Periodontics for healthy gums that play a starring role in the health of your smile
Periodontics refers to the diagnosis, treatment, and maintenance of the tissues that support the teeth. Gummy tissue and other structures play a vital role in the sustained health of your teeth and mouth. So, it is crucial that at Asuncion Dental Group in Frederick, Maryland, we keep your gums healthy. Often, Dr. Asuncion can maintain gum (periodontal) health with standard, routine professional cleanings, and exams scheduled for every six months. During these visits, the plaque, tartar, and bacteria that inflame gummy tissue are removed using specialized tools in the hands of highly trained professionals. However, should the active disease be present, or your needs are more involved, we may recommend:
- Scaling and root planing – Scaling removes disease-producing tartar and bacteria from underneath the gum line. Planing smooths the surfaces of the tooth roots. Plaque tends to accumulate on these rough surfaces.
- Grafting – We can rebuild gum tissue, just as we can replace lost hard tissue (teeth). Grafting or transferring soft tissue to an area deficient in gummy material may be necessary should you suffer from gum recession. The gums can pull back due to the aging process and the effects of periodontal disease. Your dentist will discuss options for grafting materials with you, which may include removing tissue from one part of your mouth and placing it at the gum line.
- Crown lengthening– Alternately, you may have a “gummy smile.” We can recontour the gum line or remove tissue to make your smile appear more “balanced” and proportional. In other words, the results from this process make your teeth look longer. Your gums no longer overwhelm the teeth, which creates a more attractive overall appearance for this central facial feature.
- Periodontal plastic surgery –No single treatment falls under this category; Dr. Asuncion uses his skill to correct an uneven gumline and sculpt a more attractive smile. Likewise, root exposure that gives rise to a “long-toothed appearance,” and indents or other abnormalities in the gums and jaws can be precisely treated with techniques designed to recapture natural and balanced contours and proportionality.
- Dental implants – The core or “heart” of our work involves reversing gum disease and safeguarding each patient’s smile. So, those with severe infections who have sustained tooth loss, can still get back their lovely and healthy smiles with dental implants, designed and placed in the jaw like tooth roots to support replacement teeth.
Gummy tissue plays a “starring role” in the health of your teeth and mouth. Yet, gum disease is progressive and often asymptomatic in its earliest stages. So, it is essential not to delay getting the preventive dental care that you need to be healthy, comfortable, productive, and happy. Reach out to us today at (301) 690-8482 to schedule your visit.