For more information, please select a procedure below:
| Laser Periodontal Surgery |
| Dental Implants |
| Scaling and Root Planing |
| Socket Preservation |
| Frenectomy Procedure |
| Crown Lengthening |
| Regeneration |
| Soft Tissue Grafts |
Laser Periodontal Surgery
Sedona Periodontics is proud to offer a full array of laser gum treatment options for your convenience. Whether you’re seeking help for your gum disease, aesthetic gum therapy to correct that gummy smile or simply a gentler alternative to traditional gum surgery, rest assured that we will have the answer for you. Dr. Sakkaris and his staff have expertise in the latest laser techniques reduce your anxiety regarding gum surgery, minimize any post-operative discomfort, and accelerate your healing process. While Dr. Sakkaris is well versed in many aspects of conventional periodontal therapy, he is extremely proud to offer his patients the most advanced periodontal care options available. Read more...
Dental Implants
Whether you're missing one tooth or many teeth, dental implants are the best replacement because they're the most like natural teeth. They are better than bridges or dentures because they...
- Don't require grinding down healthy teeth
- Can prevent bone loss
- Can prevent other teeth from shifting out of place
- Help to correct your bite
- Help prevent tooth wear
- Help prevent changes in your facial structure
- Look beautiful and are a permanent solution
- Need more information? Visit the American Academy of Periodontology's website
Crown Lengthening
In some cases, periodontal procedures are necessary to lay the groundwork for restorative dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your smile.
Perhaps you have a "gummy" smile because your teeth appear short. Often times the teeth are covered with too much gum tissue. To correct this, your periodontist can perform crown lengthening. During this procedure, excess gum (and sometimes bone) tissue is repositioned to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth, or several teeth, depending on your needs.
Your dentist may recommend crown lengthening to improve a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure. Is your tooth is decayed/broken below the gum line? Does it have insufficient tooth structure for a restoration? Crown lengthening can move the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored with either a crown or bridge.
Need more information? Visit the American Academy of Periodontology's website
Scaling and Root Planing
Your bone and gum tissue should fit snugly around your teeth. When you have gum disease, the supporting tissue and bone is destroyed, creating pockets around the teeth. As these pockets become deeper, bacteria have more space to grow. These bacteria aggravate the gum tissue, and further bone loss develops. These deep pockets are difficult to keep clean, resulting in further bone and tissue loss. In severe cases, tooth loss may result.
Unless the pockets are reduced, your teeth will be susceptaible to further bone and soft tissue loss. Scaling and root planing is advised to comfortably reach the deep deposits of bacteria and the hard deposits they create. During this process, the teeth are numbed with local anesthetics and the teeth are meticulously cleaned. Usually this is a two appointment process. After the procedure, your teeth may be sensitive to cold and the gums may appear to shrink. This is a normal part of the healing process, and it should be anticipated.
A dental laser is often utilized to remove diseased soft tissue from around your teeth, destroy bacteria and aid with access to the bacteria. Symptoms are typically no different with or without the laser use. You will return at 6 weeks and 3 months for observation, hygiene instruction and cleaning.
In some cases, patients may not respond to scaling and root planing with laser therapy. These patients may be candidates for surgical therapy to help eliminate pocketing and restore lost bone support. In all cases, close cleaning visits are essential to maintaining your gum health. The cleaning interval will be taylored to your needs. These cleanings are often alternated with your restorative dentist.
What are the benefits of this procedure? Eliminating bacteria and their deposits is essential to prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to help you maintain a healthy smile. The deep cleaning procedure is the initial means of controlling gum disease.
Not only will the deep scaling help to eliminate gum inflammation and infection, but it can also have substantial general health benefits. Active gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, inflammatory diseases and pregnancy complications.
Need more information? Visit the American Academy of Periodontology's website.
Regeneration
Your gums should fit snugly around your teeth. When periodontal (gum) disease develops, the supporting tissue and bone is destroyed and pockets develop. If too much support is lost, the teeth may need to be removed.
Your periodontist may recommend a regenerative procedure when the bone supporting your teeth has been destroyed. These procedures can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone and tissue.
This procedure involves loosening the gum tissue around the teeth and removing the disease causing bacteria. Membranes (filters), bone replacement grafts or bio-stimulating chemicals can be used to elicit your body's ability to re-grow bone and tissue.
What are the benefits of this procedure? Regenerating bone and tissue against teeth helps to reduce deep pockets and repair damage caused by gum disease. With good daily oral hygiene and professional cleanings, you'll increase the chances of keeping your natural teeth and avoid systemic disease.
Socket Preservation
The bone that holds the tooth in place may be damaged by disease or infection resulting in a jaw deformity when the tooth is removed. These deformities can create major problems in performing restorative dentistry, whether your treatment plan involves dental implants, bridges work, dentures, or maintaining proper tooth length on adjacent teeth. Socket preservation can help avoid these problems.
In simple terms, the tooth socket is filled with bone or bone substitute and may be covered with a membrane (filter), thereby encouraging your body's ability to regenerate lost bone and tissue. The bone will be allowed to develop for about three to six months before your implant or restorative treatment can be initiated. Often times, temporary partial dentures or bridge work can be provided to maximize esthetics, comfort and function.
Need more information? Visit the American Academy of Periodontology's website.
Soft Tissue Grafts
Periodontal procedures are available to stop further dental problems and gum recession, and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line. Exposed tooth roots can be unsightly, sensitive to hot or cold liquids and susceptible to tooth decay.
Your gums may have receded for a variety of reasons, including aggressive tooth brushing, secondary to orthodontic therapy or gum disease. Once contributing factors are controlled, a soft tissue graft procedure can repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss.
Tissue grafts involve the transfer of tissue from one region or area to another. Most commonly, tissues are taken from another area of the patient's mouth, such as the roof of the mouth. In some cases, donated tissue products can be used. The appropriate material choice is critical to achieve the best outcome. Material use should be determined before the surgical procedure.
Benefits of tissue grafting procedures include coverage of exposed roots, reducing further recession and preventing bone loss around teeth. In some cases, it can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay. Tissue grafts may reduce tooth sensitivity, although elimination is never guaranteed.
Need more information? Visit the American Academy of Periodontology's website.
The Frenectomy Procedure
What is a frenum? A frenum is a fold of tissue or muscle connecting the lips, cheek or tongue to the jawbone. A frenectomy is the removal of one of these folds of tissue. Sometimes a frenum can be attached too high on the gums causing either recession or spaces between teeth.
What is a frenectomy? The procedure to remove this is called a labial frenectomy and involves the removal of the tissue attachment between the two front teeth as the gap between the teeth can again be pushed apart by the frenum. A lingual frenectomy removes the fold of tissue under the tongue. Some people have a large frenum that limits tongue movement and can interfere with speech. The condition of limited tongue ability is called ankyloglossia, or tongue tie.
