Periodontal Services in Sunnyside, OR
Periodontal Care
Periodontal Disease & Scaling and Root Planing
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease or periodontitis, occurs when the bone and gums around teeth become infected. Gums can become irritated as a result of the bacteria found in plaque, at times turning red, swelling and bleeding easily. If the condition remains untreated, the gums separate from the teeth, causing spaces (also known as “pockets”) to develop between the teeth and the gums along the gumline.
The result is the deterioration of gum tissue and jawbone, leading to tooth loss. Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for periodontal disease. This method allows Dr. Suess and a registered dental hygienist to provide a deeper cleaning between the compromised teeth and gums, preventing progression of the disease.
Gum Grafting
Periodontal soft tissue gum grafting may be required for patients who experience sensitivity or pain when teeth are exposed to hot or cold. Gum tissue provides protection, and the roots of teeth are exposed when gums recede. The recession of gum tissue can lead to increased sensitivity, pain, and cavities because roots are no longer protected.
If not treated, the recession of gum tissue can also lead to periodontitis and eventual tooth loss. Soft tissue gum grafts treat recession of the gum line by transplanting tissue from healthy areas to those requiring treatment, providing gum tissue to give teeth the protection they need. This transplanted gum tissue covers exposed roots or thickens existing gum tissue in order to prevent further tissue loss.
Dr. Suess and his knowledgeable staff at Clackamas Smiles Family Dentistry understand the pain and discomfort patients experience with gum recession and can treat this condition with periodontal gum grafting.
Dental Bone Grafting
Dental bone grafting may be recommended by Dr. Suess if your jaw bone has deteriorated due to disease, trauma, or missing teeth. Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds the structure of the jaw, restoring both height and width and strengthening the jaw.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a common surgical procedure to expose more surface area of a tooth by removing gum tissue or bone. Crown lengthening may be necessary if a tooth breaks off at the gum line, if there’s decay underneath a crown or filling, or if there is an abundance of gum tissue already around teeth.
Once enough tooth has been exposed in the compromised area, Dr. Suess will put in necessary stitches and provide care after the surgical procedure.
Ridge Augmentation
After a tooth is lost, the gums and jawbone can develop an indentation where the tooth once was, making it difficult to replace a tooth for a natural look. Ridge augmentation is a procedure required to replace the natural contour of the gum and jaw, leading to the success of placing dental implants.
Dr. Suess provides simple ridge augmentation to fill in this indentation through a surgical bone grafting procedure where the empty space is replaced with bone and the gums are sutured.