Periodontist in Germantown, MD

Oral health isn’t just about your teeth—your gums are just as important. Periodontal treatment focuses on the health and appearance of the gums. Our practice offers the following periodontal services:

Crown lengthening can be an aesthetic procedure when used to correct a “gummy smile,” but it is also commonly used to expose more of the tooth structure in order to attach a dental crown.

Gum grafting is a treatment used to correct receding gums. Tissue is removed from elsewhere in the mouth and stitched to the area where gingival repair is needed.

Periodontal disease and tooth loss can cause the bone in the jaw to collapse. When this occurs, bone grafts can be placed in the affected area in order to encourage bone regrowth. This allows the jaw to support dental implants and other prostheses.

Another procedure used to restore lost bone in the jaw, bone regeneration protects existing teeth by first removing plaque from below the gum line, then placing membranes, bone grafts, or tissue-stimulating proteins to bolster the body’s natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue.

Periodontal disease causes pockets to form between the teeth and gums; plaque and tartar can collect in these pockets, attacking the supporting structures around the teeth. Osseous surgery smooths and reshapes the affected bone under the gum tissue to create a shallower pocket.

Ridge expansion is often performed prior to dental implant placement. It helps ensure the secure placement, stability, function, aesthetics, and longevity of dental implants by increasing the height, width, and strength of the jaw ridge. It can also reverse the aged appearance characteristic of bone loss in the jaw.

We use local anesthesia to ensure that the area where we’re working is completely numb, so you will not feel any pain at all during your crown lengthening procedure. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may experience some discomfort; over-the-counter pain relievers are usually sufficient to treat this.

Yes, receding gums are one of the most common causes of tooth loss. The gums hold the roots of the teeth in place, so when they recede, teeth are more likely to become loose and eventually fall out.

Gum disease is not curable but patients can have healthy gums and bone with proper treatment and periodontal maintenance every 3-4 months after treatment is completed.  Scaling and root planing can often help patients to gain healthy gums.  Once the gums and bone are damaged, gum disease can be treated, but not reversed.

Unlike a regular dental cleaning, during scaling and root planing, you will receive local anesthesia to numb the affected tissue before work begins. There is no pain during the procedure, but afterwards you may have some soreness.

Yes, it is possible (and advisable) to fix receding gums. With gum grafting, tissue from other parts of the mouth is transplanted to where it is needed.