Periodontal Consequences Of Tooth Loss

When we lose a tooth there may be the temptation to think that there are few, if any, serious consequences to follow. We think, sure a missing tooth is not aesthetically pleasing and our smiles have now been diminished, but there are more consequences than just the aesthetics of it. Unfortunately, this is not true as losing a tooth causes a domino effect on the rest of our periodontal health. These are some of the most common consequences of tooth loss:

1.       Your Teeth Move – When you lose a tooth, adjacent teeth are not held in place as well as before. The consequence is that they shift position tipping or rotating into the void. This affects your biting ability and causes what is known as a malocclusion. This malocclusion puts strain on your jaw joints causing pain.

2.      Bone loss – The bone in your jaw needs simulation in order to remain dense and healthy. The teeth provide ample stimulation on their own since stresses exerted on the teeth are transmitted to the bone via the periodontal ligament. However tooth loss causes the loss of simulation and subsequently the loss of bone. Bone loss can impact your appearance severely, collapsing your face and altering your facial features.

Weakening of teeth – Your molars and premolars were designed to chew the bulk of your food. Losing teeth on one side of your mouth makes you favor the other side which puts more strain on your teeth. This increases the chances of broken teeth and loss of fillings. Additionally, you tend to put more pressure on your incisors. Incisors were not meant for heavy duty use and they often shift and weaken. Hypereruption – When a tooth is lost, its mirror on the opposite jaw begins to grow unrestricted causing the roots of the teeth to show. This causes root decay, sensitive teeth and periodontal disease.

Losing teeth comes with a number of surprising and unwelcome consequences. The good news is that they can be avoided. Good and consistent oral hygiene as well as regular visits to your dentist can go a long way in preventing tooth loss and its myriad of complications. Even more welcome is the news that dental implants help to halt bone loss and stimulate new bone growth. Contact one of our periodontists today to find out how you can prevent the consequences of tooth loss.

What If I Put Off Doing My Bone Grafting?

With at least 47% of Americans having some form of gum disease, periodontic procedures like bone grafting are at an all time high. Gum disease risk factors include poor oral hygiene habits, tobacco use, heredity and disease in other parts of the body. No matter what the cause, if left untreated you will not only be at risk for losing your teeth, your bone can disappear too.

Gum disease starts as puffy gums that might bleed a little when you brush them. As it progresses, eventually the gums will recede, teeth will fall out and bone will melt away. Without sufficient bone, you will not be able to have dental implants and your face will become disfigured. It is THAT serious.

Bone grafting reverses that damage by using bone from another part of your body, cadaver or cow to regenerate your jawbone and stimulate new growth. It takes about six to nine months for your jaw to fill in and be ready for implants.

Unfortunately, this is not a condition your body can correct on it’s own. Once your bone is gone, it will not come back without intervention from a periodontist. You will see the effects of this when you eat, speak and look in the mirror. It can also make wearing dentures painful.

If your periodontist has determined that a bone grafting procedure is your best option in the treatment of your periodontitis, there is no time like the present. The damage to your mouth will only get worse the longer you delay treatment.

Tooth Socket Preservation

Whether you have recently had a tooth extracted or trauma has caused it to come out on its own, the space that is left behind can cause problems for your entire mouth if not filled in. That’s why your periodontist is recommending a tooth socket preservation procedure.

Your teeth are surrounded by alveolar bone, a special type of bone created by your body just to hold your teeth in place. When alveolar bone no longer has a tooth to support, it will melt away and cause a deformity in your jaw. This not only has a cosmetic impact, but also makes it difficult for restorative measures to be taken later.

The tooth socket preservation procedure begins with the periodontist filling the empty space with bone granules or bone-like material. Once filled, the hole is covered with natural gum tissue, an artificial gum-like membrane or tissue stimulating proteins that will encourage the growth of new bone in the affected area. This new bone will make it possible for future cosmetic procedures like implants, dentures or bridges. If you don’t take measures to generate new bone at this stage, it will be difficult to build the jaw back up later.

It is important that a permanent replacement for the missing tooth is placed within four to twelve months of the procedure. The alveolar bone requires regular impact to keep it strong and prevent it from dissolving back into the body.

After the procedure is completed patients will experience minor discomfort or swelling, but over-the-counter pain relievers are all that is necessary to alleviate this. For the next six weeks, it is important to avoid the area during normal brushing and flossing, and to use the periodontal rinse that was prescribed for you. Until the new bone has grown in, you should avoid putting any pressure on the treated area.

The first step in restoring your smile is preserving your jawbone. Don’t delay seeing your periodontist for this very important procedure. Call to schedule an appointment today with one of our highly skilled doctors:

Las Vegas - Dr. DeAndrade

Columbus - Dr. Stoner

What is Tooth Uncovery?

Tooth impaction is a condition traditionally associated with wisdom teeth, but did you know that it actually could occur with any tooth in your mouth? When the canine teeth fail to erupt properly, this periodontal procedure can gently bring the tooth down so that it can be included in the braces treatment. This surgery is recommended if the tooth in question has not erupted by the time the patient is 13 to 14 years old.

There are many reasons a permanent tooth can become impacted and fail to erupt. Extra thick gum and bone, crowded teeth, crossbites, improper tooth eruption sequence and genetics are just some of the causes. When the patient is in need of braces, it is necessary that the hidden tooth be brought down for inclusion in the orthodontic treatment.

The periodontist will conduct a thorough examination, including x-rays, to discover the exact location of the tooth that didn’t erupt, as well as the cause of the impaction. If the tooth has moved into the lip or side of the jawbone, first the keratinized gum tissue will be cut away to gain access. To prevent bone loss and gum recession, additional periodontal procedures may be performed at this time. For impactions occurring in the palate, the extra bone will be cut away to expose the hidden tooth. In both procedures, a bracket will be bonded to the newly revealed tooth and it will be attached to the braces with a power chain.  The chain will slowly pull the tooth into its proper position so that it can be included in the braces.

Tooth uncovery or surgical tooth exposure has enjoyed a high success rate for patients experiencing tooth impactions. For the first few days following the procedure, you can expect to feel minor discomfort and swelling that can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.  In about two weeks following the surgery, a rubber band will be installed at a follow-up appointment to activate the eruption process. 

Gummy Smile—Are your gums hiding your teeth?

Although not considered a medical condition requiring treatment, gummy smile is a cosmetic issue with psychological implications for the patient.  This condition occurs when an individual has an excess amount of gum tissue, causing their teeth to appear unusually short because they are eclipsed by large, red gums.  Because the smile does not appear “normal,” the patient may become extremely self-conscious and even embarrassed by their appearance.

Your best options for treatment of gummy smile can be found at a visit to a periodontist. This gum expert has the ability to evaluate the severity of your condition and determine the optimum course of treatment to correct it.

Crown Lengthening:  In a crown-lengthening procedure, the periodontist will perform plastic surgery to reshape excess gum and bone tissue. The gums are peeled back and a small amount of bone surrounding the teeth is removed. The bone is shaped to follow its natural outline and then stitches are used to put the gums back in place. It takes about four to six weeks for the gums to heal from this step. Once the gums are healed, the patient will return to the office to have the lengthening crowns fitted and will be ready to show off their beautiful new smile.

Laser Sculpting:  Laser sculpting offers a less invasive, one-day treatment for gummy smile. As the name implies, a laser is used to gently cut away and cauterize the excess gum tissue, revealing more of the surface of the teeth. Unlike crown lengthening, this relatively painless procedure requires little to no recovery time.

If your gummy smile is actually a result of having very thin lips rather than excess gum tissue, your periodontist has treatment options available for that too. You may achieve the smile you are seeking through the use of Botox injections to add plumpness to the upper lip, or you may be a candidate for lip lift reduction surgery—a procedure that attaches the inside of the upper lip to a point on the gums that is closer to their upper teeth.

Your great smile is waiting to come out, schedule an appointment with your periodontist today!

Periodontal Procedures

A periodontist is a specialized dentist that treats issues with the soft tissue in the mouth as well as the jaw bone that supports the teeth. Gum disease and bacterial infections are usually at the top of the list when it comes to ailments that a periodontist fixes. However, they are also proficient in other procedures such as dental implants, lip repositioning, repairing damage from a tongue piercing gone wrong, and frenectomies. Here is a breakdown of each of these procedures.

Dental Implants

Simply put, dental implants are replacement tooth roots. They match your regular teeth and act as a foundation for permanent or removable teeth. Implants give patients an overall better appearance and are highly durable. As opposed to dentures, it is easier to eat and speak with implants. Not everyone is a candidate for implants; call our office today to make an appointment for a consultation if you are not sure.

Lip Repositioning

Some patients that come into our office have what is called a gummy smile. This means that the patient has short teeth or that the gums have grown over the teeth and when they smile they show a lot of their gums. Lip repositioning is a simple procedure where a small piece of tissue is taken out from the upper lip in order to give it a lower position. The procedure takes under an hour to perform and once the healing process is over, the results of the lip repositioning are immediate.

Tongue Piercing Damage

Tongue piercing damage can come in many forms. Teeth can be chipped and gums can be punctured with the barbell jewelry worn in tongues. Studies have also shown that gums tend to recede in those who have their tongue pierced. In extreme cases, the tongue can become infected and need reconstructive surgery.

Frenectomy

A Frenectomy is when the periodontist removes the frenum. There are two frena, the lingual and the maxillary labial. The lingual frenum connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth and is most commonly found in young kids. Although in most cases there is no eating or speaking problems, patients will opt for the procedure to remove it for cosmetic purposes. The maxillary labial is attached from the upper lip to the gums right in front of the teeth. A large maxillary labial can cause a gap in between the front teeth which is why patients come in and get it removed.

Those looking for periodontal services can call us right away to get an appointment scheduled.