Gum Disease Treatment Options

Gum disease is a condition caused by build-up of plaques. It affects the gums causing them to become infected, swollen or sore. In the initial stages it may also cause your gums to bleed during brushing and you may experience a bad breath. At this point you will be diagnosed with gingivitis. However, if no medical attention is sought, the condition further develops and you begin to suffer from periodontitis. The infection or inflammation is now beyond the gums and has reached the bone below. If this again is not treated, there is risk of damaging the bone in your jaw, loosing your teeth or having spaces develop between the gums and teeth.

Treatment Options

Are you interested in getting gum disease treatment in Chino, CA? Ramona Dentistry has the solution for you. We provide a range of treatment choices for gum disease. The method used will depend on the severity of your condition and your response to previous treatment. Treatment options include:

Professional Cleaning

This is not considered a treatment for active gum disease, but it is a preventative procedure that cannot progression to the disease. A dental hygienist thoroughly cleans your teeth to remove any plaque and tartar that has built-up on your teeth’s surface. If you seem to be at risk of the condition, your dentist may schedule you for more frequent cleanings.

Scaling and Planing

If you have hardened plaque that cannot be removed by regular cleaning, a local anesthesia will be administered and then using a special tool, the calculus (hardened plaque and tartar), will be scraped away. The scraping procedure is what is referred to as scaling and is performed above and below the gum. If you have any roughened spots, they will be made smooth through planning to allow the gum easily reattach to the teeth.

Medications

For some cases, gum disease treatment at our Chino,CA clinic involves just administering some medication. Usually, antibiotics such as amoxycillin are combined in various ways to ease the situation. Antiseptic mouthwash is also used to help reduce bacteria that cause gum disease. The commonly used mouthwash for gum disease is Chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex). Your dentist can also prescribe gels and pellets like PerioChip that contain chlorhexidine or doxycycline. These are placed in deep gum pockets after scaling and planning to kill bacteria and reduce the size of periodontal pockets.

Flap and Pocket Reduction Surgeries

A small surgical procedure called flap surgery is sometimes necessary to help reach any deep pockets that are hard to clean. The gums are carefully lifted back and then tartar is removed through scaling. In case you have any roughened bone surface, planing will be performed and this will ensure there are no crannies in which disease-causing bacteria can hide. To finish the procedure, the gums are placed back to a snuggle fit around the tooth. this also ensure that there is no space between the gum and tooth where the bacteria can thrive.

Bone Grafting

If some areas of your jawbone are severely affected by gum disease, then the dentist will schedule for bone grafting. We will use a piece of your own bone, a synthetic bone or even a donated bone to restore the secure attachment of the teeth to the bone. We will also have to perform a procedure called tissue engineering to help your body to grow new bone and tissue at a faster rate.

Bone Surgery

If you are experiencing moderate to severe bone loss due to gum disease, we will perform a flap surgery then proceed to reshape the bone around the affected tooth. The aim of reshaping the bone is to smoothen it and remove any crevices or dents that could attract bacteria to collect and grow.

Other gum disease treatment near your area may include soft tissue grafting and guided tissue re-generation. Tissue grafting helps strengthen thinning gums or fill in where the gums have receded. The graft tissue is often obtained from the roof of your mouth. tissue regeneration on the other hand stimulates the growth of bone and gum tissue and is also performed along with flap surgery.

To learn more about gum disease and its treatment, visit our dental clinic in 4514 Philadelphia St Suite A, Chino, CA or give us a contact us today!

Hard or Soft Tissue Dental Procedures Benefit from Laser Dentistry

Dental lasers are devised specifically for use in oral surgery and dentistry. The Food And Drug Administration initially approved the use of lasers in the United States in the early 90s while approving their use on hard tissue like teeth or bone of the mandible in 1996.

Laser dentistry services near Chino CA offer comfortable treatment options for many dental procedures involving hard or soft tissue when compared to drills and other non-laser tools. Laser dentistry can be used for a variety of procedures including:

  • Treating tooth decay.
  • Taking hypersensitivity.
  • Treating gum disease.
  • Whitening teeth.

Lasers can make dental procedures efficient, cost-effective, and comfortable. The FDA has approved the use of lasers as treatment options for many dental conditions.

Performing Laser Treatments

Hard tissue and soft tissue procedures are the two main recipients of laser dentistry. Soft tissue refers to the gums while hard tissue indicates treatments of the teeth. Some of the most performed hard tissue procedures include the following:

  • Preparing the tooth for dental fillings. When laser dentistry in Chino, CA prepares the tooth for dental fillings they do not use traditional drills or local anesthesia. Bacteria in a cavity can be killed by lasers which can help in the long term health of the tooth.
  • Detecting cavities. Detecting cavities early becomes easier with lasers to find evidence of tooth decay.
  • Managing tooth sensitivity. Teeth that are sensitive to heat and cold can receive treatment with lasers that conceal the tubules on the tooth’s root.

Soft tissue procedures performed by using lasers include:

  • Treating the attachment of tongue frenulum. People with a thick or tight frenulum will find it beneficial to undergo a laser frenectomy. This treatment is particularly helpful for children that have a restricted frenulum which causes them to be tongue-tied, have a speech impediment, and trouble with breast-feeding.
  • Lengthening the crown. This procedure is used to reshape the gum tissue and bone to provide a healthier tooth structure which proves helpful when placing restorations on the teeth.
  • Treating a gummy smile. Lasers help reshape gum tissue associated with a gummy smile whereby the length of the gums covers much of the tooth.
  • Eliminating soft tissue folds. Lasers are helpful to remove soft tissue folds from badly fitting dentures without pain or stitches.

What Are the Costs Of Laser Treatments?

The costs of laser treatments can vary depending on the procedure being conducted and the laser equipment in possession with the dentist. When compared to the non-laser treatments laser industry is inexpensive because the treatments can be completed in fewer sessions. Furthermore, dental insurance providers usually determine the costs of reimbursement on the treatment itself and not on the method used by the dentist. Therefore you are likely to be compensated similarly as any other drilling or non-laser procedures. However, it would prove beneficial if you made inquiries beforehand to have accurate information in your possession.

Types of Lasers Used by Dentists

Professionals in dentistry are using hard tissue or soft tissue lasers depending on the type of procedure they are conducting. If the treatment requires the use of both types of lasers some professionals are also using them accordingly. When the need to cut through tooth structure is observed dentists are using hard tissue lasers. The teeth absorb the wavelengths through a combination of water and minerals found on them. These lasers are specifically used to prepare or shape teeth for composite bonding, for repairing dental fillings that have worn down or to remove some structure of the tooth.

Benefits of Laser Dentistry Over Traditional Methods

  • Laser dentistry decreases the need for stitches with soft tissue lasers.
  • Minimized bleeding is experienced by patients when soft tissues are treated because the laser promotes blood clotting.
  • The use of anesthesia is eliminated in some procedures.
  • The wounds heal faster making it possible for tissue to regenerate.
  • The potential for bacterial infections is lower because the area concerned is sterilized by the laser.
  • The surrounding tissues will not suffer damages during the procedure.

When people consider laser dentistry for any procedure they need to contact laser dentistry services near Chino, CA because the dentists are qualified to provide these treatments. Recommendations can also be sought from friends or insurance providers who may have had positive experiences with laser dentistry. Researching for laser dentistry providers can also prove beneficial to determine whether a particular dentist can provide proper laser treatment or not.

How are Traditional Braces Removed?

Getting braces is the beginning of a journey to a better smile. Braces can correct bites, align teeth and transform smiles. It is one thing to get the braces on, and a whole different process of getting them off.

After your orthodontic treatment, which can last about a year or more, getting rid of your braces is exciting anticipation. The good news is that the process of removing braces is much simpler than that of installing them. Better yet, the process is painless. You do not have to fear your orthodontist getting rid of your traditional braces in Chino, CA. Still, it helps to understand how the process works and how you can prepare for it.

What does the removal process entail?

Once you make an appointment with your dentist, the first step involves an oral checkup to investigate the state of your dental formula. If the assessment allows you to get rid of the braces, then you are ready to go.

Afterward, the dentist uses a special type of pliers or clips to separate the brackets of the braces from the teeth. This is typically for the standard braces. The dentist has to use different tools for people who have braces with bands custom made for each tooth. The reason is that strong adhesive was used to bond the braces to each tooth.

Once the braces are removed, the next step entails scrapping off the glue from your teeth. Some patients say that they can hear scraping when the glue is being removed from their teeth. It may also be uncomfortable if you have very sensitive teeth, especially when the dentist has to polish your enamel with a hand piece. Other than that, people do not complain about pain during the removal of traditional braces.

Do you feel anything during the process?

Removing traditional braces is typically a painless procedure. However, because of the close attachment of the braces to your teeth, it is normal to feel some pressure or tension when they are removed. The pressure is not in any way painful.

How long does the process take?

Removing braces is nothing like getting them. You do not have to spend so many hours with your orthodontist as you did for traditional braces treatment in Chino. Instead, in an hour or two, you should have all your braces off of you.

Do you need a retainer post braces?

Once the braces are removed, you will receive retainers. Retainers are part of the whole dental treatment process. Using braces shifts teeth in different ways to align them properly. The push and pull of the teeth are supported by the metal braces. When braces are removed, the teeth can get a little wiggly.

Using a retainer is the way to hold the teeth in their new position. This will help get your teeth adapt to the new change and be more steady, without needing reinforcement from braces. The period of wearing a retainer differs for people.

Depending on how severe your previous dental misalignment was, you may have to wear a retainer for a few years or the rest of your life. Wearing a retainer prevents the need for having braces a second time. There are different types of retainers. Some retainers are bonded, while others are invisible. Your orthodontist will recommend the best type of retainer for your situation.

Why do you need an x-ray post braces?

After your braces are removed, the dentist may need an x-ray of your face. This is a measure to inspect your bone structure. The records are also useful for future reference for your dental health.

How to care for your teeth after braces are removed

Part of caring for your newly aligned teeth has to do with wearing a retainer. This will help make the results more permanent. Besides that, you have to practice active dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice every day is a good habit to adopt. You will also need to consider flossing to get rid of food residue and debris between your teeth.

Soon after the braces are removed, avoid very hot or very cold foods. Your teeth will still be sensitive a few weeks into removing the braces. Avoid very hard foods in the first few weeks after the procedure, including nuts and carrots. You should be able to resume normal eating habits after a couple of weeks.

Do not make the removal of your braces the last day you visit your dentist. Checking in with your dentist will help track the progress of your dental health.

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