Periodontics in Midtown Manhattan

When we think about oral health, we often focus on our teeth. While teeth are certainly a big part of the picture, gums are an equally important component to overall oral health. Periodontists specialize in working around and under the gum area of the patient’s mouth. Healthy gums are critical to overall oral hygiene and health. Periodontal therapy involves the treatment of gum disease from its early stages (gingivitis) to the more advanced stages of the disease (periodontitis), which include bone loss and the destruction of the tooth’s supporting attachment. Periodontal procedures can also be cosmetic in nature, resulting in a more aesthetic smile.

In the earliest stages, gum diseases are generally treated with non-surgical procedures. However, when the loss of the tooth’s attachment has progressed significantly, surgical intervention may be necessary. Soft tissue procedures address the deterioration of the gum tissues, while bone augmentation procedures repair bone loss. These procedures are performed in our surgical rooms with local anesthesia.

Our practice offers a wide range of periodontal services including:

Dental implants are the preferred solution for missing teeth as they allow for replacement of both the root and the crown to prevent future bone loss in the jaw. During dental implant surgery, we place titanium posts in the jaw bone onto which dental prosthetics are attached, after proper healing, to restore both function and appearance.

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Whether it's a wisdom tooth or simply a tooth that cannot be saved by restorative procedures, our practice performs extractions in our office. The area will be numbed with local anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the extraction.

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A sinus lift allows for bone to be surgically added to the upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of the mouth. During this procedure, the sinus membrane is gently lifted, and bone graft material is filled into the space created to create a larger vertical volume of bone.

There are multiple frenula in the mouth: the lingual frenum is the muscular attachment connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth, while the labial frenum attaches the lip to the gum on both the upper and lower arches in the mouth. When a frenum causes oral function issues, a frenectomy is needed. This is a simple procedure in which the area is numbed with local anesthesia and a small incision is made to remove or reduce the frenum.

When a patient complains of a "gummy smile," crown lengthening is a potential solution. Crown lengthening is a procedure used to remove soft and hard tissue, resulting in exposure of more tooth structure.

Gums that have receded can be treated with gum grafting. In this procedure, tissue is removed from the roof of the mouth or other areas and stitched onto the teeth with over-exposed roots. Alternatively, donor tissue or collagen membranes, instead of the patient’s tissue, can also be used to treat gingival recession.

Learn more about Soft Tissue Grafting

If scaling and root planing has not resolved a pocket around a tooth, osseous surgery may be needed. During this procedure, bone under the gum is smoothed and recontoured to reduce the size of the pocket and make it difficult for bacteria to flourish. The goal is to restore the health of gums and teeth to prevent bone loss in the jaw.

Bone that has been lost around existing or missing teeth can be replaced by bone regeneration. During this procedure, the gingival tissue is elevated and the area is cleaned to remove bacteria. Membranes and bone grafts can be used to encourage the natural regrowth of bone tissue. This procedure is often needed prior to the placement of dental implants or prostheses.

Another way that periodontists can regenerate bone is through ridge preservation. This procedure places bone grafting material into empty tooth sockets where teeth have been extracted in order to maintain or rebuild bone.

The most common non-surgical treatment for gingivitis, and the initial therapy for periodontitis, is scaling and root planing. Prior to this deep cleaning procedure, local anesthesia is administered, and dental plaque and tartar are removed from beneath the gums. The roots are smoothed to encourage the gums to reattach to the teeth, reducing pockets where bacteria and debris can collect.

Our periodontist at Gdental provide a wide range of periodontal services in Midtown NYC. If you are experiencing any stage of gum disease, our dental team has the expertise and training to help.

Call us today at 212-486-6622 to schedule your appointment.