Category: Blog/ News

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.

Macon Singletary and the entire North Raleigh Periodontics staff attended the 163rd North Carolina Dental Society meeting in Myrtle Beach this past weekend. We are excited to bring back and implement the information we learned about improving patient care and understanding complex cases.

The courses we attended include:

• Soft Tissue Laser Therapy
• Gorgan Christensen’s talk on the New and Upcoming Developments in Dentistry
• Methods to Better Improve Oral Care in Patients
• Simplifying the Medically Complex Patient
• SPICE and OSHA Certifications
• State of the Art Technologies
• Synergy of Biologics

If you’ve recently (or not so recently) had a dental implant placed, it is imperative to take consistent care of the implant so that it lasts in a healthy and viable condition for as long as possible. Following the implant placement and integration period, this state-of-the-art tooth replacement procedure requires regular maintenance through both at-home care and periodic check-ups. When it is properly taken care of, your implant can last your entire life.

At home, make sure to floss around the implant daily to prevent the build-up of bacteria. Furthermore, I recommend at least twice daily brushing of the implant with a soft-bristle brush. If the bacteria is not removed regularly, it may inflame the gum surrounding the implant, leading to peri-implant mucositis, the precursor to peri-implantitis. Peri-implant mucositis is gum inflammation caused by plaque accumulated around the soft tissue. If caught early enough, peri-implant mucositis is treatable and reversible before it begins to affect the hard tissue.

One Word…Plaque! It’s important to brush, floss, and thoroughly remove bacterial plaque at least once per day. Dr. Singletary, who was recently featured as the WPTF 680 AM guest speaker on “Heart Health with Dr. Franklin Wefald,” also added that you should brush after you eat, even with the scrub technique, to prevent that exponential growth of bacteria for the first 30 minutes. In discussing the connection between periodontal health and cardiac health, Dr. Singletary explained how he works to maintain periodontal stability for his patients, and the treatments available to achieve optimum dental/periodontal health.
Click here to hear the full interview.

Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.

What is oral lichen planus? Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the mucous membranes in the mouth. It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that surfaces when the immune system attacks the oral mucous membranes. Although it is unknown what causes lichen planus, genetics and immunity may be involved. Lichen planus cannot be cured; however, it can be managed with careful monitoring and treatment.

What does it look like? Lichen planus, named for the appearance of white moss or lichen that grows on rocks, most commonly appears as white, raised lacy patches of tissue; red, inflamed, and swollen patches of tissue; or open sores that appear on the tongue or cheeks. Although lichen planus can be painful, sometimes there is little to no discomfort. Furthermore, it is not contagious and not cancerous. About two percent of the population is affected with oral lichen planus, although it is most common in women over 50.

Your periodontal cleaning, aimed at bacteria elimination, is not simply about gaining the appearance of squeaky clean gums and sparkling teeth. It is also the primary means of preventing periodontal disease. With an increasing number of studies attesting to the link between periodontal and systemic (whole body) health, it is our top priority here at North Raleigh Periodontics to ensure that each periodontal cleaning is top-notch. For this reason, we incorporate ultrasonic technology to make sure that each cleaning is as thorough and effective as possible, benefiting not only oral health but also facilitating whole body health.

This past Saturday, Dr. Singletary was privileged to deliver the key-note address to the American Diabetes Association’s Raleigh Group. The topic, “Maintaining Periodontal Health for Individuals with Diabetes” provided an opportunity to discuss special glucose and carbohydrate concerns as it affects periodontal disease and vice-versa. He discussed signs and symptoms of periodontal disease and offered much practical advice to help maintain gum tissue health, which in turn reduces fluctuation in the blood sugar levels due to periodontal inflammation. Dr. Singletary, who states that about 20% of his practice is comprised of patients who have some form of diabetes, concluded his talk with an encouraging note: People with controlled diabetes are able to heal and respond to periodontal therapy as easily as non-diabetics. For more information about this organization, contact us at North Raleigh Periodontics or email [email protected]

The Raleigh Diabetes group, led by Maxine Phillips McKoy, is open to the public and provides support for those with pre-diabetes, those living with diabetes, and those who want to make healthy lifestyle changes.