Oral Surgery Can Be Used in Treating Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious condition, and oral surgery is often needed in order to correct it.  Gum disease starts as gingivitis and can make gums red, swollen, and bleed slightly.  It is uncomfortable but not particularly painful.  When caught early, it can be treated by conducting a deep cleaning on and underneath the gums.  If it is left untreated, the gums can start to recede and expose more of the tooth and root structure. This can be painful and create complications.

Patients with severe gum disease may start to have pockets form in the gum tissue.  These pockets can look like little holes in the gums.  Bacteria will often gather here and can start to attack the tooth and root structure which puts teeth at risk.  If untreated, teeth can start to fall out or require additional procedures in order to save them.

Many dentists will treat the beginning stages of gum disease by performing cleanings but are not experts at treating severe gum disease.  This typically requires oral surgery and a gum graft.  In this procedure, tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth and grafted to the receding gums in order to close up the pocket and secure the gums back in place around the tooth.  This is essential for protecting teeth and preventing any additional complications like a dental abscess.  At the Perio & Implant Center we specialize in this procedure and will ensure that it goes smoothly so that patients can start to feel better quickly.

The Risks of Gum Disease

There are many risks associated with gum disease that go far beyond oral health.  This is the primary concern as gum disease can lead to teeth falling out.  There are, however, other complications to consider.  Pregnant women are in particular danger as gum disease can force pre-term labor and even make babies born at a low birth weight.  Just as regular trips to the OBGYN are essential during pregnancy, so are trips to the dentist and having any gum disease treated right away. This is a simple step that can make a big difference in the health of the child.

Every adult should be concerned with the health of their gums since scientists have found a link between gum disease and heart disease.  Statistically, 91 % of people with heart disease also have unhealthy gums.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both women and men with 33% of female deaths and 25% of male deaths caused by heart disease. The current thought is that inflamed gums are the primary issue, but ongoing studies are being conducted to further research how the two are connected.  What is clear is that leaving gum disease untreated is not an option for people wanting to stay in good health.

If you need oral surgery to treat your gum disease, the staff at the Perio & Implant Center is a team of experts.  Call (650) 327-4464 for your consultation or to learn more about our services.

The Perio & Implant Center Provides Dental Implants for Busy Lifestyles

At the Perio & Implant Center we provide dental implants for patients that are looking to replace one or several teeth and want to maintain their active and busy lifestyle. Tooth loss is incredibly common.  It impacts around 70% of the U.S. adult population, leaving many people to look for both temporary and permanent solutions for replacing missing teeth.

Dentures have been a common solution for hundreds of years.  Even George Washington wore dentures and thankfully they have improved over time.  They are more comfortable than ever before, but the challenge is that dentures do not feel like natural teeth.  No matter how comfortable they are, it is still a foreign object being put inside of your mouth and will often feel heavy and make it difficult to speak like normal.  A partial set can be used to replace one or several teeth instead of all of them.  Still, they are not permanently attached and could become loose.  This is not conducive for people with an active and busy lifestyle that want to maintain it.

Dental implants have made it possible to replace a missing tooth and have it feel completely natural after the fact.  This is a major improvement and the latest in dental technology.  Here is how the procedure works:

1. A metal post is implanted.  The oral surgeon places the post underneath the gums and secures it to the jawbone.  This step makes it possible for the new tooth to stand on its own without requiring support from the surrounding teeth.  Once the metal post and jawbone have fused together, it will create a synthetic root system that is as strong as a natural one.
2. The new tooth is created.  A mold is made of a patient’s mouth so that the lab can create a new-synthetic tooth in the right size, color, and shape. This ensures that the new tooth will blend in with the surrounding ones.  The goal is for the new tooth or teeth to look completely natural.
3. Tooth is attached.  After the healing process is complete, the new tooth will be secured to the metal post and positioned perfectly so that it is straight and beautiful.

The entire process takes longer than many other types of procedures because dental implants are a permanent solution to replacing missing teeth, not a temporary one.  By building in a root system, the Perio & Implant Center provides patients with new teeth that are as durable and secure as the ones they were born with.  This allows patients to enjoy life fully and without constraint.  Since the new tooth is strong, patients can eat all of their favorite foods without fear of it becoming loose or falling out.  Additionally, it is easy to speak clearly and naturally since there are no foreign objects to get used to.  This is important for people that have a busy lifestyle and no time to retrain their speech to accommodate a pair of dentures.

To learn more about this procedure, call and schedule an appointment today.