly.

By going to sleep, the procedure will seem to be over in the blink of an eye.  Instead of waiting for it to be over and counting down the minutes, you will feel completely relaxed and unaware of time.  This is a significant benefit for your state of wellbeing.  Simultaneously, the procedure actually can be over faster when you are asleep.  This is because we can focus on getting results without taking breaks or going slowly to make it easier for you.  Since you are sleeping, our intense focus will be beneficial and not concerning at all.

#2 We can do more in one sitting.

If you need to have major dental work done, there is a chance that you will have to come to the dentist more than once.  This is typically due to the fact that most people cannot sit still for so many hours.  However, when you visit a sleep dentist, this is not a concern.  We can often complete far more of the necessary work in one sitting because it will be comfortable for you.  This will save you time in the future.

#3 You will leave happy.

Let's face it – dentistry has a bad reputation.  We know this to be true, even though it is often undeserved.  Our patients feel better after visiting us for dental care because we are a gentle dentist and because we offer sedation.  When you visit our sleep dentist office for a procedure we are confident that you will leave happy and pleased that you received care here, rather than from a traditional dental office.

To learn more about sleep dentistry in general or to discuss your oral health concerns, give us a call.  We will be happy to answer your questions and to create a customized treatment plan to address all of your individual needs.  We are highly skilled and capable of giving you a beautiful and healthy smile. 

Periodontist  >  Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation

Oral Surgery for Impacted Teeth

You may need oral surgery if one of your teeth never came in properly. Most people think of an impacted tooth in relation to a wisdom tooth that only grew in partially or remained impacted, and very often, that is what we treat. We can remove your wisdom teeth so they do not create a health risk or push your teeth forward due to a lack of space. However, orthodontists also recommend oral surgery for impacted teeth, and here is why:

Some teeth never grow in correctly.

There are a variety of reasons that this happens, which can include baby teeth remaining in place for too long. If they do not fall out, it leaves the permanent tooth inside the gums, unable to descend unless it goes on top or behind the baby tooth. Similarly, if there is just not enough room in the mouth for a tooth, it may never descend.

What should I do with an impacted tooth?

Oral surgery is typically your best option since otherwise, it will not come down on its own. The tooth can either be removed entirely or an orthodontist and oral surgeon can work together to bring it down. Surgically, the gum must be cut open so the tooth is exposed. At this point, the surgeon can bond a bracket to the lower portion of the tooth so the orthodontist can access it and begin to complete a procedure to slowly and gently lower the tooth into position. Your orthodontist can let you know how long this will take.

Can I simply leave the tooth in place?

Yes, but it poses a clear health risk. In the case of an impacted wisdom tooth, there is usually an area where food can become trapped, making it all too easy for your back molars to become infected. In the case of a tooth that never descended, leaving it in place can lead to the damage of your tooth roots — the other ones. Essentially, this tooth could disrupt your other healthy teeth and create additional problems for them. The actual impacted tooth can develop a cyst or other conditions. Overall, this makes it important to remove an impacted tooth or undergo a treatment to help it descend.

What happens next?

Once your new tooth is in place, it may not be straight. In fact, it is rather unlikely that it will be. In this scenario, you may want to undergo an orthodontic treatment to straighten all of your teeth and to complete your smile transformation. You may elect to do this with traditional braces or clear aligners. Both work well, but it is highly likely that you will have already been wearing braces to help pull down the impacted tooth.

The first step in this process is to determine if your tooth is impacted and whether or not you want to remove it using oral surgery. Remember that even if you want to keep the tooth, surgery will begin the process by exposing it. We can explain both solutions further when you come in for a consultation.

Why We are Number One for Implant Dentistry

We are number one for implant dentistry and can easily replace your missing teeth.  Whether you have lost one or several teeth, we can provide you with a durable and secure replacement solution that looks entirely natural.  We love dental implants because this is the only solution that replaces both your missing root and the tooth.

Here is how the process works –

We implant a small titanium post under your gums and secure it to your jawbone.  The body responds to titanium like it would natural matter.  As a result, bone will be deposited around the implant, literally fusing metal and bone through the process of osseointegration.  It takes a couple of months for this to happen but once it does, your new tooth will be as secure as a natural one.  When ready, we will attach an abutment to your implant at the surface of your gums and then secure a dental crown (new tooth) to it.  The crown will have been created in the dental lab using an impression of your mouth, measurements and a shade card.  This way it will blend in with your surrounding teeth and look completely natural.

We are number one for implant dentistry because –

#1 We specialize in complex dental treatments and implant dentistry.

Some dentists perform implant surgery as a small part of their practice.  Without ongoing clinical experience, they may inadvertently make a mistake or perform the procedure in a way that causes unnecessary irritation.  The procedure has a high success rate but the more often it is performed, the more successful it is likely to be.  We are constantly placing dental implants and are focused on this area of our practice.

#2 We are a laser dentistry.

Whenever possible we use lasers to help improve the process of our procedures.  Lasers can be used to help reduce bleeding in implant surgery.  We generally use them to make what we do more comfortable and to reduce recovery times.  By leveraging dental technology, we can improve your experience.

#3 Our service is amazing.

Yes, we are a dentist but that does not mean that you should not expect amazing customer service.  We want you to be excited to visit our office and we will provide you with excellent service so that you are.  You can depend on us to greet you with a smile, to gladly answer your questions and to provide you with the information you need to be fully prepared and well-informed. You can also call us at any time after the procedure and during your recovery process.

#4 We are focused on quality.

Your dental implants can last a lifetime if they are placed correctly.  We use the best materials and focus on quality so that your new tooth or teeth can stand the test of time.  You should not have to worry about regularly replacing your teeth and when you visit our implant dentistry office, you won’t. 

To learn more about us or to schedule an appointment for implant dentistry, call today.

Why You Should Have Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation for Your Gums

In our clinic, we perform the Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation procedure.  This is the best way to restore the health of your gums after gum disease.  It is extremely common for adults to suffer from gum disease.  In fact, most people will have the earliest form of it, gingivitis, at some point during their lifetime. Whether or not it grows to full-blown gum disease depends on how often you see the dentist and what other risk factors you have. 

In its advanced stage, gum disease will cause your gum tissue to pull away from your tooth structure.  More of your teeth will be exposed and eventually your roots could be as well.  As pockets are created in your gum tissue, you are at an increased risk for infection and bacteria will have more of a direct shot to attacking your teeth and roots.  The result can be infections, loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.  Gum disease is actually one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss so preventing it is incredibly important. For this, we recommend that you visit the dentist twice a year for a teeth cleaning.

If you have passed this point and are experiencing symptoms of gum disease, it is time for you to call our office.  We use the latest in technology to treat gum disease so that you can become healthy again, without the use of invasive dental tools.  We offer a unique procedure called Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation.  Using this technique, we can stimulate the gums and secure them back around your teeth.  Typically, this has to be done using surgery, in which a gum graft is completed to attach tissue to your gums.  The tissue can be taken from the roof of your mouth or it can even come from a tissue bank.  In any case, the traditional process involves cutting your gums and sutures.  Given how sensitive gum tissue is, this procedure can be both uncomfortable and irritating.  Naturally, it also comes with a  fairly extensive recovery period.  This is something that our clients are trying to avoid and with Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation, they can.

To complete  the procedure, we make a small “pinhole” in the gum tissue so that we can insert our instruments and begin working with the gums so that the tissue moves back up around the teeth.  The process is faster than traditional gum surgery and since we only make a pinhole, your gums will not swell up, bleed or be irritated like they traditionally would.  When you are comparing your options and reviewing a traditional gum graft as compared with Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation, there really is no comparison.  Our solution is far more convenient, comfortable, faster, and with less of a recovery period. 

Gum disease is common but innovative solutions are not.  Pinhole Surgical Rejuvenation is not offered by very many dentists offices.  This is why you may not have heard of it.  However, if you know that your gums require treatment, we encourage you to visit our office for a second opinion and to learn how this procedure can benefit you specifically.