Welcome and thank you for visiting the Periodontic Department here at Brighter Dental Care.

The Periodontic Department is comprised of a team of Periodontists who together focus on two goals:

The first is to provide you and your family with the highest quality of periodontal therapy available.

The second is to make you feel comfortable and relaxed during your office visit.

The risks associated with Periodontal Disease have been well documented in recent times by the medical community and media. Whether it be providing periodontal therapy, discussing treatment options or answering questions, our periodontal deparment will treat you as though you are family!

Who is a periodontist?
What is periodontal disease?
What causes periodontal disease?
What are the signs of periodontal disease?
How is periodontal disease treated?
What are the risks associated with periodontitis?
How much will periodontal treatment cost?
Does the periodontic department accept outside referrals?
How do I make an appointment?

Who is a periodontist?
A periodontist is a dentist who has had specialized training in a dental residency program. They specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. Many periodontists have also taken advanced training in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists receive extensive training in these areas, including 2 to 3 additional years of education beyond dental school. Periodontics is one of the 9 specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

Periodontists may also specialize in other areas and provide other treatments, such as crown lengthening, bone regeneration, TMJ, occlusal therapy and sleep apnea.

What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease (also commonly referred to as “gum disease” and “periodontal infection”) is an infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Periodontal disease progresses silently, often without pain or overt symptoms that would alert you to its presence. It may develop slowly or progress quite rapidly.

Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease.

While there are many forms of periodontal disease, the two most common are:

Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good at home oral care.

Periodontitis
Periodontitis is the more advanced stage of periodontal diseases. The gums, bone, and other structures that support the teeth become damaged. Teeth can become loose and fall out, or may have to be removed. At this stage, the disease requires more complex treatment to prevent tooth loss.

What causes periodontitis?
The primary cause of periodontitis, is plaque, which is a sticky film of bacteria that clings to the surface of teeth and gums. Brushing and flossing every day may not completely remove all the plaque, especially around the gum line. The bacteria in the plaque produce toxins that may injure the gums and supporting tissues.

Plaque that is not completely removed within 48 hours hardens into a rough deposit called tartar or calculus. Once tartar develops, the only way to remove it is by having the teeth professionally cleaned. Tartar below the gum line causes inflammation and infection. Because this process is often painless, a person may be unaware a problem exists.

What are the signs of periodontal disease?
In the earliest stages, periodontal disease causes few signs or symptoms, and you may not be aware of a problem until your gums become soft and bleed slightly when you brush your teeth. As the disease progresses, you may notice more-serious changes, including:

• Swollen, bright red or purple gums
  
• Gums that feel tender when touched
  
• Gums that pull away from your teeth (recede), making your teeth look longer than normal
  
• New spaces developing between your teeth
  
• Pus between your teeth and gums
  
• Persistent breath odor or a bad taste in your mouth
  
• Loose teeth or a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
  

How is Periodontal disease treated?
Your gum tissue should fit snugly around each tooth, much as a turtleneck sweater fits around your neck. But when periodontitis destroys supporting bone and tissue, your gum tissue stretches out, allowing bacteria-filled pockets to form around your teeth. Over time, these pockets become progressively deeper and more infected, leading to further tissue and bone loss. The goal of treatment for periodontitis is to thoroughly clean these pockets of bacteria and to prevent more damage.
Many people with periodontitis can be successfully treated with noninvasive therapies, sometimes in conjunction with antibiotic therapy. If you consistently practice good oral hygiene at home, this may be the only treatment you need.

• Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing):
  Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. It may be performed using instruments or an ultrasonic device. Root planing smoothes the root surfaces where the germs gather and thereby discourages further accumulation of tartar.
  
  Sometimes, though, you may have more advanced periodontitis and your gum tissue may not respond to nonsurgical treatments. In that case, your options may include:
  
  
• Flap surgery (pocket reduction surgery): In this procedure, your periodontist makes tiny incisions in your gum so that a section of gum tissue can be lifted back, exposing the roots for more effective scaling and planing. Because periodontitis often causes bone loss, the underlying bone may be recontoured before the gum tissue is sutured back in place. The procedure generally takes from one to three hours and is performed under local anesthesia.
  
  
• Soft tissue grafts: When you lose gum tissue to periodontal disease, your gumline recedes, making your teeth appear longer than normal. Replacing the damaged tissue, which is usually accomplished by removing a small amount of tissue from your palate and attaching it to the affected site, serves several purposes: It helps reduce further gum recession; it covers exposed roots, protecting them from decay and making them less sensitive to heat and cold; and it gives your teeth a more cosmetically pleasing appearance.
  
  
• Bone grafting: This procedure is performed when disease has destroyed the bone surrounding your tooth root. The graft may be composed of small fragments of your own bone or the bone may be synthetic or donated. Not only does the graft help prevent tooth loss by holding your tooth in place, it serves as a platform for the regrowth of natural bone. In that case, it's usually performed in conjunction with a technique called guided tissue regeneration.
  
  
• Guided tissue regeneration: This allows bone destroyed by bacteria to regrow. In one approach, your periodontist places a special piece of biocompatible fabric between existing bone and your tooth. The material prevents unwanted tissue from entering the healing area, allowing bone to grow back instead. Another cutting-edge technique involves the application to a diseased tooth root of a gel that contains the same proteins found in tooth enamel. This fools your body into thinking a new tooth is being formed, stimulating the growth of healthy bone and tissue.

What is maintenance therapy (perio maintenance)?
Maintenance or supportive periodontal therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent periodontal disease from recurring in patients who have undergone periodontal treatment. This ongoing phase of treatment will allow your periodontist to assess your periodontal health and make sure infection stays under control. During maintenance therapy, your mouth is examined, new calculus and plaque are removed, and, if necessary your teeth are polished and your bite is checked.

What are the risks associated with Periodontitis:
Having periodontal disease may put you at greater risk of a number of serious medical conditions:

• Heart disease and stroke. Having long-term gum disease may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. The more severe your gum problems, the greater your risk. Research suggests that the bacteria responsible for periodontitis can travel through your bloodstream to the arteries in your heart where they trigger a cycle of inflammation and arterial narrowing that contributes to heart attacks. Oral bacteria also make you more prone to develop blood clots, increasing the likelihood of a stroke.
  
  
• Complications of pregnancy. Women with moderate to severe periodontal disease may be much more likely to give birth to a premature baby than are women with healthy gums. Although the exact association between oral bacteria and low birth weight isn't clear, having gingivitis or periodontitis appears to limit the growth of the fetus in the womb and may trigger high levels of substances that induce labor. This is especially true if gum disease is initially severe to begin with or worsens during pregnancy. The problem is exacerbated in women with diabetes, who are already considered at high risk of pregnancy problems.
  
  
• Uncontrolled blood sugar. Diabetes puts you at greater risk of developing periodontal disease and other infections. It also makes blood glucose levels harder to control. That's because infection anywhere in your body can raise your blood sugar level, requiring more insulin to keep it in check.
  
  
• Pneumonia. If you have serious gum disease and lung problems, inhaling (aspirating) bacteria from your mouth into your lungs may result in aspiration pneumonia, a condition that's especially common in hospitals where patients may be sedated or have tracheal tubes.
  

How much will periodontal treatment cost?
The cost of your periodontal treatment varies by the severity of the problem. The majority of dental insurance plans do provide some level of coverage for periodontic treatment.

Does the Periodontic Department at Brighter Dental accept referrals from other dentists?
Absolutely, in fact a great deal of local doctors in our areas refer their patients to our periodontal department for all of their periodontal needs. Please note that if you are referred to our periodontic department by your family dentist, our office policy is to refer you back to such referring doctor for your non-periodontal dental needs and care.

How do I make an appointment?
Please click here and call the Brighter Dental Location most convenient for your dental treatment. In the alternative, you may email us at info@brighterdental.com and one of our staff members will contact you.