Periodontics at Smile Mantra
Start your journey to healthier gums and a confident smile today!
At Smile Mantra, we specialize in periodontics, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum disease, as well as the placement and care of dental implants. Our expert periodontists have advanced training to ensure the health of your gums and the vital structures supporting your teeth—bones, tissues, and more. Let us help you achieve a healthy smile from the roots up!
Scaling
At Smile Mantra Dental and Cosmetic Clinic, scaling is an essential part of professional teeth cleaning, designed to remove plaque and tartar (calculus) buildup from the surfaces of your teeth. Using advanced instruments or ultrasonic devices, our expert dental team will thoroughly clean your teeth, helping prevent gum disease and maintain optimal oral health. If plaque and tartar have built up beyond what regular brushing and flossing can handle, scaling may be recommended as part of your treatment plan.
Filling
If you have a cavity, crack, or other damage to your tooth, our filling procedure can restore its function and shape. During this treatment, our dentist will carefully clean out the decayed or damaged area of the tooth and fill it with a durable material such as amalgam, composite resin, or gold. This helps prevent further decay, restores strength to the tooth, and improves your smile’s overall health and appearance.
Gum Depigmentation
For those seeking a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing smile, gum depigmentation is a cosmetic procedure aimed at lightening dark spots or patches on the gums. These spots are often caused by excess melanin production. At Smile Mantra, we use advanced techniques to safely remove or lighten these discolorations, giving you a more even gum tone and enhancing your overall smile.
Root Planing
Root planing is an important procedure for patients with significant plaque and tartar buildup beneath the gum line. This treatment smooths the root surfaces of your teeth, helping to remove bacteria and prevent gum disease. It’s often done in conjunction with scaling to ensure a deeper, more thorough clean and promote healthy gums.
Curettage
At Smile Mantra, we also offer curettage — a procedure that involves removing diseased tissue from the gum pockets to promote healing and prevent further gum deterioration. Typically performed alongside scaling and root planing, curettage helps restore gum health by removing infection and promoting tissue regeneration.
Key Areas of Periodontics
- Gingivitis and Periodontitis Treatment
- Gingivitis: This is the mildest form of gum disease, characterized by red, swollen gums that may bleed easily. Gingivitis is often caused by poor oral hygiene, leading to the accumulation of plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—on the teeth.
- Periodontitis: If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more severe condition where the gums pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that can become infected. This stage involves the destruction of the bone that supports the teeth and can eventually lead to tooth loss if not properly managed.
Treatment Approaches:
- Scaling and Root Planing: This deep-cleaning procedure removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces to help gums reattach to the teeth.
- Periodontal Surgery: In advanced cases, surgery may be needed to reduce pocket depth or regenerate lost bone and tissue.
- Maintenance Therapy: Regular periodontal cleanings and check-ups are essential to prevent the recurrence of gum disease.
- Dental Implants
- Role of Periodontists: Periodontists play a crucial role in the placement of dental implants, which are artificial tooth roots made of titanium that provide a foundation for replacement teeth. They assess the health of the gums and bone, prepare the site, and perform the implant surgery.
- Bone Grafting: In cases where there is insufficient bone to support an implant, periodontists may perform bone grafting to rebuild the bone structure before placing the implant.
- Gum Recession and Soft Tissue Grafting
- Gum Recession: This occurs when the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, exposing the roots and increasing the risk of decay and sensitivity.
- Soft Tissue Grafting: Periodontists can perform procedures to cover exposed roots or thicken thin gums using grafts taken from the patient’s palate or other sources. This not only improves the aesthetics of the smile but also protects the roots from further damage.
- Crown Lengthening
- Purpose: Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure used to expose more of a tooth’s structure by removing or reshaping excess gum and bone tissue. It is often done to prepare a tooth for a restoration, such as a crown, or to improve the appearance of a “gummy” smile.
- Procedure: During the procedure, the periodontist reshapes the gum tissue and possibly the underlying bone to expose more of the tooth. This can be done on one tooth, several teeth, or the entire gumline.
- Management of Systemic Conditions Affecting Periodontal Health
- Systemic Links: Periodontists are also concerned with how systemic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis can affect periodontal health. These conditions can exacerbate gum disease or complicate its treatment.
- Collaborative Care: Periodontists often work closely with other healthcare providers to manage patients with complex medical histories, ensuring that periodontal treatment is integrated with the overall health management plan.
- Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures
- Gingival Sculpting: Periodontists can reshape the gumline to enhance the aesthetics of the smile, particularly in cases of uneven or excessive gum tissue.
- Dental Ridge Augmentation: After tooth extraction, the bone may shrink and cause an indentation in the gums. Ridge augmentation procedures can help restore the natural contour of the gums and jawline.
Importance of Periodontics
Periodontal and Oral Surgery Procedures: Overview and Benefits
In periodontics and oral surgery, various procedures are performed to address different conditions affecting the gums, soft tissues, and supporting structures of the teeth. Below is an overview of some common procedures, including Flap Surgery, LANAP, Tenectomy, Laser Curettage, and Frenectomy.
1. Flap Surgery
Flap surgery is a common periodontal procedure used to treat advanced gum disease (periodontitis). It involves lifting the gums away from the teeth to allow deep cleaning of the roots and the removal of infected tissue.
- Procedure:
- The periodontist makes incisions in the gums to create a “flap” of tissue. This flap is lifted back, exposing the tooth roots and the bone.
- The exposed area is thoroughly cleaned, removing plaque, tartar, and infected tissue. If necessary, the bone may be reshaped or bone grafts may be placed to promote healing.
- The flap is then repositioned and sutured back into place.
- Benefits:
- Reduces the depth of periodontal pockets, making it easier to clean the teeth and prevent further infection.
- Promotes the reattachment of the gums to the teeth, which can stabilize loose teeth and prevent tooth loss.
- Improves the overall health of the gums and supporting bone structure.
2. LANAP (Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure)
LANAP is a minimally invasive laser treatment used to treat periodontitis. It is an alternative to traditional flap surgery and is known for its precision and ability to promote the regeneration of healthy gum tissue.
- Procedure:
- A specialized laser is used to target and remove diseased gum tissue while preserving healthy tissue. The laser also sterilizes the area and promotes the formation of a blood clot, which aids in the reattachment of the gums to the tooth.
- The laser energy also helps to stimulate bone regeneration and reduce inflammation.
- Benefits:
- Minimally invasive with less bleeding, discomfort, and downtime compared to traditional surgery.
- Promotes faster healing and better preservation of healthy tissue.
- Can effectively reduce pocket depths and improve gum health without the need for sutures.
3. Tenectomy
Tenectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a portion of a tendon. In dentistry, it is sometimes used in conjunction with orthodontic treatments or other surgical procedures to address issues related to muscle tension or attachment that may affect dental structures.
- Procedure:
- A small incision is made to access the tendon, and a portion of the tendon is carefully removed or severed.
- The goal is to relieve tension on the muscle or tissue that may be contributing to dental or orthodontic issues, such as abnormal tooth positioning or jaw alignment.
- Benefits:
- Can help improve the outcome of orthodontic treatments by reducing muscle tension that might otherwise hinder proper alignment.
- May be used to correct functional issues related to the tongue, lips, or cheeks.
4. Laser Curettage
Laser curettage is a procedure that uses laser technology to remove the inflamed or infected tissue from the periodontal pockets around the teeth. It is a less invasive alternative to traditional mechanical curettage.
- Procedure:
- A laser is used to precisely target and remove the diseased tissue within the periodontal pockets, while also disinfecting the area.
- The laser energy helps to reduce bacteria and promote healing without the need for more invasive surgical techniques.
- Benefits:
- Minimally invasive, leading to less discomfort and quicker recovery times.
- Reduces bacteria and inflammation, promoting better periodontal health.
- Can be used in conjunction with other periodontal treatments for more comprehensive care.
5. Frenectomy
Frenectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal or modification of the frenum, which is a small fold of tissue that attaches the lips, cheeks, or tongue to the gums. There are two main types of frenectomy:
- Labial Frenectomy: Removes the frenum that connects the upper lip to the gum above the front teeth. This is often done when the frenum is too large or tight, causing a gap between the front teeth or restricting lip movement.
- Lingual Frenectomy: Removes or alters the frenum under the tongue (also known as “tongue-tie”). This procedure is often performed to improve speech, swallowing, or breastfeeding in infants.
- Procedure:
- The frenum is either surgically cut or removed using a scalpel or a laser. The area is then sutured or left to heal naturally.
- Laser frenectomy is often preferred due to its precision, reduced bleeding, and faster healing time.
- Benefits:
- Relieves restrictions caused by a tight or oversized frenum, improving speech, dental alignment, and oral function.
- Minimally invasive, especially when performed with a laser, resulting in less discomfort and a quicker recovery.
- Can prevent or correct issues related to dental spacing, speech impediments, and feeding difficulties in infants.
These periodontal and oral surgery procedures play a crucial role in maintaining and improving oral health. Flap surgery and LANAP are essential for managing advanced gum disease, while Tenectomy can assist in orthodontic and functional improvements. Laser curettage offers a less invasive option for deep cleaning of periodontal pockets, and Frenectomy addresses issues related to restrictive oral tissues, improving overall oral function and health. Each procedure is tailored to address specific conditions, providing patients with effective solutions to complex dental issues.