Our approach to treating gum disease is conservative — that is to say we will do everything we can to treat your specific gum condition in the most effective, least invasive approach for you.
As a periodontal office, our training and experience is specialized in understanding and treating periodontal (gum) disease of all kinds, and understanding and treating the teeth and jawbone as they relate to gum disease. We can control gum disease, save teeth, and preserve bone where a general dentist might not be able to.
To make an appointment, call 626.389.9726 or click here to request an appointment online.
.jpeg)
The first step is to establish the type and severity of your gum disease is through a thorough examination. We look out for a variety of factors that could affect gum health when examining and treating our patients. This includes the patient’s age, medical history and medications. Medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and immune system problems, can influence the success of periodontal treatment and how the treatment is done.
We will advise you on your treatment options, and answer any questions you have.
To make an appointment, call 626.389.9726 or click here to request an appointment online.
Accurate probing using a thin, gentle probe tells us the pocket depth of your gums. Pockets occur when gum disease spreads below the gum line, causing the gum to detach from the root surface and form pockets in which bacteria can multiply and cause further detachment.
Pockets 4 mm and deeper indicate gum disease. A pocket 6 mm to 8 mm indicates an advanced stage of periodontitis (severe gum disease).
In some cases, w may need to take our diagnosis a step further by doing a DNA test to determine which type of bacteria is prevalent. This makes our treatment more accurate and effective. Knowing which type of bacteria is causing the problems, we can create a treatment path to best attack it, including prescribing bacteria-specific antibiotics.
Our first line of attack on gum disease is a deep cleaning – which involves scaling and root planing. In many cases our expert deep cleaning can remedy even chronic periodontitis.
Using bacteria-specific antibiotics in conjunction with deep cleaning and good home care, gum disease can be eliminated.
Another tool we use to eliminate resistant gum disease is laser disinfection and debridement (removal of dead tissue) with our soft-tissue laser. This is often used in conjunction with hygiene visits or with deep cleaning.
Your home oral hygiene is vital for the success of any treatment and you’ll get extensive education on how to best keep your gums free of disease. You’ll learn which toothbrush and floss are most effective, and least damaging, and which other hygiene tools to use and how to use them. We also advise our patients on diets that will help them combat their gum disease.
Dr. Henriod and Hendry are experienced in both conventional and laser gum surgery (LANAP). Depending on the situation, both approaches are successful at controlling gum disease and promoting bone and gum regeneration.
In some cases conventional periodontal surgery is indicated. It is generally known as “flap” surgery.
During this procedure the gums are lifted back, the tartar removed and the irregular surfaces of the bone smoothed out to limit areas where bacteria can attach. The gum then reattaches to the tooth, eliminating any pockets where the bacteria can multiply.
Gum recession has many causes: hard brushing, orthodontic movement, genetically thin tissue, and periodontal bone loss. Dr. Henriod and Hendry are experts in rebuilding lost gum tissue around teeth and implants.
Bone loss occurs where teeth are missing, or from severe gum disease. Fortunately, bone can be rebuilt to support dental implants, preserved when teeth are extracted, or regenerated after bone loss from gum disease.
Periodontal disease causes chronic inflammation and the leakage of pathogens from the mouth to other parts of the body. Periodontal disease is being investigated as contributing to heart disease, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, some types of pneumonia, liver disease, pre-term birth, and low birthweight among other complications.
The leading causes of gum disease are genetics, smoking and plaque.
.svg){kind=icon}