PERIODONTICS / GUM AND BONE DISEASE
Periodontal disease is most often caused by poor oral hygiene, dental plaque, smoking, genetic factors, stress, diet, age and illness. It is an ongoing bacterial infection in the gums and bone around your teeth that can lead to an inflammation under the gums. If left untreated, the inflammation can destroy the bone around your teeth resulting in tooth loss.
The main symptoms are:
- Red or swollen gums
- Bleeding when brushing
- Aching, itchy, sore or tender gums
- Receding gums (teeth beginning to look longer)
- Bad breath
LANAP (LASER ASSISTED NEW ATTACHMENT PROCEDURE)
The Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) is among the newest procedure used to treat periodontal disease using the PerioLase (Nd: YAG Laser).
LANAP is the only laser that is FDA approved for gum treatment, which can only be performed using PerioLase (Nd: YAG) Laser.
Approximately 80% of the Indians suffer from periodontal disease and about 75% of those with moderate to severe periodontitis are not being treated. Theses shocking statistics need to be addressed.
Acceptance of LANAP technique introduces a treatment option that more patients are willing to accept compared to traditional periodontal surgery (gum cutting).
DEEP SCALING AND ROOT PLANING
Scaling and root planning are one of the most common and effective means of treating periodontal gum diseases wherein the dentist, periodontist or dental hygienist cleans between the gums and teeth, down to the roots depending on the severity.
Scaling involves the removal of deposited calculus which is attached to the tooth surfaces, as well as cleaning the areas below the gum lines along the roots, which are hard-to-reach areas when brushing and flossing. The dentist utilizes ultrasonic scalers such as tiny vibrant which breaks the tartar, removing stains and plaque.
Root planning is the smoothing of the root surfaces to avoid bacterial growth after scaling
AESTHETIC CROWN LENGTHENING AND GINGIVAL SHAPING
In cases where the teeth are quite small in size compared to the gum tissue, aesthetic crown lengthening and gingival contouring can be carried out in patients having a “gummy” smile. An uneven gum line, on the other hand, can be corrected by lowering the gum line and the bone just beneath it to change the appearance of your smile and make your teeth appear longer.
“Gingival (gum) contouring” is the process of re-contouring the gums only.
“Crown lengthening” refers to re-contouring both the gums and supporting bone.
ROOT COVERAGE
Root coverage is done to protect the exposed tooth roots due to receding gum lines.