Periodontal problems or procedures

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Periodontitis is primarily an inflammatory and infectious disease. There are several factors that contribute to the disease, like oral hygiene, smoking and stress, but the disease often has a genetic origin. Signs of periodontitis include bleeding when brushing or using dental floss. Without being aware, bone loss begins around the teeth making them loose. Treatments that can stop periodontitis include the control of bacterial flora, stopping smoking or increasing the effectiveness of your teeth-brushing to help curb this disease. There are several forms of periodontitis. The most common is chronic periodontitis. It mainly affects people over 35 years of age and its progression is often slow. There is also aggressive periodontitis. It affects younger people, and as the name suggests, it progresses much faster. Periodontitis is often treated by non-surgical means. Periodontitis is a disease that can be controlled but unfortunately does not heal. It is a life-long struggle to protect your teeth.

This procedure is performed regularly. It consists of returning a band of keratinized gingiva to the tooth. What is the keratinized gingiva? I say it's a bit like a bumper. When eating or brushing your teeth, food and a toothbrush just traumatize the gingiva. This keratinized gingiva acts as a bumper to protect the gums. It is a band of gum that contains keratin. If this band is absent or has worn out and the tooth's root begins to show, a gingival or gum graft is strongly recommended. The procedure involves taking some of the gum from the palate in order to graft it to the tooth. This intervention will be done under local anesthesia. The graft, once taken, will be attached to the gum of the tooth. In some situations, it may cover the denuded root of the tooth but it is not possible in all cases. Care must be taken when eating and brushing teeth for the following week. The gum graft is a procedure with a very high success rate and once the graft takes, the hope is to keep this band of keratinized gingiva for the rest of your life. Your tooth will be protected for a long time.

You just broke your tooth or a cavity has formed under the gum? Your dentist, in this case, cannot properly repair the tooth. We simply cannot reach the tooth under the gum. Elongating the tooth's crown will allow to expose the tooth by removing the gum around the tooth. By lowering the gum around the crown, it enables the dentist to repair and preserve the tooth. Crown lengthening has other functions. On an aesthetic level, it can lengthen the teeth (in the front) giving them a younger look and you a more beautiful smile. Sometimes I can correct asymmetry between two teeth. Two central teeth, side by side, with different lengths are unsightly and can easily be addressed by this procedure.

This technology comes by way of Sweden and has revolutionized dentistry. The possibilities are endless. We can replace a single tooth, a group of teeth or a full mouth with implants. A fractured tooth can be replaced by an implant and it will look just like the original tooth. First, the implant is made of titanium. There is a screw that is inserted directly into the bone after extracting the natural tooth. It must then wait for osseointegration of the implant, which means that the bone should attach to the titanium to create a biological bond with the implant. We get incredible results with more than a 98% success rate. Nothing in dentistry allows us to replace a tooth with similar success. The implant placement is done under local anaesthesia. Patients who received an implant can testify to how both surgery and recovery are pain-free. How many times have I heard that an implant was easier than a filling? Once the stabilized implant heals, the dentist can then proceed with the crown, bridge or prosthesis, depending on the prescribed treatment. The implants do not suffer from tooth decay, do not require a root canal and have no periodontitis. In fact, their rate of long-term success is more than 99.5%. The implants do not require more care than natural teeth so your daily brushing and tartar cleanings at your dentist will be sufficient.

HEART DISEASE:  We've known for 30 years now that a link exists between periodontal disease and heart problems. If you suffer from periodontitis, this condition can make you 2.5 times more likely to have a heart attack. Why? Well it's a question researchers could not find an answer to; however, two theories exist: First, it is believed that there could be a shared gene, meaning that your body is genetically encoded that puts you at as much risk of developing heart disease as periodontitis. Another theory is that bacteria in your mouth enter the bloodstream and lodge in your heart. These bacteria could cause inflammation of blood vessels and the appearance of plaque atheromatous, leading to myocardial infarction. Whatever the truth, the treatment of periodontitis can only improve your overall health.

SMOKING:  Smoking is an important factor in the development of periodontitis. It is believed that it acts in two different ways: The heat of the smoke as well as the toxins play a role in your ability to combat periodontal disease, once again giving the opportunity for bacteria to do their damage. Smoking increases the chances of the disease to grow and interfere with any treatments provided. Whether it is the treatment of periodontitis, an implant or a tissue graft, smoking reduces the chances of success.