Effective Gum Disease Treatment in Chatham & Madison, NJ
Gums play an essential role in keeping your smile healthy. They are the foundation that holds your teeth together. At the practice of Caryn F Miller, DMD, we provide you with quality periodontics services to maintain, treat, and restore your gums.
If you are looking for routine periodontal care or more advanced gum treatment, you have reached your destination. Our practice has the expertise and advanced technology to fulfill your needs. Call us today and schedule your visit.
CALL US: (973) 635-4960 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
What is Periodontics?
Periodontics is dentistry that deals with protecting and treating your gums. There are three main aspects of periodontal care:
- Prevention– We help you manage any health risks by performing routine cleanings to keep your gums healthy.
- Treatment – If we discover any signs of periodontal disease, we address it and eliminate any infection.
- Maintenance – Once you recover from gum disease, we will help you sustain your healthy gums and prevent relapse.
Gum Disease and How It Affects Your Health
Your gums provide support for your teeth and protection for your tooth roots. That is why they need attention. Gum disease is the primary reason for tooth loss and was found to be linked to many systematic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and strokes. While you most likely focus on taking care of your teeth, your gums are an important element of your oral and overall health. Our goal is to make sure your gums are in perfect condition.
There are three levels of gum disease. These levels are:
- Gingivitis – Bacteria create plaque from sugar, which remains on tooth enamel. Plaque hardens around and underneath the gum line, irritating the gums and inflaming them.
- Periodontitis – If gingivitis is left untreated, the gums get infected and start pulling away from teeth. This creates pockets below the gum line that are filled with harmful bacteria. At this point, tooth roots are vulnerable to decay, and severe damage could happen.
- Advanced Periodontitis – If periodontitis is not dealt with quickly, the infection deepens, causing the gum tissue and the jawbone to shrink. Once bone loss occurs, teeth become loose and may fall out or need extracting.
Necessary Dental Care for Healthy Gums
We provide you with the following periodontal services to maintain the health of your teeth and gums:
- Regular Cleanings – Every six months, we perform regular professional cleanings to protect your teeth and gums. However, it is essential to realize that preserving your oral health is a mutual commitment between you and our periodontist. We educate you about the best tools and techniques to help you care for your teeth and gums at home.
- Detailed Examinations – Our dental team performs a thorough exam with every cleaning, using various tools to identify any signs of gum disease. You do not need more than a regular cleaning and exam as long as your gums are in good condition.
- Scaling & Root Planing – If you have signs of gum disease, you may need a scaling and root planing procedure. During this deep cleaning, Dr. Miller uses professional dental tools to eliminate infection beneath the gum line.
What Is Gum Recession?
Receding gums occur when the edge of the gum tissue pulls away, revealing more of the tooth and its root. When gums recede, harmful bacteria can build up, causing damage to the tissue and bone structure surrounding the teeth.
How Do I Know if I Have Gum Recession?
Since this condition occurs gradually, most people do not realize they might have receding gums. Here are symptoms that might help you identify you have this condition:
- Your Teeth Appear Longer – As gums recede, it makes your teeth long, much longer than the average.
- You Have Exposed Roots – Tooth roots are exposed and are extremely sensitive and uncomfortable. This can be caused by periodontal disease or due to brushing aggressively with a toothbrush with hard bristles.
- Your Teeth Are Loose – If you notice loose teeth, it might be due to advanced periodontal disease that causes the gum pockets to deepen and so the attachment between teeth and gum becomes loose.
How Do You Treat Gum Recession?
We provide you with multiple treatment options to help resolve gum recession:
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation – The Pinhole Surgical Technique is one of the various ways we treat gum recession. It is a noninvasive technique that begins by creating a pinhole in the receding gum tissue. A tiny device is then positioned inside the pinhole to stretch the gum and reposition it over more of the tooth.
Once the gum tissue is placed in the desired spot, our periodontist inserts collagen strips into the pinhole to keep the gums in their new position. These strips are minimally invasive compared to stitching. The strips also encourage the growth of new tissue, securing the gums in their new location.
Gum & Connective-Tissue Grafts – Depending on your condition, our periodontist will perform one of the following grafts:
- Gingival Grafting – Also known as gum grafting. During this procedure, we remove a small piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth and connect it to the target area. This method is usually preferable if your gums are thin and need extra tissue.
- Connective-Tissue Grafting – We will select a piece of connective tissue from the roof of the mouth. This tissue is then grafted to the target area.
Pinhole Gum Surgery Versus Grafting
Pinhole surgical technique can address multiple locations in one sitting, while traditional grafting requires multiple sessions to treat more than one tooth with gum recession.
Pinhole Gum rejuvenation saves your precious time, allowing you to have your full mouth treated at once. Another advantage is that the healing process for the Pinhole Surgical technique is not long compared to traditional grafting.
Your Smile Deserves to Shine
Dr. Miller and her skilled team enjoy helping Chatham families and surrounding communities. We are periodontics specialists ready to help you smile with ease. Get in touch with us today and schedule a visit.
CALL US: (973) 635-4960 REQUEST APPOINTMENT
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