Services

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a periodontist places into your jaw to anchor a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth.
While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.

Dental implants are natural-looking and feeling; you may forget you ever lost a tooth. Your confidence about your teeth affects how you feel about yourself, both personally and professionally. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don’t feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own! Under proper conditions, such as placement by a periodontist and diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show high success rates for implants.
What happens when a tooth is lost or removed?

After a tooth is lost, the bone previously supporting the tooth will start to dissolve without the stimulation that the tooth root (or implant) delivers. This leaves a “dip”, or a sunken-in area and can make it difficult to place an implant.

How can I prepare for a dental implant?
When a tooth is lost or removed, bone grafting can be completed to help maintain or build up the volume of bone so that an implant can be placed in the area. Bone grafting can be completed at the time a tooth is removed or even after a tooth or teeth have been missing for years. Adequate bone quantity and quality is a component to a successful implant.

What is a sinus lift?
When planning to replace upper molars, there may not be enough bone to place an implant due to the position of your sinus. A procedure called a sinus lift can help add bone to the area and allow you to have an implant placed. There are various techniques used to place bone. One technique involves an incision to be made to expose the bone. A small, circular opening is made through the bone to access the sinus cavity and gently lift the sinus lining. This allows direct placement of bone to prepare for the dental implant. Another common sinus lift technique involves preparing the bone for a dental implant and then adding bone through that hole. This allows the sinus lining to be lifted and bone to be added.

The bone typically requires about 6 months of healing before implant placement. In certain situations, the implant may be placed at the time the sinus lift is completed. The recommended healing time varies from patient to patient. Sinus lift procedures are commonly needed for placement of upper implants and have a high success rate in achieving adequate bone.

What dental implants can do:

Replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth.
Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture.
Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.
Anchor a full upper or lower, non-removable bridge

Gum Disease

What is gum disease?

Gum disease, known as periodontal disease or periodontitis, affects the gum tissue and bone around the teeth. When bacteria and plaque stay too long under the gums, this can lead to inflammation and infection. The result is bone loss around the teeth or possible tooth loss. There are several components that accelerate this process including genetics, smoking, diabetes, etc.

Can Periodontitis be cured?

Periodontitis is a chronic disease similar to diabetes and heart disease in that it cannot be cured. However, like these other diseases, we can stabilize and maintain a level of health. This is done through the help of our office, your general dentist, and most importantly you.

How do you treat this disease?

The first step is to remove the deposits/build up [calculus] on the root surface that are stimulating the infection. We call this process scaling and root planing. Removing the plaque and calculus from the root surfaces will allow your tissue to become healthy again. This is not a surgical procedure; we are cleaning in a space that already exists. Local anesthetic is used so that you are comfortable during the procedure. The instruments used are similar to those used during a regular cleaning.

How will I feel after the treatment?

You may have some sensitivity [generally cold] of the teeth that lasts a few weeks. Also, you may have some tenderness the first day. But in general, your mouth should begin to heal and feel better.

What happens after the treatment?

Dr. Michelle McHale will see you 4-6 weeks after the treatment for a short examination. At this appointment the doctor will determine how your mouth responded to the treatment and discuss with you any other recommendations to help stabilize the disease. The most important recommendation will be your maintenance [cleaning] interval. Certain patients may require additional treatment beyond scaling and root planing.

Why should I be seen more frequently than every 6 months?

If you have periodontitis, then your mouth is more sensitive to plaque. Therefore, an increased cleaning interval will help maintain the level of health that has been achieved. Most patients need to have their teeth cleaned every 2-4 months. Dr. McHale will give a recommendation that is specific to you. These supportive periodontal maintenance appointments [cleanings] are usually alternated between our office and your general dentist’s office.

Why do I need to be seen at both offices?

It is important for you to be seen at both offices because here we will focus on keeping your periodontal disease stable. If we detect changes in measurements, then we can plan to focus treatment on these areas before they have further breakdown. At your dentist’s office, they will focus on the health of your teeth and plan treatment as needed, specifically focusing on concerns above the gum tissue. We will send a letter to your dentist each time you are here so that we can work together to provide you optimal care. The goal is a seamless, team approach to maintain your mouth at an optimal level of heath.

I have my teeth cleaned every 6 months at my dentist’s office. Why do I have this problem?

Periodontitis is a chronic disease, and like most chronic diseases, it generally is silent with regards to symptoms you would notice. It is often a painless infection until the disease has reached an advanced stage. Active bone loss is generally confined to a certain site on a tooth or teeth. It progresses in a cycle where bone loss may occur over a 1- or 2-day period, in a 75-90-day cycle. You have been referred because your general dentist feels your overall oral care is better managed with a team effort between their office and a periodontal office.

Crown Lengthening

Certain procedures are available to help lay the groundwork for placement of a crown or filling or to improve the esthetics of your smile. The “crown” of the tooth is the visible part of the tooth above the gum tissue. Whether you have a “gummy” smile, have broken a portion of the tooth, or have a deep cavity, a crown lengthening treatment can help expose more of the tooth structure.

Functional Crown Lengthening
This procedure is often performed as part of a larger treatment plan for a tooth that is to be fitted for a crown or for your dentist to be able to access a deep cavity. Functional crown lengthening provides the necessary space between the crown and surrounding bone. This allows your dentist to place a new, well-fitting restoration that prevents irritation to the gum tissues and bone.

Esthetic Crown Lengthening
The appearance of a “gummy” smile or uneven gum lines around the front teeth can be distracting. Esthetic crown lengthening treatment is performed to improve the gum contours around teeth and provide a more uniform smile.

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a procedure that helps to build up/grow more bone. There are multiple indications for bone grafting in the oral cavity.

A common reason for bone grafting includes correcting bone loss around a tooth that has been negatively affected by gum disease. When this occurs, bacteria, build-up, and inflamed tissue are removed and bone grafting material is placed into the area of bone loss. This procedure can help improve the long-term prognosis of a tooth.

Another indication for bone grafting may be to increase the amount of bone in an area planned for a future dental implant. If a tooth or teeth have been missing for several years, the bone in that site can shrink or narrow. A bone grafting procedure, called a bone augmentation, can increase the bone volume so that dental implants can be placed in solid, adequate bone for future implant success.

Similarly, bone grafting can be completed at the time a tooth is removed. The placement of bone in the tooth socket at the time of removal helps to preserve the bone volume for future insertion of a dental implant.

Gum Grafting

Usually gum tissue covers the root surfaces of your teeth. When the root surfaces are exposed, this is called gum recession. Perhaps you wish to enhance your smile by covering one or more of these roots that make your teeth appear too long. Or, maybe you’re not bothered by the appearance of these areas, but you are uncomfortable when your teeth are exposed to hot or cold foods and liquids. Exposed root surfaces can be more prone to decay and possible bone loss around teeth.

Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing, tooth shape or position, or periodontal disease. You may not be in control of what caused the recession, but prior to treatment, Dr. McHale will help you identify the factors contributing to the recession. Once these contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure to cover the exposed root surface or surfaces will repair the gum defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

A soft tissue graft can reduce further recession and bone loss. In some cases, it can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay; this may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve the esthetics of your smile. A beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health — your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.