Nearly half of all Americans suffer from some form of gum disease. Advanced gum disease, known as periodontitis, can lead to loss of bone and even tooth loss if left untreated. Periodontal treatment addresses gum and bone disease.
While the symptoms of early periodontal disease, or gingivitis, are mild, as the disease progresses, symptoms become more and more severe. Your gums may bleed, become inflamed, and even recede. The bacteria that cause gum disease feed off of sugars and food particles that become trapped in the gingival pockets, causing an inflammatory response in your body. This results in bone loss, gum recession, and tooth loss, but fortunately, with periodontal care from Dr. Grimard, you can take back the health of your smile, and live life with confidence again.
Restore your gums
Restore your bone density
Save your teeth
Prepare for dental implants
.jpeg)
Sometimes called a “deep cleaning,” scaling and root planing is used to remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gum line, as well as smoothing the surface of the roots. Not only does this get rid of the harmful bacteria that cause gum disease, the smooth surface allows the gums to reattach more easily, leaving less room for bacteria to flourish and grow.
Periodontal maintenance is critical to maintaining the results of surgical treatment to keep periodontitis (gum and bone disease) at bay. Most patients with periodontal disease will need periodontal cleanings every three months to keep their gum and bone tissues healthy.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by bacteria that accumulates below the gumline and on the root surfaces of the teeth. In response to this bacteria, your body’s natural defense system triggers inflammation in the gum tissue. Over time, this bacteria causes the gums to pull back from the teeth, forming deep periodontal pockets. These pockets create a space where harmful bacteria can continue to grow, making it increasingly difficult to keep the area clean. Without professional periodontal treatment, this can lead to significant bone and tissue loss around the teeth.
Pocket Reduction Therapy, also called osseous surgery, is a specialized procedure designed to treat periodontal disease by reducing the depth of these pockets and helping you maintain healthier gums, bone and teeth. During this procedure, Dr. Grimard surgically gets the gums back to access the pocket beneath it. The pockets are thoroughly cleaned to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar that have built up around the tooth roots and bone surface.
In many cases, laser-assisted periodontal therapy may be used alongside traditional surgical techniques. Dental lasers can precisely target and eliminate infected tissue and bacteria while minimizing trauma to healthy tissue, promoting faster healing and reduced post-operative discomfort. Lasers are only utilized in very specific situations determined by Dr. Grimard.
In some situations, the tooth bone or roots may be smoothed to help the gums reattach more effectively, and bone grafting or guided tissue regeneration may be used to encourage the regrowth of bone that has been damaged by infection. Once everything is clean and healthy, the gum tissue is repositioned and sutured in a way that reduces the pocket depth and helps prevent bacteria from returning.
This procedure plays a key role in stopping the progression of gum disease and protecting your natural teeth. After healing, patients often find it easier to keep their gums clean with daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits.
When periodontal disease reaches advanced stages, non-surgical treatments like scaling and root planing may no longer be sufficient. In these cases, a more comprehensive approach—surgical debridement—may be required to effectively manage the infection and preserve your oral health.
Surgical debridement is a targeted procedure used to clean deeply infected gum tissue and periodontal pockets that form between the teeth and gums. These pockets harbor harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar that can’t be fully removed with standard cleanings.
During the procedure, your periodontist will:
• Carefully access and open the gum tissue to expose the root surfaces and bone
• Remove inflamed and infected soft tissue from within the periodontal pocket
• Thoroughly clean the pocket walls to eliminate bacterial buildup
• Smooth the root surfaces to discourage future plaque accumulation and promote gum reattachment
In some cases, laser periodontal therapy may be used as part of the debridement process to more precisely eliminate bacteria and diseased tissue. Laser treatment offers the benefit of reduced bleeding and enhanced precision. Dr. Grimard will determine whether laser treatment is appropriate, as it is typically reserved for specific clinical situations where it offers the greatest benefit.
This level of cleaning helps reduce inflammation, slow disease progression, and create a healthier environment for the gums to heal. If left untreated, advanced gum disease can lead to tooth mobility, bone loss, and eventually tooth loss. Surgical periodontal treatment can play a crucial role in preventing these outcomes and stabilizing your oral health.
.webp)
%20(1).webp)
Gum disease, once it advances to the stage of periodontitis, causes bone deterioration. As the disease progresses, it can lead to tooth loss and other oral health issues. To stop the continuation of bone loss, or to provide additional structural support for dental implants, bone grafts may be placed. Utilizing donor tissues, we can restore your oral health and save your smile.
Guided tissue regeneration, or GTR, is a technique used to guide the growth of new tissue to provide support and stability to the teeth of patients suffering from bone or soft-tissue loss, often caused by periodontal disease. GTR works in tandem with gum surgery and bone grafting by placing a special membrane or barrier between the hard and soft tissues to allow the slower-growing bone the necessary time and space to regenerate.
.webp)
IV conscious sedation is delivered directly into your bloodstream via an IV, and allows you to enter a deeply relaxed state. You may even fall asleep during your treatment, though you will remain conscious enough to be woken up or respond to questions or commands. When used in combination with local anesthetics, IV conscious sedation can ensure your visit is a relaxing experience, free from pain or anxiety.
The effects of IV conscious sedation do last for several hours after administration, so you will need to arrange for a ride to and from your appointment.
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is the lightest form of sedation available, and can keep you calm during your treatment. With little to no side effects, laughing gas is administered through a mask that goes over your nose, and takes effect almost immediately, melting away your anxieties. Laughing gas produces feelings of euphoria and drowsiness, but you will still be able to answer questions and respond to commands.
Once your procedure is complete, oxygen will flow through the mask, removing any remaining sedative, and the effects will wear off within minutes. You can even drive yourself home from your appointment.
.svg)
