​​The dental specialty of periodontics includes treatment of the gums and supporting bone around natural teeth. It also involves the replacement of natural teeth with dental implants. Periodontics is one of 9 dental specialties officially recognized by the American Dental Association.​
​​The dental specialty of periodontics includes treatment of the gums and supporting bone around natural teeth. It also involves the replacement of natural teeth with dental implants. Periodontics is one of 9 dental specialties officially recognized by the American Dental Association.​
- Procedures
Drs. Kuo and Reinhart want you to be comfortable when you are being examined and when you are undergoing treatment. All periodontal treatment is accomplished with local anesthesia. In addition, we offer nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") and oral sedation (prescription pills) for your comfort. The procedures described below are the ones we commonly perform.
- Examination
An essential component of any dental treatment is the examination. Drs. Kuo and Reinhart will evaluate the necessary area or areas of your mouth using appropriate instruments and x-rays.
- Scaling and Root Planing
- Periodontal maintenance
- Periodontal surgery
Various surgical procedures are performed to treat more advanced cases of gum disease. These procedures usually involve separating the gum from the tooth in order to remove tartar and bacteria from the tooth roots. Supporting bone that was lost around the teeth from gum disease can be also replaced by bone grafting during surgery. Processed sterile donor bone is usually used for the graft.
- Gingivectomy
This surgical procedure is usually done to remove excessive gum tissue around teeth.
- Soft tissue grafting
Areas of gum recession can be treated by transplanting a patient's own tissue to the area. Usually the transplanted tissue is taken from the palate. In some cases, donor tissue is used to treat wide areas of gum recession.
- Dental implants
Dental implants are root replacements for missing teeth. Implants function similarly to natural teeth. They also are esthetically appealing. Implants and their associated posts and crowns (caps) can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. Attachments can also be placed on implants that are designed to secure a loose denture in place. They work well in this capacity, and denture wearers are happy that they no longer need to use denture adhesives.
- Extractions
Sometimes periodontally diseased teeth cannot be treated and extractions are recommended. Our office performs most of the necessary extractions in a patient's treatment plan.
- Bone grafting in preparation for dental implants
When a tooth is extracted and if a patient knows it will be replaced with an implant, a bone graft is usually placed in the fresh extraction socket. This way the periodontist can be assured that there will be sufficient bone surrounding the implant when it is placed (usually 5-6 months later). Areas of jawbone that are deficient for implant placement because of previous extractions can also be enhanced.
- Biopsy
Occasionally tissue or bone may be biopsied in order to identify a particular oral disease or condition. A biopsy is a specimen removed from a site in the mouth and studied under a microscope by an oral pathologist in order to obtain a specific diagnosis. This way, the periodontist will know how to treat it or what specific medical or dental referrals to make.
- Crown lengthening
Sometimes a dentist doesn't have sufficient tooth structure above the gums to place a crown (or "cap") on a tooth -- in other words, the tooth is too short. In this instance, the tooth would need to be made longer so that more of the tooth was available. A crown lengthening procedure entails removing a certain amount of tissue and bone around a tooth to make it look "longer." After 5 or 6 weeks, the dentist is able to place a cap on the tooth.
We are always happy to answer any questions regarding any of the above procedures. Furthermore, this office has written pamphlets describing most of the procedures we do, including information about the materials we use.
Please note that we do not sell any products. If we recommend a certain product, we will tell you where you can purchase it and how to use it. If we recommend a toothpaste or medication that requires a prescription, we will write a prescription for you.
- A word about infection control:
We take infection control seriously. Our staff is regularly trained on proper methods of sterilization and disinfection. Our sterilizers are continually checked by an outside monitoring service. Wherever possible we use disposable products. Counter tops and other surfaces are disinfected between patients. Cleanliness and the prevention of disease are paramount in our office.
- A word about privacy:
Our office strictly adheres to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Florida privacy laws. All information that you provide to us as well as all treatment records are held in strict confidentiality.
Please contact our office for any information you would like to have.