At North Raleigh Periodontics, we believe that the most beneficial investments we can make are those that help us bring the best treatment available to our patients, including the most cutting-edge technology. With this goal in mind, we are excited to utilize cone beam three-dimensional imaging to help better diagnose and treat our patients.
It is common knowledge that poor dental habits are a major contributor to poor oral health, including bacterial gum tissue diseases like periodontal disease. To put it simply, periodontal disease is the infection of the structures surrounding the teeth caused by oral plaque forming bacteria. Although it is obvious that periodontal disease wreaks havoc on one’s oral health, many patients are unaware of the surprising ripple effect that oral problems like periodontitis can have not only on the mouth, but also on the body. There is a crucial connection between oral health and systemic (whole body) health that, unfortunately, most individuals and even some doctors are unaware. However, research has consistently and increasingly demonstrated the link between periodontal and systemic health. This connection attests to the increased need for collaboration and coordination of care between periodontal and medical professionals.
I use the gingivectomy procedure to treat periodontal disease and the overgrowth of gum tissue. Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, i.e. braces, experience a higher risk of this overgrown gum tissue as a result of chronic gum inflammation. Medically deemed “gingival hyperplasia,” this inflammation can be attributed to their bodies’ reaction to fixed oral appliances and decreased oral hygiene. This lack of oral hygiene compliance, or decreased ability to successfully clean the teeth and gums resulting from braces, perpetuates contamination of the root surface due to plaque and calculus and results in swollen gum tissue.
Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.
Currently, two types of lasers dominate the oral healthcare field — the Biolase laser and the LANAP (laser-assisted new attachment procedure). Although practitioners may achieve successful results using either type, there are differences between the Biolase laser and the LANAP that make one more beneficial than the other, depending on the type of patient and the practitioner.
Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.
Periodontal disease is the infection of the oral anatomical structures that surround and support the teeth and gums. These structures are called “periodontium,” with “perio” meaning “around,” and “odont,” meaning “tooth.” When the infection begins to affect the bone and supporting tissue, it is termed periodontal disease, A.K.A. periodontitis.
Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.
Once an oral health professional has established that a patient has periodontal disease, the next step is initial treatment: usually, scaling and root planing, along with more involved treatment protocols if necessary. But when the periodontal disease is under control and a treatment plan established, there are some critical components necessary to keep the periodontal disease at bay and maintain stable oral health. For example, a patient should understand what stable periodontal disease really means, how to keep the periodontal disease in a stabilized condition, and what not to do once the impending danger associated with rampant periodontal disease has been averted.
Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.
Part 1 of this article discussed the type of implant and varying reliability of implant manufacturers that individuals should be aware of when deciding to get an implant. Part 2 discussed relevant considerations for patients to consider when deciding who should place the implant itself. This final part of the article analyzes the unique qualifications possessed by periodontists that equip them to both successfully perform implant procedures and oversee the success of the implant in the long-term.
Why are periodontists specially equipped to place implants?
The ideal implant candidate is someone with strong, healthy gum tissue. However, this ideal situation is rare; the very reason that many people require implants in the first place is that they have unhealthy gum tissue that has caused their teeth to loosen and fall out.
Periodontists are dental experts who specialize in treating diseased gums; they are exceptionally equipped in treating the area where the implant will be placed. Furthermore, dental implants are closely connected with the mouth’s bone and gum tissue, and the health of the bone and tissue weighs heavily in determining the longevity of the implant. Since periodontists specialize in treating precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team.
Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.
Part one of this article series discussed a number of the most important factors to be aware of when choosing what kind of implant you will receive. These criteria included the type of implant that is going to be placed in your jaw, the reliability of the company manufacturing the implant, and whether that company offers legitimate, scientific evidence to demonstrate the integrity of its implants and implant components. Part two discusses who will be placing your implant. In particular, it will discuss the qualifications that are important to consider when choosing the practitioner to place your implant.
Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.
We’ve all seen or heard them — the alluring advertisements promising a quick and easy implant and crown placement procedure, with the whole process done by a single dentist or single office, and for an astonishingly low price. Understandably, people want to save money where they can. But when encountering the promise of an inexpensive implant and crown procedure, keep in mind that the most expensive implant is the one you have to replace. The inevitable question is: “is this promise too good to be true?” Here are some additional factors to consider:
What type of implant is being placed in your jaw?
The implant itself is a titanium or zirconium post that is inserted into your jaw bone and onto which the healing abutment, and ultimately the crown, will be placed. The surrounding bone and gum tissue eventually grow around the implant, solidifying it into your jaw. However, if the material of the implant is sub-standard and does not assimilate properly into your jaw, you run the risk of needing to replace the implant and repeat the implant surgery.
Regenerative periodontal therapy constitutes an important facet of my practice here at North Raleigh Periodontics. Regeneration is particularly designed to restore and reconstruct tooth-supporting structures that have been lost or injured due to gum disease. This tooth-supporting structure, called “periodontium,” encases each tooth and includes the enamel, gingiva, periodontal ligaments, cementum, and alveolar bone. If the gums begin to recede, the bones and other tissues that support the tooth’s root start to become destroyed; unless restored, eventually the teeth will lose their anchors and may fall out or require extraction. To accomplish the restitution of the periodontium, we often incorporate Emdogain, an enamel matrix derivative (EMD) that regenerates lost tissue, bone, and the structures that anchor teeth to the bone.