Naples Periodontic Dentists

Naples Periodontic Services

Most individuals have heard about gum disease, also known as periodontitis or periodontal disease. However, they may not fully understand just how damaging it can be to your oral health.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Gum disease starts out as plaque, an opaque film on the teeth that hardens to form tartar. As tartar accumulates, it harbors bacteria that attack the soft tissue around the gums. This is the early stage of gum disease known as gingivitis.

Left untreated, gingivitis becomes periodontitis, which ultimately destroys the tissue surrounding your teeth and the bone that holds your teeth in place. 

Except for bad breath and gums that bleed, there are very few early warning signs for gum disease. It advances silently, often without pain. Before you know it, you’re losing your teeth and you don’t know why.

Tooth loss is the most obvious indicator of gum disease, but it isn’t the only health issue caused by periodontitis. Scientific research has discovered links between gum disease and stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. When your gums become diseased, your entire immune system is weakened.

Types of Periodontal Treatment

Naples dentist Dr. Vanessa Rashid wants to ensure that her patients know why it is vital to treat periodontal disease. Brushing and flossing alone won’t do the trick. Here are some gum disease treatments we offer at The Modern Dentist:

  • Scaling & root planing
  • Arestin
  • Periodontal splinting
  • Occlusal adjustment

Scaling & Root Planing

Gingivitis can cause significant tooth and gum deterioration if left untreated. Fortunately, early stages of gum disease is easily treated by getting a professional teeth cleaning every six months.

However, if your gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, then you may need a scaling and root planing to protect your smile. Scaling is the removal of dental tartar from the tooth’s surface, and root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces and removing the infected tooth structure.

As non-surgical procedures, scaling and root planing are usually performed without any anesthesia right in our dentist’s office. While the procedure is usually painless, advanced stages of gum disease may make it necessary to numb the area for complete comfort.

Deep scaling and root planing is usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for adequate healing time and reduces the time for each appointment.

Arestin

Arestin is an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form. This powder is placed inside infected periodontal pockets just after the dental professional finishes the scaling and root planing procedure.

Periodontal Splinting

Loose teeth are uncomfortable, especially when you try to eat food or chew gum. The feeling of the tooth pulling away from the gum is enough to send chills down your spine. Waiting for the tooth to become loose enough for extraction or strong enough to no longer be a problem can seem like an eternity.

Teeth become loose due to lost gum tissue, injury, orthodontic treatment, or pressure caused by tooth misalignment. A new technique called periodontal splinting attaches weak teeth together, turning them into a single unit that is stable and stronger than the teeth by themselves.

The procedure, most commonly performed on the front teeth, uses composite material to attach (or splint) the loose teeth to the adjoining stable teeth. 

Tooth splinting is a common procedure that has gained popularity due to its effectiveness. Life is too short to live with loose teeth. Our Naples dentist can help you strengthen your smile with tooth splinting.

Occlusal Adjustment

An occlusal adjustment corrects the alignment of the bite. Although often caused by shifting or crowded teeth, a sore jaw can also be caused by loose or missing teeth that are the result of progressive gum disease.

Once your bite is adjusted, your teeth will meet properly. The adjustment is usually made using a dental drill fitted with a fine filing stone, causing minimal pain and only some discomfort. In addition to the actual adjustment, you’ll receive a removable mouthpiece to protect the tooth’s surface and relax the jaw muscles once the adjustment is completed.

Protect Your Smile from Gum Disease

Our Naples, FL, periodontic dentist can help you protect your smile from periodontal disease. To make an appointment, call The Modern Dentist today at (239) 591-3330, or contact us online.

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