Periodontal

Periodontal Disease and Maintenance

Many of our valued patients have been referred by their general dentist for periodontal assistance or dental implants.

This post is all about what you can expect when you decide to replace missing teeth with dental implants. Here is a quick overview of what your periodontist can do for you:

  • Sometimes, before we can insert a dental implant, we need to bulk up the patient’s jawbone strength through bone grafting.
  • We replace missing or unsalvageable teeth with implants to restore the function, feel, and look of natural teeth.
  • After the implants are in and have been fully absorbed into the supporting bone through osseointegration, we encourage our patients to return periodically for follow-up periodontal maintenance. Those return visits keep the implants free of plaque build-up for lifelong wear and stability.

Periodontics and Periodontal Disease

While Vero VIP wants to do everything possible to save natural teeth, every dentist realizes that there are circumstances where chronic periodontal disease requires the missing teeth to be replaced to maintain the stability of the remaining teeth.

Many of our patients are past sufferers of periodontal disease. The disease starts with gingivitis, or early-stage gum disease. It was caused by a buildup of plaque, accompanied by bleeding, swollen, and tender gums with bad breath.

The causes of gingivitis include:

  • Neglect of dental care
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Some medications
  • Genetics

Bone grafting prior to Implant

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of periodontal disease, and is certified and trained in the placement of dental implants. Your periodontist uses several methods to build up the bone for more solid support of the implant post. These include:

  • Guided tissue regeneration—a procedure to repair bone tissue undermined by periodontal disease.
  • Guided bone regeneration—similar to bone grafting. The goal is to regenerate sufficient healthy bone to support a dental implant.
  • Sinus augmentation—This procedure helps grow more bone in the patient’s air-filled sinus area to support upper implants.

The foregoing procedures could be required before dental implants can begin.

Dental Implants Vero Beach

The dental implant procedure involves the following steps:

1. Surgically implanting a titanium post into the jaw.

2. A three-month healing process that results in the bone absorbing the post (osseointegration).

3. Placement of a dental crown on the post.

Once the procedure is complete, the dental crown becomes a fully-functional prosthesis. Replacement of a single tooth can be done in one approximately 30-minute visit without the need for stitches.

The best candidates for dental implant surgery are patients:

  • Who are in overall good health.
  • Whose gums are healthy and free from gingivitis—Before implants can be done, all periodontal issues must be resolved.
  • Have a jawbone mass that is strong enough to support the implant.

All-On-Four Implants

Some patients have a deteriorated dental condition where most or all upper and/or lower teeth are either missing or in danger of imminent loss. Those patients are good candidates for the most radical implant procedure known as “all on four.” The term means that all the replacement teeth are affixed to four implants that support the entire set of dentures.

The all-on-four implant surgery and fitting for a new set of teeth are done in one day. Patients are sedated and post-surgical pain and discomfort is minimal. It is usually controlled well with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Likewise, denture wearers seeking relief from slipping, uncomfortable, and messy dentures are ideal candidates for implant surgery.

Periodontist  follow-up treatment

When the implants have settled in, the best way to ensure long life stability is through follow-up endodontic treatment. Your endodontist will recommend a periodic postoperative visit for implant examination and removal of any additional plaque build-up around the implant area.

Your VIP Vero Implants & Periodontics professionals want to hear from you

We have two office locations—one in Vero Beach and the other in Melbourne. You can schedule an appointment online, or in a dental emergency, contact us at 772.569.9700.