Periodontist Westford & Bedford
Periodontists specialize in working around and under the gum areas of the patients mouth. Healthy gums are critical to overall oral hygiene and health. Our practices offers a wide range of services including:
Periodontal Post-Op Instructions
Periodontics FAQs
What is Gum Disease or Periodontal Disease?
“Perio” means around, and “dontal” refers to the teeth. Periodontal disease is an infection of the structures around the teeth. These structures include the gums, attachment of the gums, and bone. Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal disease, which is an infection that affects the gums. In more severe forms of the disease, all of the structures are involved. Figuring out what causes periodontal disease has taken many years of research. It is now commonly accepted that the many types of bacteria found in dental plaque are the major culprits. We are just beginning to learn more about how these infections in your gums can also affect your overall health.
What Causes Periodontal/Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is caused by bacteria. This bacteria is found in the sticky film known as dental plaque that you feel on your teeth hours after you have brushed. The build up of this bacterial film can lead to swollen and bleeding gums, signs of gingivitis (the earliest stage of periodontal disease), and eventually to loosening of the teeth, which is a sign of severe periodontitis (the advanced stage of disease).
Brushing and flossing daily and visiting your dentist regularly (a minimum of every six months and more often if you have gum disease) can help prevent this disease. Brushing and flossing does not always remove all of the bacterial plaque, and over time this residue can calcify on the tooth surfaces. At this stage brushing and flossing cannot remove the hardened deposits, which is why visiting your dentist or hygienist for dental cleanings are so important. Their expertise at removing these deposits is vital to maintaining your overall dental health.
Are There Other Risks for Periodontal Disease?
There are several factors other than the bacterial build up that can contribute to gum disease. Certain medications, other diseases and oral habits, can lead to periodontal problems and disease.
Some of these risk factors include: poor nutrition, genetics, misaligned or crowded teeth, tobacco use, grinding and clenching your teeth (bruxism), hormones, stress and other systemic diseases.
Why Should I Come to Emerson Dental to Prevent or Treat Periodontal Disease?
At Emerson Dental we provide a comprehensive treatment approach in preventative care for your teeth and gums. Our team of hygienists are a highly skilled group of professionals who take great pride in providing the very best care for their patients. If your treatment is more complex, we are able to provide you with advanced periodontal care right here in our office. Dr. Gabriel Boustani is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a valued member of our Emerson Dental team. He and your dentist will collaborate to provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan to help you achieve optimal results without having to visit multiple offices.
What is Deep Scaling? Does it Hurt?
Deep scaling is a procedure to remove the bacteria and hardened deposits that have gone beyond the neck of the tooth and are now below the gumline and on the actual root surface of the tooth. At Emerson Dental, our team of hygienists are trained to perform this procedure with either a topical (surface) anesthetic or if needed, local anesthesia (injection) to numb the gum tissue so that you will not feel any discomfort. We utilize both hand and ultrasonic instrumentation to provide you with the most thorough means of removal. You will be provided with comprehensive instruction for aftercare and we also provide all of our periodontal patients with an ultrasonic toothbrush to maximize your healing and maintain your results.
What Is A Tissue Graft? Do I Need One?
Tissue grafts can help to improve the shape of your gum line or cover the root surface of a tooth that has been lost due to recession. A tissue graft will repair these issues and can help prevent further recession.
During the grafting procedure, the periodontist will take some of the tissue from the roof of your mouth to graft to the affected area. You may have been told that this is a painful process, but newer surgical techniques allow the periodontist to remove this tissue with much less postoperative discomfort than previous techniques.
What Is Crown Lengthening and Why Do I Need This Procedure?
Teeth that have been damaged by large areas of decay or fractured may not have enough remaining tooth structure to enable a crown to be attached firmly. In this case a crown lengthening procedure is the recommended treatment.
The crown lengthening procedure recontours the gum tissue and bone to expose more tooth surface for the preparation of a crown. You will have a temporary crown placed over the tooth while the area heals. After healing the dentist will prepare the tooth for the final crown which can now be properly fitted to ensure better oral hygiene and longevity of the tooth.