Center for Advanced Periodontal and Implant Therapy

Friday, July 27, 2018

All-on-Four Teeth in a Day

Traditionally, patients experiencing periodontitis had only a few treatment options: dentures or lengthy and costly procedures that used bone grafting. Technologies have advanced in recent years to provide periodontal patients with a wider range of options. One of the most exciting technologies recently developed is the All-on-Four Teeth in a Day procedure, where all of the teeth on the top or bottom of your smile can be replaced using just four implants. Fewer implants mean a less invasive procedure with a decreased recovery time and fewer costs. Before you begin to pursue this treatment, what else do you need to know about All-on-Four?

What is All-on-Four?

In an All-on-Four procedure, all of the teeth for the top or bottom of the mouth are mounted on just four implants replacing those teeth in your mouth. Initially, the teeth themselves are a prostheses. Once the implant is safely secured and you have moved through the healing process, the temporary ones are replaced with permanent teeth.

Using titanium screws, the periodontist typically secures the All-on-Four implant to both the back and front of your mouth to anchor the implant and achieve balance. The procedure occurs while you are under anesthesia. Before the implant is secured, any teeth that are not functioning or severely decayed will be removed while you are under, making way for the All-on-Four. This process entails fewer individual appointments, helping you on your way to a speedy recovery.

What Kinds of Dental Conditions Can All-on-Four treat?

Severe periodontitis is treatable with the help of a periodontist. People with this condition have a serious and persistent infection that reaches from the gums and teeth into the jawbone itself. Over time, the jawbone loses density, causing teeth to become loose. Those suffering from periodontitis can experience debilitating pain and are at increased risk for lung and heart disease.

If you are experiencing pain in your teeth, gums, or jaw, it’s important to contact a periodontist to help you find a solution that is not lengthy or costly. This professional will meet with you to discuss what is going on in your mouth and how you can achieve relief. You need not live in pain; there are treatments that can help you.

How Long Will This Procedure Take?

Typically, the All-on-Four procedure takes a few hours, much shorter than a grafting procedure. This treatment is desirable because it can be completed in a single day. There is no intensive series of visits or repeated surgical procedures. All-on-Four also has a shorter recovery time than grafting and traditional implants. You may be able to function normally within a few days or a week. Because there is a shorter recovery time and fewer periodontist visits, All-of-Four is typically significantly less expensive than grafting. As with any procedure, it’s important to take it easy for several days following the surgery. This will help improve your results in the long run. With proper care, a dental implant can last you for the rest of your life.

Finding a Periodontist Who Can Do All-on-Four Teeth in a Day

Many periodontists offer All-on-Four Teeth in a Day, but it’s important that you choose a professional with an established reputation for quality. In Los Angeles, the Center for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy works with patients like you to relieve pain and achieve results. You deserve your beautiful smile! Contact us today to begin the conversation.

Title Tag: All-on-Four Teeth in a Day | Dental All-on-Four Procedure

Meta Description: Using just four implants, All-on-Four Teeth can replace all of your top or bottom teeth in a day. Using prosthesis, the implants secure to your jaw and the permanent teeth are inserted later. This procedure is less costly and less lengthy than grafting. What else do you need to know about All-on-Four Teeth in a Day?

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How and When to See a Periodontist

You’ve noticed you’re having problems with your gums and teeth. You’re not sure what it is, but you think you may need treatment for it. The first thing you should do is see your primary dentist. Your primary dentist will take x-rays and examine your teeth and gums for periodontal diseases. When they find a periodontal disease that’s moderate to severe they’ll refer your to see a periodontist.

What is a Periodontist?

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, a periodontist is a dental specialist who works to prevent, diagnose and treat periodontal disease. They can also perform dental implants, and treat a variety of gum issues including gum recession, ‘gummy’ smiles and oral inflammation. Periodontists undergo extensive training, including a comprehensive education that includes three years of periodontics residency after dental school. In addition to periodontal disease treatments, they are trained to perform cosmetic periodontal surgeries.

Why See a Periodontist

You need to see a periodontist if you have a moderate or severe case of periodontal disease, or are in need of dental implants in the case of cracked, broken or missing teeth. Your primary dentist will be able to determine if you need to be referred to one. If your dentist finds you have a moderate to severe case of gingivitis, aggressive periodontitis, chronic periodontitis or necrotizing periodontal diseases they will refer you to a periodontist.

Types of Periodontal Disease

Gingivitis

The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis. People with gingivitis have red, swollen gums that bleed easily in the early stages of it. There’s little or no discomfort at this stage. And, it usually can be reversed by a periodontist.

Aggressive Periodontitis

In people who are otherwise clinically healthy, aggressive periodontitis is featured with rapid attachment loss, bone destruction and familial aggregation.

Chronic Periodontitis

When the supporting tissues of your teeth are inflamed within, you have progressive attachment and bone loss and your gums have pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva, you have chronic periodontitis. It can occur at any age, but it’s most common in adults.

Periodontitis as a Manifestation of Systemic Diseases

If you have a systemic disease such as diabetes, you could develop periodontitis. This form of periodontitis is treated the same way, only your medical health is taken into consideration.

Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases

This is when there are lesions present caused by an infection that’s characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Usually, this is found in people with systemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and immunosuppression.

Periodontists specialize in treating the more severe, complex cases of periodontal disease. Mild forms of it, such as gum disease, usually can be treated by your primary dentist. If the treatment requires a bit more of training and experience, a periodontist will be called into the team to treat you.

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A Gummy Smile Can Be Fixed

Your gummy smile doesn’t have to be the demise of your social life. Now, with periodontal treatment, you can enjoy the smile you’ve always wanted. With the use of one of five procedures, your gummy smile can be fixed so that you’ll have a more natural, broad smile. In a matter of minimal time these dental procedures will have you smiling with confidence.

What is a Gummy Smile?

Now that you’ve heard the term “gummy smile” you probably have a good idea of what the term means. You probably even know you have it. As you may suspect, a gummy smile is when you have excessive gum tissue covering your teeth, giving you the appearance of shorter teeth and large gums. It can also be seen when your upper lip rises too high, showing off the entirety of your teeth.

5 Causes of a Gummy Smile

There are five causes of a gummy smile, all of which can be resolved by a periodontist. Depending on the cause, there are also five different procedures to use to fix the problem.

Abnormal eruption of your teeth.
The muscle of your upper lip is overactive, causing it to move higher than normal.
How your jaw grew and developed, often protruding.
Due to developmental or genetic factors, an altered passive eruption (APE) of teeth.
Hyperplastic growth of the maxillary skeletal base.

5 Ways to Fix a Gummy Smile

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, there are several dental procedures that can fix a gummy smile. The procedure your periodontist uses depends on the cause of your gummy smile. Your periodontist will be able to determine the cause and then decide which treatment is right for you.

If it’s caused by an over-active upper lip:

Surgical Lip Repositioning Surgery. This procedures involves altering the levator muscles inside the upper lip, which control movement of the mouth when smiling and talking, to prevent them from retracting as they normally do.
Non-Surgical Repositioning through Botox. Botox is strategically placed in several areas inside and beneath the upper lip, to target the muscles which control the movement of the upper lip, to limit retraction. This procedure will need to be done every couple of months, as it wears off during that time.

If it’s caused by excessive gums:

Laser or scalpel gum gingivectomy. The trimming of excessive gum tissue and with a laser or scalpel is a gum gingivectomy.
Crown Lengthening. This surgery removes and restructures gums, and bone if necessary, to expose more of your natural teeth.

If your gummy smile is due to a long mid-face:

Vertical maxillary impaction. Jaw surgery to correct a severe anterior open bite that makes your gums appear longer. It’s known as a orthognathic surgery or vertical maxillary impaction.

You don’t have to live with a gummy smile for the rest of your life. Visit a Los Angeles periodontist and discuss your treatment options. They’ll be able to assess the cause of your gummy smile and decide on the best periodontal procedure for you. In just a matter of time, your smile will have you shining bright.

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Crown Lengthening Will Make You Smile

Find Your Smile with Crown Lengthening

Smiling is the universal form of communication. You smile at someone and almost instinctively they’ll smile back. It’s a way to say hello or tell someone to have a nice day. But, what if you don’t like your smile? What if, for example, your gums are covering a portion of your teeth, giving you a “gummy smile”? If this is the case, you may not like your smile or even want to smile. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, that’s where crown lengthening can help.

What is Crown Lengthening?

Performed by a periodontist, functional and aesthetic crown lengthening are surgical procedures used to treat excessive gum tissue. The procedure can be complete for aesthetic and functional purposes, to correct a “gummy” smile, or to prepare the gums for permanent restorations such as crowns or bridges.

A gummy smile causes your teeth to appear too short. Although your teeth are most likely the right size, your gums are covering them. Aesthetic crown lengthening will removes excessive gum tissue and in some cases the underlying bone around the tooth to expose more of your natural teeth. Crown lengthening can be done only to one tooth, if that’s all that’s necessary. It can also be done to even your gum line. As a result, crown lengthening gives you a natural, broad smile.

Functional crown lengthening is performed to prepare teeth and gums in restorative dental cases. For example, if you have a tooth that’s decayed, broken below the gumline or completely missing, and are in need of single or multiple dental implants, where a permanent crown or bride will be put into place, a functional crown lengthening procedure may be necessary.

Preparing for a Crown Lengthening

To prepare for your crown lengthening, your periodontist will meet with you to go over your medical history and to review your x-rays. At this appointment, be sure to tell them all of the medications you’re taking. They’ll tell you if you need to discontinue any of them before the procedure. Aspirin usage, for example, will probably need to be discontinued so that your blood isn’t too thin for the surgery.

What to Expect During a Crown Lengthening

A crown lengthening is an outpatient procedure. Local anesthesia will be applied and some people receive a sedative. Once that’s done, your periodontist will cut the gums to expose the teeth and bones. For some people, only the soft gum tissue needs to be removed. Then, your surgeon will wash the area with salt water before suturing.

Ten Tips to Recover\

Take OTC or prescription medication
Use an ice pack
For the first 24 hours avoid hot foods
Leave dressings in for 7-14 days
Carefully brush teeth
Wear your stent or denture
Eat a soft food diet
Don’t drink alcohol
Don’t smoke
Don’t prod the area

After the Surgery

After your crown lengthening, which is a simple procedure, you’ll be able to enjoy your smile once again. Dr. Aalam and Dr. Krivitsky are experienced and skilled periodontists who provide the best in class, treatment and technology to ensure their patients receive excellent care. As with any type of surgery, it is important to be on the lookout for infection post procedure. However, as long as you follow the tips for recovery, you shouldn’t have any complications.

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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Zygomatic Dental Implants

Periodontitis is a severe infection in the teeth that, if left untreated, can affect the density of the jawbone. This condition can lead to teeth needing to be removed and replaced. In the past, patients who needed new teeth turned to solutions like dentures, which required extensive daily cleaning and were not necessarily comfortable. In recent years, many periodontists have instead recommend dental implants to periodontitis patients, but some of these implants included grafts and were costly and lengthy. Zygomatic dental implants are an implant solution for the upper row of teeth. These implants have long anchors that insert into the zygomatic bones near the cheeks and sinuses. Zygomatic implants are less costly and less lengthy as well.

What are Zygomatic Dental Implants?

Traditionally, dental implants are anchored directly into the jawbone, but for some patients, this isn’t possible due to low jawbone density. In a zygomatic implant procedure, the periodontist inserts implants that are significantly longer and reach the zygomatic bone. These implants are less invasive than grafting procedures and provide a solution for patients who need implants with a longer reach.

What is the Procedure Like?

Zygomatic implants were invented in 1988 and became available to the American public in 1998 after a full decade of testing. If you are interested in zygomatic implants, you will first need to meet with a periodontist to discuss your options. Depending on the density of your jawbone and your overall profile of wellness, you may have multiple options. After an initial consultation, the periodontist will recommend which solution is right for you. Zygomatic implants are complex procedures requiring general anesthetic. Patients typically take about four months to fully recover, though the fixed teeth are placed in the zygomatic implant three days after the surgery.

These implants work only for the upper jaw due to the location of the zygomatic bones. A long anchor is inserted into each zygomatic bone in addition to two to four implants anchoring the prosthesis to the front row of teeth.

How Do I Know if Zygomatic Dental Implants are Right for Me?

There are many reasons that a patient may need a dental prosthesis. Some of these factors are out of their control. Periodontists are eager to help patients find relief from jaw pain, infection, and the inability to live a life free of negative, self-conscious feelings.

Some patients with low jawbone density may opt for grafting procedures. Grafing procedures take a special synthetic grafting substance—or, if necessary, a piece of bone from another part of the body—and attach it to the jawbone. This process yields a denser surface to which the implants can be attached. With a zygomatic dental implant process, no grafting occurs. There may be a shorter recovery time, but the process itself is more complex.

How Do I Find a Periodontal Surgeon?

When choosing any healthcare professional, it’s important to choose one you can trust. The Center for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy is located in Los Angeles and has an established track record of success. We work with patients like you to find relief and regain a gorgeous smile. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.

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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Graftless Dental Implant Solutions

Periodontitis is a gum infection that can cause you serious problems. The condition ranges in severity, but if left untreated, periodontitis can wear away at the bone density in your jaw and cause the loss of your teeth. Though gum disease cannot be cured through dental implants, these procedures can significantly improve your quality of life.

In the past, patients who have sought out dental implants and have low bone density in the jaw have been turned away, subjected to costly and lengthy grafting procedures, or risked the introduction of additional foreign material into the mouth. Luckily, technologies have advanced so that even those with low bone density in the jaw may be eligible for graftless dental implants. Graftless procedures are a good choice for many reasons; patients have appreciated the lower costs and shorter recovery times.

Why Go Graftless?

Traditionally, periodontists dealing with patients who had low bone density in the jaw had only a few options. The surgeon could take a piece of denser bone from another place in the patient’s body and graft it to what remained of the jaw. Alternatively, the surgeon could take a synthetic bone graft and attach it to the jaw. These procedures involved multiple steps and took more time than graftless procedures. They were also highly expensive.

In a graftless procedure, the surgeon simply attaches the implant to the cheekbone. There is a CT scan that must be completed beforehand, but with that part of the process out of the way, the entire implant can be done using only local anesthesia in the matter of a few hours. Patients have opted for graftless procedures because of their low cost and briefer time commitment. When you go to a periodontist for your consultation, they will discuss your options with you. An increasing number of dental insurance companies will cover part or all of the cost of dental implants.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are surgically attached to the jaw and hold or consist of replacement teeth. In the past, when you were experiencing problems with your periodontitis, your only option may have been dentures. These days, a variety of dental implants and surgical procedures have developed so that every patient can find something that works for them. If you are having dental pain, an infection, or are embarrassed about your smile, you are not alone. You deserve to receive help from a periodontist who will aid you in finding relief and boosting your confidence.

What are the Success Rates of Dental Implants?

Amazingly, dental implants enjoy a success rate of 98%. These implants can last you for the rest of your life with proper care. A periodontist can help you figure out if you’re eligible for an implant. Luckily, more options are on the market than ever before.

How Do I Find a Periodontist Who Can Give Me a Graftless Dental Implant Solution?

When you are dealing with a significant health issue related to your gums and jaw, it’s important to seek out professional help with a breadth of experience. The Center for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Therapy in Los Angeles works with patients like you to support appropriate treatment, relieve pain, and get you smiling again. Periodontitis is not a death sentence for your smile. Contact us today for a consultation.

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Monday, June 18, 2018