There are several aspects to treating periodontal disease. For example, the only way to stop the disease’s progression and allow your gums to heal is to remove the harmful oral bacteria that have accumulated underneath your gum tissues. This process, known as scaling and root planing (or periodontal cleaning) may be the full extent of your treatment, or it may just be the first step, depending on the severity of your gum disease. For many patients at our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, the use of platelet-rich plasma and fibrin helps optimize periodontal treatment and maintenance in several ways. (more…)
A Few Things You Might Not Know About Your Hygiene Routine
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing them at least once, and taking care to clean along your gum line each time are the basics of good oral and periodontal hygiene. Most people recognize this, and many of them adhere to it, yet gum disease and other chronic oral health conditions continue to affect a majority of people across the world. That’s why, at our Encinitas/San Diego Periodontal office, we strongly emphasize not only the importance of good oral hygiene, but also educating patients about the nuances of keeping their smiles healthy for life. (more…)
The Biggest Factors in Gum Disease Development
One of the biggest factors in adult tooth loss, chronic inflammatory health issues, and more is the presence of gum disease. The condition not only erodes your supportive gums and jawbone structure, but also leads to unchecked inflammation in your periodontal tissues and ligaments. However, there are also several factors in the formation of gum disease itself, and understanding them can help you avoid the potential dangers associated with it. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you recognize what factors are most prominent to your periodontal health, and how you can mitigate them to protect your smile. (more…)
The Long-Term Effects of Tooth Loss
There are several concerns that come with losing one or more teeth, and the visual impact to your smile is only one of them. While you may notice that gap in your teeth more than you would the other consequences of tooth loss, those other consequences can have a much greater impact on the long-term state of your oral health. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, preventing and dealing with tooth loss is an important part of the comprehensive care that we provide. If you experience tooth loss, then we can help you regain your good oral health and avoid many of the most destructive consequences of losing teeth. (more…)
What Makes Perio Cleaning Different than Dental Cleaning?
Routine cleaning is an important part of oral health care. In many cases, that simply involves brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once, as well as attending regular dental cleanings at least once every six months. Sometimes, however, you might need more involved periodontal cleaning – also known as scaling and root planing – to address a more aggressive buildup of oral bacteria. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can perform specialized scaling and root planing, as well as ongoing periodontal maintenance, if necessary, to help you address an increased risk of gum disease, or control it if it’s already developed. (more…)
Does Controlling Plaque Really Prevent Gum Disease?
When it comes to preventing gum disease (as well as several other common oral health issues), preventing plaque buildup on your teeth and gums is essential. That’s because the bacteria that produce and hide within dental plaque are the main causes behind such oral health issues, especially when they’re allowed to accumulate excessively. While you have several options for addressing gum disease at our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, preventing gum disease from forming is a much better option for your long-term oral health. To be successful, your preventive routine should focus strongly on preventing excessive bacteria and plaque buildup every day. (more…)
3 Things to Know Before Getting Dental Implants
Even if you grow accustomed to how your smile looks with one or more missing teeth, your other teeth and oral structures never will. In addition to appearance, the effects of tooth loss can include the shifting of other teeth, the erosion of your jawbone, and much more that can have an increasingly negative impact on your oral health. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you effectively address those consequences and minimize their effect on your oral health by replacing your lost teeth with one or more dental implants. (more…)
The Role of Lasers in Treating Periodontal Disease
Patients who need periodontal treatment can exhibit many different stages of periodontal disease. In minor cases (gingivitis), treatment may simply involve periodontal cleaning, or scaling and root planing, to remove harmful oral bacteria. In more advanced cases, perio cleaning may be followed by a regular routine of periodontal maintenance. In some severe cases, the best way to protect your smile from gum disease may be to surgically trim away areas of gum tissue that have become severely affected by the disease. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can perform laser periodontal treatment (or LANAP) to remove diseased tissue more comfortably, and with a higher level of precision, than traditional surgery. (more…)
Facts About Dealing with Gum Disease
Some people never think about, while others may fear that they might get it. Some people have it and don’t know it, others known it, but ignore it, and still others are actively taking steps to control it. Dealing with gum disease means something different to everyone, but as one of the most chronic oral health conditions today, most people will have to deal with it eventually. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we offer precise diagnoses and customizable treatment options to help you successfully pinpoint and deal with your gum disease so you can once again enjoy a healthy, vibrant smile. (more…)
What Can Happen if You Ignore Tooth Loss?
After you lose a tooth, the appearance of your smile can seem like the biggest consequence. In many respects, it is a serious one; besides your confidence in your smile, the gap in it can also affect everything from your bite’s immediate function to your long-term oral health, and more. At our Encinitas/San Diego periodontal office, we can help you understand what tooth loss can mean for your smile, and avoid the potentially serious consequences of it by custom-designing a lifelike prosthesis. For example, with one or more dental implants, we can even help you avoid the effects of missing teeth roots. (more…)