PERIODONTAL ISSUES AND TREATMENT
Our practice can provide a wide range of dental services. This flexibility saves you time and keeps your total dental health in mind. Our emphasis is on total preventive care for our patients.
Our practice provides the highest-quality services for restoring mouths that have been damaged by dental disease and injury. Our primary goal for our patients is to achieve and maintain optimum oral health through advances in techniques, technologies.
Services we offer include periodontal maintenance/care, crown lengthening, dental implants, gingivalplasty, frenalplasty, vestibular deepening, coronal repositioning, osseous regeneration, bone grafting, gingival grafting, connective tissue grafting, ridge augmentation, tooth extractions, sedation dentistry and more.
Crown Lengthening
It is not uncommon for a tooth to fracture or severely break down due to dental decay. It is particularly unfortunate when the fracture or decay extends deep into the tooth and/or root, so that the tooth cannot be repaired and must be extracted. In some cases, the gum tissue around the tooth may be enlarged to the extent that the gum covers the natural dimensions and beauty of the tooth.
Fortunately, using the crown lengthening procedure, Dr. Chrispens and Dr. Bato can surgically reposition the gum tissue and small bone segments around the tooth and expose enough adequate healthy tooth structure to anchor a new crown to the previously damaged tooth.
The procedure requires local anesthesia. You may resume most of your normal activities the following day. Some diet modifications may be necessary to protect the healing area. Once the treated area heals, a new dental crown may be needed. Dr Chrispens and Dr. Bato can perform a crown restoration 8-12 weeks after repairing the damaged area.Soft Tissue (Gingival) Grafting
It is common for a patient to lose some or all of the protective gum tissue around teeth. This is called gum or gingival recession. Gingival recession can make teeth vulnerable to further gum and even supportive bone loss, which can lead to tooth loss. Gingival recession can also result in exposure of the roots creating sensitivity and/or making the tooth look longer, which adversely affects your smile. A soft tissue gingival grafting procedure is designed to add attached tissue to prevent further recession and to cover as much root as possible, thus protecting your teeth. Current techniques do NOT require us to take tissue from the roof of your mouthfor the graft.
Dental Implants
Patients who have missing teeth are surprised at how much dental implants are actually like real teeth. Dental implants look, feel and even function like your natural teeth. With implants, you can eat, smile and speak naturally again!
The implant process is effective and safe. First, the implant device is surgically inserted into the lower jawbone. This procedure is usually performed with local anesthesia. After a three to six month healing period, posts are attached to each dental implant. In some cases they can be placed immediately. Lastly, your general dentist will make new teeth just for your face and mouth. These teeth are secured to the posts. Your implant looks just like your real teeth, as only the “tooth part” is visible above the gum.
To be a good implant candidate, the bony ridges in your jaw need to be in good shape. Healthy gum tissue is essential.
Tooth Extractions
Your third molars are more commonly called “wisdom teeth.” Usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties, third molars often lack the proper space in the jaw to erupt fully or even at all. This common condition is called impaction. When any tooth lacks the space to come through or simply develops in the wrong place of your jaw and becomes impacted, problems can arise. Primarily, damage to adjacent teeth and crowding occur.
In certain cases, the wisdom tooth that cannot come through becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone, causing a sac to develop around the root of the tooth that then fills with liquid. This can cause a cyst or an abscess if it becomes infected. If either of these situations goes untreated, serious damage to the underlying bone and surrounding teeth and tissues can result.
Sedation Dentistry
Sedation dentistry refers to the use of sedation during dental treatment. Sedation is most commonly used during extensive procedures, for patients with dental phobia or for patients who find it difficult to sit still. There are different types of sedation, including nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), IV sedation, oral sedatives and general anesthetic.
Sedation can range from the use of nitrous oxide to calm a patient to general anesthetics used to put patients to sleep. Patients with dental phobia, low pain tolerance, major dental treatment, physical handicaps or strong gag reflexes may require sedation.
Sedation is endorsed by the American Dental Association and is an effective way to make many patients comfortable during their dental visit. Before using a sedative or anesthetic, it is important to tell your dentist about any medications or medical treatments you are receiving. Before administering any sedative or anesthetic, your dentist will talk to you about the process of sedation and pre- and post-sedation instructions.
"Laughing Gas"
Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, is often used as a conscious sedative during a dental visit. The gas is administered with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect that helps phobic or anxious patients relax during their dental treatment. Because it is a mild sedative, patients are still conscious and can talk to their dentist during their visit. After treatment, the nitrous is turned off and oxygen is administered for five to 10 minutes to help flush any remaining gas. The effects wear off almost immediately. Nitrous oxide rarely has side effects, although some patients may experience minor nausea and constipation. Your doctor will provide you with pre- and post-sedation instructions.
