Specialized dentistry. Personalized care.

Your gum disease treatment will depend on several factors, including your personal health history and the stage of your gum disease.

This page covers:
   • Extractions
   • Crown Lengthening
   • Dental Implant Placement Surgery
   • Gum Rejuvenation

Sometimes, scaling and root planing isn’t enough treatment on its own. If pockets do not heal enough after scaling and root planing, gum surgery may be needed. Surgery allows your dentist to remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas. Afterward, your gums will be stitched into place to hug your teeth tightly. Surgery can also help to shrink pocket depth and make it easier for you to keep your teeth clean.

At each periodontal maintenance visit, we will review your medical history, noting any compromised health conditions (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy, or immunosuppressive disorders) that can affect the stability of your periodontal condition. We will perform an oral cancer exam, measure your pocket depths and note any bleeding sites, and review your plaque control effectiveness. We will also thoroughly scale and remove plaque and tartar buildup, accessing those areas where you can’t reach just by brushing and flossing.

At the end of your maintenance appointment, we will customize a “plan of attack” based on your needs to aid you in preserving your healthy, natural smile.

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Dental Implant Placement Surgery

At Levy Dental Arts, we are abundantly aware of the plethora of options for repairing a missing tooth. There are implants, bridges, dentures, and even more subcategories with such a wide variety of options that can be overwhelming. This is where we come in, offering you the benefits of each option and helping you to pick the best one for your independent case. Our experience and expertise can help you find a fit that you will be satisfied with for a long time. Often, the preferred choice is a dental implant.

A dental implant is a small titanium post that we can install into your lower or upper jaw in place of a tooth that has been extracted or is missing for any number of other reasons. This is a permanent solution and offers many benefits, from maintaining proper bone densities to maintaining the cosmetic integrity of your smile. It is even more durable than a natural tooth and acts in much the same way that a natural root does.

Getting a single implant can take as little as a couple of hours or as long as two years. This includes the most common associated procedures, such as extractions and bone grafting. It sounds like a lot of effort, but a permanent solution is worth it for sure.

Together with our implant specialists, we have prepared the ultimate guide on this process. You will be calmer knowing what awaits you at every step of the dental implant procedure.

Gum Rejuvenation

It is estimated that about 50% of the population has some form of gum recession. This condition is present when the gum and the bone that supports the teeth migrate down the roots, exposing them.

Gum grafts can be used to cover roots or develop gum tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During gum graft surgery, your dentist Dr. Shari Klein will take gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity. Your dentist will likely give you antibiotics to take home, as a preventative measure.

Following a gum graft, it’s more important than ever to practice good oral hygiene; this will help prevent gum problems from developing in the future. Your regimen should include proper brushing with fluoride toothpaste, daily flossing, a healthy diet, and regular dental and periodontal checkups. Maintaining healthy gums is key to keeping up your overall oral health — and preserving your smile.

Extractions
There are some occasions when we may make the recommendation to remove a permanent tooth. If a tooth is badly damaged or decayed, or there is a significant amount of trauma that would make a repair impossible, we will recommend extracting the tooth.

Before removing the tooth, our dentists will inject a local anesthetic to numb the area, and if necessary, we may use a general anesthetic. We want the procedure to be as painless as possible.

Once the tooth has been pulled, gauze will be placed in the empty socket to stop any bleeding, and if necessary, we will use stitches to close the gum over the extraction point. Your dentist will recommend pain medications to assist with any discomfort following the procedure. You will need to continue to change out gauze pads for the first three to four hours to ensure bleeding stops. Use an ice pack to limit swelling. Twenty-four hours after the extraction, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. Eat soft foods and avoid using a straw for the first 24 hours after the extraction.

If you experience bleeding that continues past several hours after your procedure, or if you experience severe pain or swelling, contact Levy Dental Arts right away.

Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a procedure to address an excessive gingival display, otherwise known as a gummy smile. A person with a gummy smile appears to have short teeth. Their teeth are actually the typical size, but excess gum tissue partially covers them. The crown is the part of the tooth that is visible above the gumline. Some people request crown lengthening for cosmetic purposes, while others need the procedure to expose decayed or broken areas of teeth.

Crown lengthening surgery involves the removal of excess tissue of the gum and bone. The primary purpose of this surgical procedure is to ensure that your teeth look longer, and usually, it is carried out by periodontists, dentists, or gum specialists.

After your surgery, your dentist will give you a pain reliever that will ease your pain. You will also be asked to apply a pack of ice to the treatment area so that swelling will be reduced. You should eat soft foods during your recovery period, and brushing should be done with care. Within 7 to 10 days, your stitches should be able to come off. Typically, your gums will heal up within three months. Afterward, you can go for other cosmetic procedures like veneers, tooth whitening, or bonding.

For the best crown lengthening surgery, Levy Dental Arts is the perfect clinic to visit. You can’t get it better elsewhere, especially in today’s world.