Periodontics in Fort Lauderdale & Lighthouse Point, FL
Florida Smiles Dental provides periodontal care at our Fort Lauderdale dental office and our Lighthouse Point dental office. Our periodontal services focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Treatment may include periodontal evaluations, deep cleanings, laser therapy, gum treatment, and other procedures based on each patient’s individual oral health needs.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a disease of the gum tissue, also known as the periodontal tissue. In most cases, this disease comes from the bacteria that is in your mouth in plaque and tartar. If you do not successfully clean the plaque and tartar and it builds up on your teeth, that bacteria can grow and multiply, causing inflammation of your gum tissue. Over time, this leads to gum disease.
What Are the Risks of Periodontal Disease?
When bacteria start to build up in your teeth and gums, the immune system creates inflammation and toxins. These toxins impact the health of your gums, but they can also affect other parts of your body. For example, doctors have found connections between poor gum health and cardiovascular disease or diabetes. While doctors are not sure if it is a cause, it is connected. Gum disease also takes a toll on your immune system, and that can put you at risk for other diseases and systemic illnesses.
Common Signs of Gum Disease
The best way to get screened for gum disease is with regular checkups at your dentist. Not only will we clean below the gumline to reduce your risk of gum disease, but we will also look for signs. In addition, you can watch for problems such as:
If you’re noticing these issues, reach out to our team to get evaluated for periodontal disease. While there could be other causes, if you have gum disease, you want to start treatment right away to protect your teeth and health.
Risks of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease carries several risks. The first is a risk to your teeth. If you do not treat gum disease in a timely manner, you risk damage to the bones in your mouth and jaw, which can lead to premature tooth loss. Another risk is risk to your overall health. The connections between gum disease and serious health risks in other areas of the body are clear, which means keeping your gums healthy is helpful in protecting the rest of your health.
Our Gum Disease Treatment Options
Patients who need periodontal treatment can receive an evaluation at our Fort Lauderdale office or Lighthouse Point office. Depending on the condition of your gums and supporting bone, our dental team may recommend deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, laser periodontal therapy, surgical treatment, or other procedures designed to control gum disease and protect your oral health.
LANAP, LAPIP, and Laser Treatment
A variety of laser therapies are available to help with periodontal disease. The LANAP procedure, for instance, uses a laser light to remove bacteria that hide in deep pockets of gum tissue. This treatment does not require cutting into the gum or removing any healthy tissue. Other laser treatments, including LAPIP, reduce the instances of bleeding, soreness, and swelling of the gums.
Surgical Treatment
Sometimes, surgery is the best way to address gum disease, particularly if your case is stubborn. If we can treat the gum disease before it progresses, we have a higher chance of protecting your natural teeth. Surgical treatment involves removing the diseased tissue and the plaque and tartar underneath it to restore your gum health. For most patients with gum disease that requires surgery, we will use a pocket reduction surgery. This treatment, performed on an outpatient basis, requires us to expose the underlying gums through a tissue flap. This allows us to remove the bacteria, tartar, and plaque that is hiding under the surface of the gum. We then pull the gum flat tight to remove the pockets left behind after removing the buildup.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
We strive to provide non-surgical treatment when possible for our periodontic patients. Deep cleaning, often under local anesthetic, can provide a solution that helps patients avoid surgery. Scaling and root planning are both part of this treatment path. These treatments remove the bacteria hiding below the gums and then smooth out the rugged tooth surface to prevent new bacteria pockets from forming, all while keeping the gum tissue in place.
Restorative Procedures from Our Periodontists
In addition to treating gum disease, our team of periodontists can treat cosmetic issues involving the gums, such as removing excess gum tissue or restoring receding gum tissue. Some common restorative procedures we perform include:
Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique
This cutting-edge treatment works to restore receding gumlines after periodontal treatment. It involves using a special tool to loosen healthy gum tissue, then pull it over the area of recession. As it heals, the healthy tissue will naturally cover the exposed tooth and restore the look of your smile. This restorative treatment can also reduce the risk of future gum disease and nerve pain from exposed roots.
Bone Regeneration
If you have bone loss in the face, you may be a candidate for bone regeneration treatments. These treatments help you regrown bone naturally. Some bone regeneration techniques we offer include bone grafting and guided tissue regeneration. Bone grafting involves taking bone from a different area of the body, then placing it on the damaged bone to encourage new bone growth. Guided tissue regeneration involves exposing the damaged bone, then adding a membrane to it to encourage it to regrow itself. Though healing is slow, both treatments can work quite well.
Gingival Contouring
Uneven gums or excessive gum tissue can be an embarrassing cosmetic issue for some patients. Our gingival contouring techniques can help balance out your gum tissue with the natural contour of your teeth, so you enjoy a more attractive smile. This treatment uses a blade or diode laser to remove gum tissue that is not aesthetically pleasing. The treatment takes about an hour and, if done with a laser, requires minimal bleeding and discomfort.
Gum Grafting
If you have severe gum recession, either due to excessive brushing, gum disease, misaligned teeth, or the natural aging process, we may suggest gum grafting. This technique is common for people who have sensitivity and pain due to their recession, and some will choose it to help with aesthetics. This treatment involves grafting healthy gum tissue onto the recessed area to cover it. This treatment takes about 90 minutes and is done under local anesthetic.
Restore Healthy Gums with Help from a Ft. Lauderdale Periodontist
Whether you suspect you have gum disease or you have a cosmetic concern involving your gums, you need the services of a periodontist, such as the treatment at Florida Smiles Dental. While going to a dentist is a good choice to help prevent gum problems, a periodontist has special training to diagnose and treat these complex conditions. Because we have periodontists working alongside dentists and other oral health specialists, all in one place, Florida Smiles Dental is a logical choice as you work to protect your gum tissue.
Concerned about bleeding gums, gum recession, periodontal disease, or another gum health issue? Florida Smiles Dental provides periodontal evaluations and treatment at our Fort Lauderdale location and Lighthouse Point location. Choose the office that is most convenient for you to meet with our dental team, evaluate your gum health, discuss periodontal treatment options, and schedule an appointment based on your individual needs.