Welcome to your first step toward bettering your periodontal and overall health. Healthy gums, healthy body!
There are a variety of ways periodontists can treat periodontal disease (Gum Disease). Following dental school, periodontists receive up to three additional years of specialized training in surgical and non-surgical periodontal procedures to treat gum disease. Periodontists are also experts in replacing missing teeth with dental implants.
The good news is that at every stage, gum disease is treatable. Even in severe cases, it could be possible to save your teeth and get you feeling like smiling again. You can forget any feelings of fear or shame. Periodontists are specialists in identifying, treating, and managing gum disease to get the healthiest outcome for you.
Pyorrhea, also known as periodontitis, is a multifactorial disease that directly affects the oral gums and the bone. If you've been diagnosed with Gum Disease, there are a variety of treatment options depending on the details of your situation and the severity of the problem. We always start with the least invasive options, which are non-surgical. Very often, early stages of periodontal disease are effectively treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. However, in more serious cases, surgery may be necessary.
The first line of defense against gum disease is a unique type of cleaning called “scaling and root planing.” In this procedure, an ultrasonic cleaning device is used to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth where regular cleaning devices can’t reach: under the gum line, on the tooth, and around the root. Then, the rough surface of the tooth and the root are smoothed out (“planed”). This provides a healthy, clean surface that makes it easier for the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth. If you address your gum disease before it becomes severe, scaling and root planing may be the only treatment you need. However, as with any dental procedure, after-care is vital. In order to keep your teeth in good shape and resist future occurrences of gum disease, you must brush and floss daily, eat a healthy diet, avoid tobacco use, and have regular dental checkups. Even after a successful scaling and root planing, if you don’t attend to your teeth properly, it’s quite likely that you’ll develop gum disease again.
If the tissue or bone surrounding your teeth is too damaged to be repaired with non-surgical treatment, several surgical procedures are available to prevent severe damage and restore healthy beautiful smiles. We will recommend the procedure that is best suited to the condition of your teeth and gums. Following is a list of common types of periodontal surgery:
In a healthy mouth, the teeth are firmly surrounded by gum tissue and securely supported by the bones of the jaw. Periodontal disease damages these tissues and bones, leaving open spaces around the teeth that we call pockets. The larger these pockets are, the easier it is for bacteria to collect inside them, leading to more and more damage over time. Eventually, the supportive structure degrades to the point that the tooth either falls out or needs to be removed. During pocket reduction procedures (also known as “flap surgery”), we fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria hiding underneath, as well as the hardened plaque and tartar that have been collected. We may also remove any tissue that is too damaged to survive. We then sew the healthy tissue back into place. Now that the tooth and root are free of bacteria, plaque, and tartar, and the pockets have been reduced, the gums can reattach to the teeth.
When the bone and tissue supporting the teeth have been lost due to severe gum disease, we can restore these areas with a regeneration procedure. During this process, we begin by folding back the gum tissue and removing the bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Depending on your situation, we may then perform a bone graft to stimulate new bone growth, or we may apply a special kind of protein that stimulates tissue growth to repair the areas that have been destroyed by the disease.
A frequent symptom of gum disease is gum recession (also called gingival recession). As the gums recede, more of the roots are revealed. This can make teeth appear longer and can also create sensitivity to hot or cold liquids or food. It also exposes the tooth to increased damage from gum disease, as bacteria, plaque, and tartar attack the surface of the tooth and the root. During a soft-tissue graft, tissue from the top of your mouth or another source is sewn to the gum area, covering the roots and restoring the gum line to its original, healthy location. This procedure can also be performed for cosmetic reasons.
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease (a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth also known as gum disease), and in the placement of dental implants.
Some people only need to see a periodontist temporarily. In other words, they may need to undergo treatment that’s outside the scope of practice for a general dentist. For example, maybe you need a gum graft, bone graft, or frenectomy. A periodontist can perform your surgical treatment, then refer you back to your general dentist when your recovery is complete.
Other people may need to see a periodontist long-term. This includes people who are prone to gum disease. Those who are genetically predisposed to gum disease usually need periodontal cleanings in addition to routine cleanings at their dentist’s office. In these cases, your periodontist will work closely alongside your general dentist. You’ll continue to receive care from both of them in order to maintain optimal oral health.
Why Should You Choose Eschenbach Family Dentistry As Your Botetourt Periodontist?
We recognize that all of our patients are unique and deserve to receive dental care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented dental team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, stress-free, and rewarding dental experience every time you visit our practice.
As a general dentist, Dr. Sean Eschenbach a board-certified periodontist has dedicated himself to the health and well-being of patients throughout the Botetourt County, Salem, Roanoke Valley, Lake, Hollins, VA communities. He has training in most facets of dental care including pediatric dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, root canals, and dental implants.
With this experience, Dr. Eschenbach aims to improve the oral health of all patients seeking dental care in southwest Virginia, regardless of age or medical disability, through the utilization of quality advanced general dentistry techniques, hygienists, and area specialists.
Book an appointment with Eschenbach Family Dentistry! We will listen to you and ask questions until we know we’ve gotten to the heart of your concerns. We’ll assess you thoroughly and reach a detailed diagnosis. We also recommend our patients provide a patient experience survey in order to continue providing the kind of care that keeps our patients smiling.
Eschenbach Family Dentistry
Sean Eschenbach, DDS