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“The Only Official Affiliated Lumineers Cerinate Clinic in Lebanon” | ||
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Parodontology department |
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Periodontal Ligament everyone knows someone who is a master multi-tasker -- that person who can juggle 10 different things at once with speed and ease. The truth is humans are made to multi-task. The human body is composed of multifunctional fibrous tissues called ligaments. Ligaments connect one bone to another and also control and stabilize movement. Most of us are familiar with the ligaments in our knees and wrists. But we also have ligaments in our mouths -- periodontal ligaments. The periodontal ligament is the tissue that lies between a tooth and its bony socket (the alveolar bone). Rather than attach directly to the bone, a healthy tooth is suspended in its socket by the fibres of the periodontal ligament. This allows each tooth to have limited individual movement. Measuring about a quarter to a tenth of a millimetre thick, the periodontal ligament is to a tooth what a pillow top is to a mattress -- the soft middle that provides cushioning and acts like a shock absorber. It does so much more, too. The periodontal ligament also: - Acts like a Sensor -- The periodontal ligament contains receptors that sense tension, pressure and pain. - Coordinates Chewing -- The periodontal ligament tells the brain when you are biting down. - Prevents Bacteria -- A tight periodontal ligament provides an extra barrier against bacteria. - Protects Nerves and Blood Vessels -- A healthy periodontal ligament keeps its surrounding area healthy. If you ever want to see your periodontal ligament, take a peek at your dental X-rays. The periodontal ligament is the black line surrounding the root of the tooth. Keep in mind that clenching your teeth can cause pain and inflammation of the periodontal ligament. If you experience tenderness when you tap your teeth together, your periodontist may treat the pain with a mouthguard. Periodontal Ligament Fibres you know that tangled mess of wires underneath your computer desk? That's sort of what the fibres in periodontal ligaments look like. The periodontal ligament is composed of groups of fibres that run in several different directions in order to support the tooth when you bite. These fibres are categorized by their orientation to the teeth and include: - Alveolar crest fibres Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease) it's human to take your health for granted. When you're young and carefree, it's easy to believe that you'll feel vibrant and strong forever. Unfortunately, things break down when you neglect them -- your teeth and gums included. When you don't brush or floss regularly, plaque -- a sticky film filled with bacteria -- forms on your teeth. Plaque can infect your gums and the sulcus -- the v-shaped crevice just below the gum line. At this stage, the infection is called gingivitis; if it progresses, it's called periodontitis. Both are forms of periodontal disease. Symptoms of Periodontal Disease Swollen gums make brushing and flossing difficult. And bad breath is a social nuisance. But both are actually signs of something much more serious -- gingivitis. These symptoms are often mild, so it's tempting to ignore them. However, when gingivitis is left untreated it can develop into the "Big Daddy" of periodontal disease: periodontitis. Periodontitis destroys the tissue and bone that support the teeth and can cause tooth loss. Periodontitis can also be transmitted to your loved ones via saliva. Other warning signs of periodontal disease include: - Spaces developing between your teeth What Causes Periodontal Disease? Plaque is the primary culprit of periodontal disease. If not removed within 26 hours, plaque turns into tartar, which causes periodontal disease. You can prevent plaque by practicing good oral hygiene. That means brushing and flossing regularly; visiting the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings; and maintaining a well-balanced diet. Other factors can increase the risk of periodontal disease, including: - Cigarettes and Tobacco -- Smoking and chewing tobacco are two of the major causes of periodontal disease. - Genetics -- Research proves that about 30% of the population is predisposed to gum disease. - Pregnancy -- Hormonal changes can make your gums sensitive and more susceptible to infection. - Medications -- Certain drugs such as steroids, cancer therapy drugs and oral contraceptives can affect your gums. Treating Periodontal Disease fortunately, gingivitis is reversible with professional care and good home dental care. Periodontitis requires more substantial treatment, however. A non-surgical method of treating periodontitis is a non-surgical scaling and root procedure (SRP). During an SRP, your dentist performs a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and tartar, and then smoothes the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins. Surgical treatments of periodontal disease include pocket reduction procedures, crown lengthening and soft tissue grafts. Gum Treatments all is not lost when you have gum disease, an infection of the gums that begins with the milder form, gingivitis, and can develop into the more severe stage, periodontitis. Fortunately, these diseases can be treated by various means. - Non-Surgical Step -- Deep cleaning is the first step to treating gum disease without surgery. It involves a process called scaling and root planning, where plaque and tartar deposits on tooth and root surfaces are removed. This helps gum tissues to heal and gum pockets to shrink, with the help of medications prescribed by your dentist. - Periodontal Surgery -- This is an option utilized only when the gums are so infected that the non-surgical step can't treat the disease. With surgery, dentists can access areas under the gum and along the roots where tartar and plaque have accumulated that are hard to reach. - Bone Surgery or Bone Grafts -- When the disease has destroyed part of the bone too, dentists rebuild and reshape the bone with this procedure. - Gingival Grafting -- This simply means healthy tissues from another part of the mouth are stitched in place to help anchor the teeth. This treatment is done when the gums are too diseased to sew back together. Now, the best treatment for gum disease is Prevention. Proper dental hygiene is a good start - brush regularly, floss everyday and don't procrastinate with your bi-annual dental checkups. See, it's really simple. No other gum treatment beats having no gum disease at all! Laser Gum Surgery we take our gums for granted. Yet they're the unsung heroes of our mouths. The soft cushion that nestles the teeth must be properly cared for as part of your regular regime to foster a healthful mind and body. Gingivitis, which is classified as mild periodontal disease, can be remedied quite effectively with regular visits to the dentist. Surgery (Say it isn't so …) When unable to prevent gum disease, medical treatment is the only solution. In years past, gum surgery would involve several months of painful visits. The mouth bleeds readily; subsequently, gum surgery was performed exclusively in small sections of the mouth (quadrants). The patient would need time to heal, a follow-up appointment would be necessary for suture removal, and then more healing time was required before the next step was taken. This lengthy process has recently been replaced with the invention of laser periodontal therapy (LPT). This technology takes advantage of highly precise lasers. This process is called laser assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP). There are several brands of lasers that perform this technique, including: PerioLase®, PulseMaster™ and the Diolase Plus. All of these products are similar in function and design. How does it Work? The laser directs a small amount of energy, about the thickness of three strands of hair, between the gum and tooth. The laser removes the diseased tissue, eliminating infection. It does this without any type of incision. The laser immediately cauterizes the wound, resulting in little to no bleeding. An added benefit is its ability to seal nerve endings. The entire process results in only minor discomfort making anaesthesia unnecessary. The ease of surgery translates into a faster recovery. Traditional surgery requires a 2-4 week recovery time. With an LPT procedure, many return right back to work. Recovery is less than 24 hours. Better Than Before These lasers were created by dentists, receiving extensive clinical trials before receiving Federal Drug Administration approval. This is set to reinvent periodontal surgery as we know it. (The laser has been approved for a myriad of treatments that formerly would have required drills, bits, possibly a ratchet of some kind and maybe even some duct tape. Ouch.) Here are some more fabulous uses for the awe-inspiring LPT: - Cosmetic Reshaping of Gums -- the laser can actually adjust the gum line and improve your smile. - Treatment of Gum Disease -- removes diseased tissue and as an added benefit of gum reshaping, allows you better access to the gum for improved hygiene. - Reduction of Hyperplastic Tissue -- patients in braces, or taking certain medicines, are prone to the overgrowth of gum tissue. - Access to Gum-Covered Decay -- in elderly patients, the gums can grow over decayed teeth. Laser Gum Treatment In fact, laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. While that definition might mean something to someone with a scientific bent, to the layperson a laser simply means that certain things are done faster, with more precision and less pain. And it's certainly true when it comes to dental lasers. Because of dental lasers, procedures such as gum treatments are easier for the dentist to perform and more comfortable for the patient to endure. The Benefits of Laser Gum Treatment most people don't know it, but about half of the population suffers from moderate to severe gum disease. Unfortunately, gum disease treatment is perceived as a painful procedure with a long recovery period, which makes people shy away from taking care of the problem. Fortunately, laser gum treatment has changed that perception. According to the Academy of Laser Dentistry, with laser gum treatment: - There is a reduced need for anaesthesia How Laser Gum Treatment Works Lasers such as Waterlase®, DioDent™ II and PerioLase® are all designed to remove diseased tissue and help decontaminate infected pockets that form between teeth and gum. A laser gum treatment generally includes four steps: 1. the laser is used to apply a small amount of light energy between the gum and tooth in the infected area. 2. The laser energy removes the diseased tissue on the inside of the pocket and helps reduce bacteria. 3. Tartar is then dislodged with the help of the laser and removed by using ultrasonic tools. 4. Finally, the laser is used to help seal the gum to the tooth in order to create a natural BAND-AID®. Although more and more dentists are equipped to perform laser gum treatments, not all are. If you are diagnosed with gum disease, you'll need to verify that your dentist offers laser gum treatment. \
Crown Lengthening:
Gum Grafting Periodontal procedures are available to stop further dental problems and gum recession, and/or to improve the aesthetics of your gum line. Elimination of melanin pigmentation Melanin pigmentation of the gingiva occurs in all races. Melanin, a brown pigment, is the most common cause of endogenous pigmentation of gingiva and is the most predominant pigmentation of mucosa. Gingival hyper pigmentation is seen as a genetic trait in some populations and is more appropriately termed physiologic or racial gingival pigmentation. Gingival Depigmentation Technique Various depigmentation techniques have been employed with similar results. One of the first, and still popular, techniques to be employed was the surgical removal of undesirable pigmentation using scalpels. The procedure essentially involves surgical removal of gingival epithelium along with a layer of the underlying connective tissue and allowing the denuded connective tissue to heal by secondary intention. The new epithelium that forms is devoid of melanin pigmentation. Smile enhancement procedures First impressions are everything! So why not make a good first impression when you meet someone, go on a job interview or a first date by dazzling him or her with your "Hollywood smile." Whatever the reason, periodontal plastic procedures can help you "knock the socks off" of anyone by giving you a perfect smile and boosting your confidence so you can be at your best.
Sometimes gum recession causes the tooth root to become exposed, which makes your teeth look long and can make you look older than you are. This recession can happen as a result of a variety of causes, including tooth brushing, abnormal mouth habits, and periodontal diseases. Whatever the reason, exposed roots are sensitive to temperatures and touching, they are more prone to toothbrush abrasion since the root is softer to tooth scrubbing, and the root surface is more prone to cavities.
Dental implants are a more natural looking option compared to dentures or bridges because implants look and feel just like your own teeth. They also allow you to speak and eat with comfort and confidence.
Indentations in the Gums and Jawbone
Combination Procedures
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