Periodontics & Gum Therapy
At Dr. Coopersmith, Dr. Bercovici & Associates Dental Centre, our dentists provide periodontal care. They treat gum disease, place dental implants and perform cosmetic gum procedures.
What is Gum Disease?
Periodontics involves treating the supporting structures located around the teeth. These are collectively known as the periodontium.
These supporting tissues can become infected, which results in gum (periodonal) disease. Typically caused by poor oral hygiene and habits which allow plaque to build up and harden on the teeth, this condition eventually affects the gums.
Left untreated, gum disease can cause a number of oral health issues, including a receding gum line, bleeding or inflamed gums, bacteria-filled pockets between teeth and gums, and even eventual bone loss.
Periodontal Services in Montreal
Dr. Sam Malkinson is a periodontist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory periodontal disease (gingivitis, periodontitis etc.)
Gum Disease Therapy
The type and severity of gum disease will help your dentist determine which periodontal treatment methods to use in treatment. Our dentists will work with you to develop an effective treatment plan based on your specific case.
Once you have completed your periodontal treatment, our dental team will recommend attending regular dental examinations and preventive therapy, typically four times per year.
- Preventive Gum Therapy
If the dentist detects this disease in its early stages, non-surgical preventive therapy will be recommended.
Regular hygiene cleanings and exams are critical to maintaining gum health.
By practicing good oral hygiene at home and consuming a balanced diet, you can significantly reduce your changes of ever getting gum disease.
- Non-Surgical Gum Therapy
For patients who have mild gum disease, a deep cleaning performed by your dental hygienist may be enough to reverse it.
The hygienist will scrape away tartar and plaque buildup around and underneath the gum line. Any remaining rough areas will be smoothed with a process called scaling and root planing.
- Surgical Gum Therapy
Patients diagnosed with more advanced forms of gum disease may require more invasive surgical treatments to reverse it.
Different types of surgical gum therapy include bone grafting and gum grafting.
Cosmetic Gum Therapy
If your gums appear to rest too high or too low on your teeth and you are unhappy with your smile, gum grafting surgery may be a good fit for you. By performing this cosmetic dental procedure, your dentist can help even out an uneven gum line and decrease the perceived length of your teeth to leave you with a smile you can have confidence in.
Placing Dental Implants
Periodontics also includes the placement of dental implants below the gum line, as part of the process to replace missing teeth. Once a dental implant is placed, the gums have healed and a tooth replacement is placed, you may find a number of oral health benefits.
