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Periodontal Maintenance

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Treatment Options

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, there are a variety of treatment options depending on the details of your situation and the severity of the problem. We always start with the least invasive options, which are non-surgical. However, in more serious cases, surgery may be necessary.

Non-Surgical Dentistry Treatment

Non-Surgical Treatment

The first line of defense against gum disease is a unique type of cleaning called “scaling and root planing.” In this procedure, an ultrasonic cleaning device is used to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth where regular cleaning devices can’t reach: under the gum line, on the tooth, and around the root. Then, the rough surface of the tooth and the root are smoothed out (planed). This provides a healthy, clean surface that makes it easier for the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth.

If you address your gum disease before it becomes severe, scaling and root planning may be the only treatment you need. However, as with any dental procedure, after-care is vital. In order to keep your teeth in good shape and resist future occurrences of gum disease, you must brush and floss daily, eat a healthy diet, avoid tobacco use, and have regular dental checkups. Even after a successful scaling and root planning, if you don’t attend to your teeth properly, it’s quite likely that you’ll develop gum disease again.

Surgical Treatment Options

If the tissue or bone surrounding your teeth is too damaged to be repaired with non-surgical treatment, several surgical procedures are available to prevent severe damage and restore a healthy smile. We will recommend the procedure that is best suited to the condition of your teeth and gums. Following is a list of common types of periodontal surgery:

Pocket Depth Reduction
Pocket Depth Reduction

In a healthy mouth, the teeth are firmly surrounded by gum tissue and securely supported by the bones of the jaw. Periodontal disease damages these tissues and bones, leaving open spaces around the teeth that we call pockets. The larger these pockets are, the easier it is for bacteria to collect inside them, leading to more and more damage over time. Eventually, the supportive structure degrades to the point that the tooth either falls out or needs to be removed. During pocket reduction procedures (also known as “flap surgery”), we fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria hiding underneath, as well as the hardened plaque and tartar that have collected. We may also remove any tissue that is too damaged to survive. We then sew the healthy tissue back into place. Now that the tooth and root are free of bacteria, plaque, and tartar, and the pockets have been reduced, the gums can reattach to the teeth.

Regeneration
Regeneration

When the bone and tissue supporting the teeth have been lost due to severe gum disease, we can restore these areas with a regeneration procedure. During this process, we begin by folding back the gum tissue and removing the bacteria, plaque, and tartar. Depending on your situation, we may then perform a bone graft to stimulate new bone growth, or we may apply a special kind of protein that stimulates tissue growth to repair the areas that have been destroyed by the disease

Soft-Tissue Graft
Soft-Tissue Graft

A frequent symptom of gum disease is gum recession (also called gingival recession). As the gums recede, more of the roots are revealed. This can make teeth appear longer and can also create sensitivity to hot or cold liquids or food. It also exposes the tooth to increased damage from gum disease, as bacteria, plaque, and tartar attack the surface of the tooth and the root.
During a soft-tissue graft, tissue from the top of your mouth or another source is sewed to the gum area, covering the roots and restoring the gum line to its original, healthy location. This procedure can also be performed for cosmetic reasons.

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I’ve been going here for over 10 years, very professional and respectful staff. Dr.Ness is a fantastic dentist, the hygienists are great, and the office staff is very kind

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Dr. Ness has been my dentist for the last 5 years and the best I’ve had. Great staff all around, very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend Dr. Ness!

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I’ve been a patient for more than 20 years, since Shane’s dad ran the practice. Shane and his staff have continued the tradition of personable and professional care. They make my visits carefree and enjoyable. I can’t imagine going to another dentist.

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I had an amazing first visit to this office. Everyone from the front office to the back were incredibly welcoming, kind, and professional. Dr. Ness was very personable, caring and an overall great dentist. So happy I chose Village Dentistry as my new dental office!

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Social distancing and sanitization procedures are implemented and observed by this lovely practice. Dr. Shane Ness is a family friend and a wonderful dentist. I have always enjoyed going to Ness Family Dentistry these past few years, but I am particularly appreciative of his wonderful assistants, admins and hygienists. They truly are the backbone of his practice and Dr. Ness as their leader is as affable and funny as ever.

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I was very happy with my experience at Ness Family Dentistry. The office staff was friendly, my dental hygienist gave me a 5 star cleaning and Dr Ness was very nice and caring about my teeth. I felt very safe having my teeth cleaned during this time with the Coronavirus.

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