Your gums are important for keeping your teeth in the proper positions, but they have a much more critical job than that. Everyone’s mouth is full of bacteria which can not only cause issues for your smile, but for the rest of your body, as well. Your gums help keep you safe from that bacteria and if they become compromised, you could feel the effects in other parts of your body.

Periodontics focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and other conditions that affect the gums and soft tissues of the mouth. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection caused by bacteria in plaque. When plaque builds up on the teeth, the bacteria irritate and inflame the gum tissues. If this condition is not treated in the early stage, called gingivitis, it can develop into periodontitis, which is the more advanced stage of gum disease.

Gingivitis is characterized by red, tender, bleeding, and swollen gums; periodontitis additionally involves gum recession and can eventually lead to bone loss and tooth loss. Gingivitis can usually be controlled, and even reversed, with professional cleanings and improved at-home oral care if the condition is diagnosed and treated early. Periodontitis, on the other hand, generally requires more involved, frequent treatment.

At Smile Advanced Dental Center, we are pleased to provide high-quality treatment for gum disease at our office to return your smile to good health, including:
– Bone Grafting
– Gum Grafting
– Laser Gum Treatments

A lost tooth can affect your appearance and your oral function. Plus, without the pressure provided by the root of your tooth, your jawbone can begin to deteriorate, or resorb. Along with making your jaw weaker, this condition can also be a problem if you are considering a dental implant.

At Smile Advanced Dental Center, our team provides bone grafting to restore the mass and health of your jawbone.

A bone graft is an oral surgery procedure that may be required if your jawbone is not dense or thick enough. During a bone graft, we will transplant a piece of bone from another area of your jaw or body to your jawbone. While we typically see best results with bone taken from your own body, we can also utilize artificial bone material or bone fragments from a tissue bank if needed. Your jawbone then grows together with the grafted bone tissue, creating a stronger, more stable foundation.

You may need a bone graft if your bone density is insufficient to support a dental implant or other types of treatment. After a tooth is lost or extracted, the jawbone begins to resorb, or deteriorate, at the site of the tooth extraction. The resorption must be corrected before the dental implant is placed. While bone grafts are most commonly needed for implant dentistry, they may also be required for certain types of periodontal therapy when bone has been lost due to gum disease.

To learn more about bone grafting and to discover whether dental implants and bone grafting are right for your smile, call us at 843-873-1261 for your appointment in Summerville, SC.

Lost or receding gum tissue can leave you vulnerable to cavities, lost teeth, and other health problems. If you have been struggling with periodontal disease, our dentists at Smile Advanced Dental Center may suggest using a gum graft to restore the health and even the appearance of your smile.

A soft tissue graft, also called a gum graft, is a graft of gingival tissue. A gum graft may be needed to correct gingival recession or improve the appearance of an uneven gumline.

During the gum grafting procedure, our dentists will stitch grafting tissue onto the areas of the gums that need additional tissue. Based on your particular needs and desires, the tissue graft may be taken from another area of your mouth or from a tissue bank. When using your own tissue, the graft may be taken from the roof of the mouth or the surrounding gums. Our dentists will help you determine which type of gum graft is best suited to your individual needs. In some cases, we may also use tissue-stimulating proteins to encourage your body’s natural growth abilities and promote faster healing.

Our dentists may also recommend a soft tissue graft if you have experienced gingival recession. The gum tissues may recede if your smile is affected by periodontal disease; overaggressive brushing may also cause gum recession. When not treated with a gingival graft, gum recession may eventually lead to tooth loss due to lack of support from the gum tissues. A gum graft can also improve the appearance of your smile.

To learn more about how soft tissue grafting can improve the health and beauty of your smile, give us a call at 843-873-1261 to plan your visit.

Laser gum treatment is a type of treatment for periodontal disease that is completed using a dental laser. Periodontal disease is a degenerative condition caused by bacteria in plaque. As the plaque builds up on the teeth, the bacteria may cause inflammation and infection in the gums and supporting tissues. When left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss, bone loss, and receding gums. Laser gum treatment is used to kill bacteria, remove infected tissue, and encourage the growth of healthy gum tissue.

At Smile Advanced Dental Care, our dentists may recommend laser gum treatment if your smile is affected by periodontal disease. It is a very safe and effective way to improve the health of your gums.

Periodontal treatment completed using dental lasers is typically more comfortable than traditional methods. In fact, anesthetic may not even be required for your laser gum treatment. Laser dentistry often eliminates the need for stitches, too, and it decreases your risk of infection following treatment while minimizing bleeding.

To learn more about the advantages of laser gum treatment, we welcome you to call us at 843-873-1261.