Top-Notch Periodontics in Racine

How Can You Tell If You Need to See a Periodontist?

Gum disease goes through several stages from the mildest to the most severe. In its initial stage, known as gingivitis, you may notice symptoms of gum redness or swelling or your gums may bleed. You may also notice that brushing and flossing your teeth can make the symptoms worse.

If you don’t get gingivitis properly diagnosed and treated in time, it can turn into a gum infection. When this occurs, you may notice that your gums have started receding from your teeth creating the illusion of long teeth sometimes referred to as "horse teeth." A gum infection can also destroy structures that hold your teeth in place, namely the jawbone and oral ligaments. The top cause of tooth loss in adulthood is, in fact, untreated gingivitis.

You can avoid gingivitis and these symptoms it causes with the aid of a periodontist in Racine. That’s why, if you discover any of the gingivitis symptoms mentioned above, we recommend contacting our Racine periodontal office, so an experienced periodontal dentist can help reverse the condition and restore your oral health.

What a Periodontal Dentist Near Me Does

A periodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease and other conditions affecting your gums. All periodontists take an additional two years of periodontal training following completion of general dentistry school.

Our periodontal specialists at Racine Dental Group are not only well trained but also highly experienced in a comprehensive array of periodontal dentistry services such as the following.

Treating Periodontal Disease

After we eat, a sticky, bacteria-laden film known as plaque clings to the teeth. Unless this plaque is removed from the teeth and gums from brushing and flossing, it can lead to gingivitis. It can eat away at your tooth enamel and lead to cavities developing.

At our periodontal practice in Racine, we offer treatments to remove this plaque and keep the bacteria it contains from damaging your gums any further.

Lengthening Crowns and Providing Gum Contouring

As opposed to artificial dental crowns, the crowns of your teeth are the parts that are visible above the gum line. When you have too much gum tissue, you may desire to lengthen your crowns.

Sometimes, a periodontist may need to lengthen your crowns in order to install dental appliances or restorations like braces, partial dentures, or artificial crowns. The periodontist performs this procedure by removing some of the excessive gum tissue.

Another symptom of excessive gum tissue is a gummy smile which your periodontist can also treat with a similar procedure known as gum contouring. With this procedure, the periodontist removes the excessive gum tissue in order to reshape the gums for a more natural looking smile and a healthy mouth.

Placing Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial support structure implanted surgically into the jawbone to secure a prosthetic tooth just like a natural tooth’s root. In addition, implants can make crowns, bridges and dentures more stable and support the jawbone’s general structural integrity.

Grafting Soft Gum Tissue

One way to treat receding gums, particularly when they have exposed your tooth’s root, is by grafting gum tissue onto your natural gums in order to replace the soft gum tissue missing from that space. This periodontal procedure can help lower the danger of bone loss or bone decay in the jaw.

Diagnosing Oral Cancer and Providing Oral Pathology

The main cause of oral cancer is no longer smoking but HPV, or the human papillomavirus. We recommend that you seek out a periodontitis dentist in Racine the moment you develop concerns that you may have an HPV infection.

Scaling and Root Planing

Most patients with periodontal disease will require a special “deeper” cleaning called scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. This controls the growth of destructive bacteria. It also helps the gums to reattach to the root of the tooth. Because the procedure is performed beneath the gum line, your gums will be numbed for your comfort. Two to four visits may be necessary to the complete the treatment. You can expect some minor soreness after the treatment.

Bone Regeneration Treatment

In many cases, it may be possible to restore lost periodontal supporting bone. This is accomplished by a combination of procedures. Osseous Grafting using a variety of graft materials may be used to stimulate the body’s ability to grow bone. Guided Tissue Regeneration is also employed to restore not only the missing bone, but also the periodontal ligament and cementum. These structures are necessary to restore the attachment of the bone to the root of the tooth.

After the infected root of the tooth is exposed, The periodontist carefully cleans the root of the tooth to remove all bacteria and toxic material that would prevent the regrowth of healthy tissue and bone. To allow the slow growing healthy tissues a chance to regrow, Dr. the periodontist Over the next few months, the body will slowly absorb the barrier material. New healthy tissue, firmly attached to the root surface remains behind. Sometimes a bone replacement material may be placed to enhance the bone growing potential. Successful treatment can be verified with x-rays in several months.

Whatever the type of periodontal care and treatment you may need, at Racine Dental Group, you’ll find periodontal specialists in Racine who can provide it. Simply call our office and we can answer your questions and schedule an appointment with you to see one of our periodontists for a complete exam and consultation.