Gum Disease Treatment - Miami, FL
Restoring Healthy Gums is Essential for a Healthy You
Your Gums Deserve as Much Attention as Your Teeth
Periodontal disease results from infection and inflammation of the gums and bone surrounding and supporting your teeth. Although there are several causes, poor oral hygiene is the primary culprit. In its earliest stage, called gingivitis, gums can become swollen and red and typically bleed when you brush and floss. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to a more serious stage of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis has far more detrimental effects on oral and general health.
Gums can pull away from your teeth, periodontal pockets can form that attract bacteria, and your teeth may loosen or fall out. Periodontal treatment in Miami, FL, focuses on correcting functional and aesthetic problems that can limit eating, jeopardize your dental health, and even lead to serious systemic health problems. At Miami-Dade Dental Specialties, our skilled dentist, Dr. Tamara Martinez, offers customized soft tissue periodontal disease treatment, starting with scaling and root planning. Treating gum disease in its earliest stages is essential for stopping it and protecting your well-being and quality of life.
Signs of Gum Disease
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Chronic bad breath (halitosis)
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Overly sensitive teeth or painful chewing
- Changes in alignment or the fit of dentures
Targeted Treatment for Gum Disease
Dr. Martinez has expertise in treating every stage of gum disease in Miami, FL, from gingivitis to late-stage periodontal disease that has already destroyed soft and hard tissue. At MYDDS, we partner with multiple insurance companies and offer third-party financing to make this crucial treatment more affordable.
Once gum disease is resolved, the best way to prevent a recurrence is to brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss once daily to remove plaque, and visit Dr. Martinez every six months for a check-up and professional cleaning. If you follow all these steps, keeping your gums and natural teeth healthy for life is possible!
Restorative Gum Disease Treatment
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planning is a nonsurgical periodontal therapy in Miami, FL, that involves deep cleaning tooth root surfaces. First, Dr. Martinez scales beneath your gum line to remove plaque and other bacterial toxins from periodontal pockets. During the second part, called root planing, your tooth roots are smoothed to prevent plaque or toxins from re-adhering to these surfaces.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a procedure that improves the appearance of gummy smiles. During a crown lengthening procedure, excess gum and bone tissue are reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth, even out the gum line, or expose several teeth to create a prettier smile. In addition, crown lengthening may be required to uncover more of a tooth to securely place a restoration such as a crown.
Gingival Grafts
Three types of gingival or gums grafts alleviate functional problems caused by periodontal disease-related gum recession. The first method involves removing a piece of tissue from the roof of your mouth or nearby healthy gum tissue and attaching it to the recessed area. A connective gum graft involves opening a small flap on the roof of your mouth and removing the graft from under the top layer of tissue. A pedicle graft creates a flap of tissue from an area next to the recessed gum tissue to cover it.
Frenectomy
A frenectomy is a minor in-office oral surgical procedure performed most often in infants and toddlers. It resolves problems related to restrictive connective tissue located under the tongue (lingual frenum) or the band of tissue that attaches the upper lip to the gums (labial frenum). Lingual frenectomy or tongue-tie surgery helps with infant breastfeeding, toddler speech development, and jaw growth. A labial frenectomy can also help with breastfeeding but is most often done to prevent future orthodontic problems, such as large gaps between the two front teeth.
Gingivectomy
Soft tissue damaged by gum disease can pull away from your teeth, leaving deep pockets that trap plaque and bacteria. During this in-office procedure at MYDDS, Dr. Martinez removes excessive, overgrown, or diseased gum tissue with a surgical scalpel or laser. When excision is complete, your gums are gently reshaped and reattached for a snug fit along your tooth line.
Peri-Implantitis
As with untreated gum disease, where infection can impact a natural tooth root, bacteria around an implant can lead to a serious infection. As inflammations progress, symptoms include severe jaw pain, a visibly receding gum line, exposure of the implant threads, pus discharge around the implant, or loosening. When left untreated, the most severe cases of peri-implantitis require implant removal and bone grafting to replace the damaged bone.
This periodontal treatment in Miami, FL, involves using a soft tissue laser to vaporize bacteria, diseased tissue, pathologic proteins, and titanium post contaminants in the gum tissue. The surface growth is removed with ultrasonic scaler tips, and if necessary, impacted bone and bite are modified. The laser forms a stable fibrin blood clot containing stem cells from the bone, which creates a secure enclosure to protect the area from reinfection.
A Happy, Healthy Mouth Requires Healthy Gums!
Get your dental TLC by scheduling non-surgical periodontal therapy.