Periodontics
Periodontics are a focus on preventative and restorative dental care. It focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal, or gum disease, and in the placement of dental implants. We are proud to offer many periodontal therapies at Anderson Family Dental.
We would be happy to schedule an oral exam so that we can talk with you about your specific dental needs. Many of the following services are to prepare a patient for dental implants or dentures. In our Winter Park office, we will assess your needs and help to educate you on the right restorative options for your teeth.
Crown Lenthening
If a patient is receiving root canal treatment, dental implants, or needs to fortify a cracked or broken tooth, they may need a crown placed. This is a fabricated, natural-looking cap to cover an existing tooth.
Crowns must have a surface to be attached to, however, sometimes, the tooth is too small and more surface area is needed, crown lengthening is the solution. Our dentists can reshape the gum, tissue, or even the bone in the area to uncover more of the tooth in order to place a crown.
Gum Grafting
When gums recede, exposing more of the tooth, problems can occur. Pockets can form between the gums and teeth allowing more bacteria to enter and possibly damage teeth and bone structures surrounding them. Gum recession can also cause tooth sensitivity. Sometimes, the solution is gum grafting.
CHOOSING THE BEST OPTION
There are several types of gum grafting surgeries. Our dentists will help you decide which option is best for you. Each option involves using tissue from the roof of the mouth or nearby gums to build up the gum tissue and to encourage growth. This type of procedure seeks to cover and protect the parts of the teeth that have become exposed to prevent further damage and possible tooth loss.
Oral Cancer Screening
WHO NEEDS AND ORAL CANCER SCREENING? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Risk factors are an important topic in the discussion of which patients need screenings for oral cancers. Some lifestyle risk factors include tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, or even a history of significant sun exposure. If you have had a previous oral cancer diagnosis, it is important to schedule a regular oral exam.
Although there are known risk factors, the Mayo Clinic has stated that oral cancer cases have been increasing in recent years while the reasons for that are not yet clear. Therefore, oral cancer screenings may become increasingly important for more patients. Early detection for any cancer is important to increase the options for treatment.
Frenectomy (Tongue-Tie Surgery)
WHAT IS FRENECTOMY AND WHEN IS IT NECESSARY?
You may be familiar with the term “tongue-tie surgery”. A frenectomy may be recommended for patients, usually infants or children, who have certain types of speech, eating, or orthodontic issues.
The procedure involves removal of connective tissue called the frenum in the mouth. This tissue is typically under the tongue or on the upper gums and is only removed when it is causing problems. If the tissue is too tight or short, it is called a tongue tie or lip tie. The first sign of this type of problem is usually breastfeeding issues for infants.
HOW IS THE PROCEDURE DONE?
A frenectomy can be done using the traditional scalpel method or laser surgery. The procedure can be done in the office and usually only takes about 15 minutes. Patients are typically given local anesthesia to numb only the area of the mouth that will be affected. After the dentist makes a cut on the frenulum, he or she may place a few stitches or suture to help the area heal correctly.
Scaling and Root Planing
WHAT IS SCALING AND ROOT PLANING AND WHEN ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is the inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. If left untreated, gum disease can progress to periodontitis, which can cause spaces to form between the gum and the teeth. These are called pockets and they can eventually lead to damaged roots and loss of teeth or bone.
When the inflammation has progressed too far to be remedied by a good, professional dental cleaning, a patient may need a scaling and root planing procedure. This kind of treatment, sometimes called a “deep clean”, involves cleaning down to the bottom of the pockets and smoothing the root area of the tooth. This encourages gums to reattach fully to the teeth.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE LIKE?
A scaling and root planing procedure often requires a local anesthetic and may require more than one office visit to complete. Our dentist may use a scraper tool or a mechanical device that loosens plaque using vibrations to deep clean your teeth. This is the scaling portion of the treatment. Then, during the planing process, the roots of your teeth will be deep cleaned to remove the outer layer of the area called the cementum. This part of the process encourages a healthy healing process.
Osseous Surgery
WHAT IS OSSEOUS SURGERY AND WHEN IS IT NECESSARY?
Osseous surgery is often recommended as part of a treatment plan for severe periodontal problems that cannot be treated by scaling or root planing procedures because of bone damage. The procedure involves cutting away the gum and removing the bacteria growing in that pocket area that is unreachable by other means. Our Winter Park dentists can also work to repair bone damage during the procedure.
Soft Tissue Oral Biopsy
WHAT IS A SOFT TISSUE ORAL BIOPSY? WHEN IS IT NEEDED?
If the dentist is unable to diagnose an oral abnormality through an oral exam and your medial history, a soft tissue biopsy may be necessary. In order to prescribe a treatment, our dentist may require a biopsy that can be analyzed at the microscopic level.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE LIKE?
First, the dentist will take some images of the patient’s mouth near the affected area. After checking medical history, a local anesthetic will be administered to make the patient more comfortable during the procedure.
The dentist will then make the incision to perform the biopsy, removing the necessary amount and type of tissue from any lesions and surrounding areas. At this point, pressure will be applied to the area to help with bleeding, and the dentist will close up and suture the incision.
The tissue sample will then be sent to the lab for analysis.
Bone Grafting
When bone loss has occurred in the jaw, bone grafting may be necessary in order to move ahead with certain restorative procedures like receiving dental implants or dentures. A dental bone graft increases volume and density in the jawbone which strengthens it to hold and support dental work you may be receiving.
There are several different types of bone grafting procedures: