New Jersey Periodontal / Gum Disease Treatment
Gum Disease Treatment
Our Periodontists are highly rated New Jersey Periodontal specialists. Our goal is always to provide non-surgical, conservative periodontal treatment. But rest assured, if you require periodontal surgery, you will be in good hands here. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you.
- Types of Periodontal / Gum Disease
- Periodontal / Gum Disease Treatment (Surgical & Non-Surgical)
- Laser Periodontal Therapy
- Sinus Lift
- Bone Grafts
- Gingivectomies
- Surgical Tooth Extractions
- Biopsies
- Sedation Options
Types of New Jersey Periodontal / Gum Disease
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, New Jersey periodontal (gum) disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. It is the leading cause of tooth loss and has associations with systemic health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular (heart) disease. The Center for Disease Control performed a study in 2012 and found that 47.2% or 64.7 million American adults have mild, moderate or severe periodontitis. In adults 75 and older, the rate increases to 70.1%.
The gums and bone are the foundation for the teeth. In periodontal disease, these supporting structures are destroyed, creating space between the teeth, gums and bone. This ultimately leads to pocketing, which houses harmful bacteria. As the bacteria multiply and invade the supporting gums and bone, they further destroy the foundation, making teeth loose, and eventually causing them to have to be extracted.
Types of Periodontal Disease
- Gingivitis - initial stage of periodontal disease involving red, swollen, bleeding, gums. It is reversible with treatment; however, if left untreated, can lead to periodontal disease and potentially tooth loss and other health problems
- Periodontitis - Plaque and disease causing bacteria can spread below the gum line and cause the body to be in a chronic state of inflammation. This ultimately causes the destruction of bone and soft tissues, creating space between the gums and teeth, which leads to the formation of infected periodontal pockets. As the disease advances, the pockets become deeper as more gum and bone tissue destructions occur. This can lead to tooth mobility and potentially even loss.
Causes of New Jersey Periodontal Disease
- Plaque and pathogenic bacteria
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Age
- Stress
- Medications
- Grinding teeth
- Systemic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, etc)
New Jersey Periodontal / Gum Disease Treatment
Non-Surgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease
The first approach to treating periodontal disease is scaling and root planing (also known as deep cleaning). This involves meticulously cleaning the diseased root surfaces and removing the plaque and disease-causing bacteria. Non-surgical therapy is often sufficient to treat periodontal disease; however, it is crucial to maintain strict maintenance therapy (routine 3-month cleanings) to maintain health.
Surgical Treatment of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal Pocket Reduction
The gums and bones are the foundation for the teeth. In periodontal disease, these supporting structures are destroyed, creating space between the teeth, gums, and bone. This ultimately leads to pocketing, which houses harmful bacteria. As the bacteria multiply and invade the supporting gums and bone, they further destroy the foundation, making teeth loose, and eventually causing them to have to be extracted.
Deep New Jersey periodontal pockets are unable to be adequately cleaned by either the patient or the dental clinician. If deep pockets remain even after non-surgical therapy (scaling and root planing), surgical therapy is often the next step. Thus, periodontal procedures known as pocket reduction are performed in order to gain access, fold the gum tissues back, clean these deep pockets, remove the disease-causing bacteria, create an environment that is amenable to cleaning by the patient and ultimately restore the gum and bone tissues to a state of health. These procedures are performed to prevent further damage caused by the disease process and to restore a healthy smile.
Deep pockets are tough to clean. Periodontal disease has many connections with the rest of the body and can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Thus, these procedures are necessary to maintain a beautiful, healthy smile and decrease the risk of serious health issues associated with periodontal disease.
The periodontist performs gingivectomies that involve removing and reshaping excess gum tissues that cause deep pocketing around the teeth. Overgrowth of gum tissue can arise due to periodontal disease, genetics, or certain medications. Gingivectomies are usually performed when a patient has gum disease that has not responded well to scaling and root planing (deep periodontal cleaning) or other periodontal therapeutic measures. Deep pockets remain due to excess gum tissue. Thus, gingivectomies are needed to restore a state of health and effectively treat gum disease.
The gums and bones are the foundation for the teeth. In periodontal disease, these supporting structures are destroyed. Procedures known as guided tissue regeneration regrow lost bone and tissue in order to provide support for the teeth and reverse some of the destruction caused by periodontal disease.
Laser Periodontics
Laser technology can be used in several dental procedures. Lasers can be used for the following:
- Surgical gum therapy
- Crown Lengthening (“Gum Lift”)
- Minimize discomfort
- Expedite healing time
- Curing restorative materials
- Enhance effects of whitening
- Remove tooth structure
When used on soft tissue for periodontal health maintenance, lasers provide reduced swelling, minimal bleeding and reduced need for local anesthesia.
Sinus Lift
A sinus lift is a surgical procedure, which increases the amount of bone in the upper jaw bone to allow for the placement of an upper dental implant. When a tooth is lost on the upper ridge, the floor of the sinus gradually becomes lower and leads to a loss of bone volume, which must be available for the successful placement of a dental implant.
Prior to receiving a sinus lift, our surgeons will perform an extensive evaluation of your bone and soft tissue to provide a safe and successful procedure.
Sinus augmentation is “technique sensitive,” and should be performed only by an appropriately trained periodontist , oral surgeon, or maxillofacial surgeon.
Bone Grafting and Buildup
Upon meeting our team of Periodontists for a dental implant exam and consultation, you may learn that a bone or tissue graft is recommended before receiving a dental implant. This is often the case when tissue or bone has atrophied due to advanced periodontitis or tooth loss.
We are highly skilled and trained in providing bone grafts when necessary. With modern technology, grafting is minimally invasive and offers permanent results. Through a process called “guided tissue regeneration,” your body will recognize the graft as a natural bone and, over time, will replace the graft with your native bone.
One of the following bone graft types may be recommended before placing a dental implant:
- The Alveolar Ridge Preservation Graft or “Socket Graft” – May be used after a tooth is removed or extracted
- The Autogenous Ramus/Chin Graft or “Block Bone Graft” – May be used after dental trauma-related bone loss
Gingivectomies
What is a gingivectomy?
A gingivectomy may be recommended when severe gum disease (periodontitis) cannot be fully treated with scaling and root planing. This procedure reshapes loose, diseased gum tissue to remove pockets between the gums and teeth. This allows for you to prevent plaque buildup and prevents progression of periodontal disease, by allowing for more thorough cleanings of teeth and gums.
Now a days, it is used mostly to enhance appearance and manage a “gummy smile.”
How is a gingivectomy performed?
After numbing your gums completely, a periodontal specialist may use a laser to remove loose gum tissue and pockets.
During healing, you can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce pain. You can return to normal activities after the anesthetic wears off.
Surgical Tooth Extractions
There are several potential reasons for tooth extraction: periodontal disease, fractured teeth, decayed teeth, loose teeth, infected teeth, etc. Every attempt is made to save the natural teeth; however, when teeth can no longer be saved or restored, extractions are indicated. When teeth are removed, every precaution is taken to minimize patient discomfort and to preserve the surrounding bone in order to minimize the amount of bone loss that will occur naturally as a result of the tooth extraction.
Unfortunately, bone tends to atrophy (shrink) over time from tooth loss, similar to how muscles atrophy over time when they are not used. After a tooth is removed, the height and width of the tooth socket will shrink over time.
Bone grafts are often placed into the tooth sockets to prevent the gum tissue from having a concavity in the site where the tooth was removed. Socket bone grafting is not only for esthetics, but it is also crucial for providing a foundation of bone that could house a future dental implant. The bone grafts act as scaffolds to help support the tissues and to encourage your body to begin forming new bone cells to regenerate the bone during healing. Thus, a strong foundation of bone with sufficient width and height is needed to support a future implant.
Biopsies
Cancers can occur anywhere in the oral cavity and oropharyngeal region, but are mostly commonly found on the lateral border of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. The American Cancer Society estimates that 49,670 people will get oral cavity or oral pharyngeal cancer and an estimated 9,700 people will die from these in 2017. Thus, it is imperative to routinely perform oral cancer screenings when examining patients. While our surgeons are comprehensively examining the patients, they look for oral cancers, and if they find a suspicious area, can remove it and send it to a pathologist who can determine the proper diagnosis and if need be, further treatment. Our surgeons will discuss the pathology results and coordinate treatment in an efficient and timely manner.
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