Periodontics

Are you struggling to maintain your gum health? Periodontics is the term used to describe a specialized area of dentistry that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, and other conditions that may destroy the gums and surrounding structures that support your teeth.

The Importance of Healthy Gums

Our gums play an extremely vital role in the health and longevity of our natural teeth, yet many of us take our gums for granted. As many as 75% of the U.S. population suffer from some form of gum disease right now, and around 15% are battling the most serious stage of the condition, known as periodontitis.

While the early symptoms of periodontal disease are easy to ignore, when left untreated, gum disease can wreak havoc on not only your dental health – causing pain, infection and even tooth loss – but also your general well-being too.

If you are recommended for periodontal treatment, you are suffering from some degree of gum disease. The easiest way to stop gum disease is by catching and treating it in its earliest stages. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff at Casey Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Oakton, VA can diagnose your condition promptly, and help you seek the treatment that you need to improve the health and longevity of your natural teeth.

Periodontic Specialists

Periodontic specialists receive additional education, beyond having completed the qualifications, training, and having gained the experience needed in the field in general dental school. This is so that they are able to competently advise on the best prevention of periodontitis, as well as identifying, diagnosing, and treating periodontal condition. Periodontists also have a complete understanding of the way in which periodontal disease can have an impact on the success of dental implant procedures.

What Happens If Gum Disease is Left Untreated?

In its infancy, gum disease is relatively simple to ignore. The symptoms are mild, and can include sore, red gums that bleed when you brush them and bad breath. However, as the condition progresses it becomes known as periodontitis. Patients with severe gum disease can expect to experience a range of unpleasant effects, like painful ulcers, high temperatures, infection, severe halitosis, and even tooth loss.

Periodontic treatments

We are pleased to be able to offer comprehensive periodontic treatments that will help our patients enjoy healthy gums and better oral heath for years to come. Some of the periodontal procedures that we can offer include:

Scaling and root planing

By far one of the most common periodontic treatments is scaling and root planing. This procedure is essentially a deep clean that focuses on removing any plaque and tartar that has formed below the gum line that causes gum disease to develop.

Scaling and root planing is a two-part procedure. In the first part, the plaque is removed from the gum line and the periodontal pockets. During the second, the root surfaces of the affected tooth is smoothened, with any infected structure removed. The entire process is performed under a local anesthetic for a pain-free and comfortable treatment.

Crown lengthening

Crown lengthening is one of the most popular cosmetic treatment options for patients suffering from periodontal disease. The procedure involves recontouring the gum tissue to expose more of the surface of the tooth. This also removes any infected soft tissue. Any restorative dental work that is needed, such as a filling or crown, can also be successfully placed at this time.

Pocket reduction surgery

Pocket reduction surgery focuses on reducing the depth of the periodontal pockets that accumulate between the teeth and gums. These pockets collect debris and bacteria, and are almost impossible to clean properly at home, due to the depth of the pocket and limited access to it. During pocket reduction surgery, not only are periodontal pockets cleaned thoroughly to remove any existing plaque, but they are then sealed using sutures.

Dental implants

Although dental implants are used to replace teeth that have fallen out or require extraction, they can also be useful in supporting patients who have lost density in their jaw bone. Tooth loss is a common problem for patients with extensive periodontitis, and when this happens, some of the supporting bone is also lost. The process of fitting dental implants actually encourages regrowth of the jaw bone, which helps to restore the definition in your jaw bone and creates a sturdy foundation for your dental restoration work.

If you would like to know more about periodontics at our Oakton, VA dental office, our friendly and knowledgeable team would be delighted to assist you. Call Casey Family and Cosmetic Dentistry today at 703-997-1300 to schedule your consultation.