Periodontics

People who grind their teeth usually do it when they are sleeping. It can be caused by dental problems like an abnormal bite or missing teeth. Teeth grinding is also seen a lot with patients who suffer from sleep apnea. Stress and anxiety can also cause teeth grinding, both during the day and at night.

Since most people grind their teeth at night, they might not even realize they do it. However, patients who wake up constantly with a headache or a sore jaw may suffer from bruxism.

Teeth grinding can cause a lot of problems. You could loosen your teeth to the point of losing them completely. You may also break a tooth or several teeth. Chronic grinding will wear your teeth down until you barely have much left of them. Chronic grinding can really hurt your jaw and change the appearance of your face.

The easiest way to fix teeth grinding is by wearing a mouthguard at night. However, if the grinding is caused by stress, you need to find ways to reduce your stress. You may also benefit from taking muscle relaxers.

Caffeine can make teeth grinding worse, so you may want to cut back on coffee, soft drinks, and chocolate. You should also cut back on alcohol because many people grind their teeth after drinking.

If you have any questions about bruxism, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (781) 595-7953.

For people who suffer from a “gummy mouth,” crown lengthening can really help. We actually reshape the extra gum and bone tissue that is covering your teeth so that your teeth are more visible. This can be done to just one or two teeth or your entire mouth!

Crown lengthening can also be done at the same time as other dental procedures. We not only reshape your gum and bone tissue but also repair any bad teeth that you may have due to decay or other damage.

If you have any questions about crown lengthening or would like to be seen, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (781) 595-7953.

Gum recession happens when the tissue that surrounds the tooth pulls away from the tooth. This exposes more of the tooth or even the tooth’s root. This can cause damage to your supporting bone. Many people do not even realize their gums have receded. This is because it can happen so slowly. This is also one of the reasons it is so important to visit your dentist on a regular basis.

If your gums continue to recede and is not treated, this can cause tooth loss. The best way to repair the damage and to prevent any further dental issues is to have soft tissue grafting.

Our entire staff is dedicated to assisting you have a healthy and beautiful smile. We understand the potential issues gum recession can cause and will do everything that we can to help you get your oral health back on track. We are always available to answer any questions that you have before, during, or after your appointment.

If you have any questions about soft tissue grafting, contact us today at (781) 595-7953.

Gum grafting can help patients who believe that their teeth look too big or are embarrassed by the amount of root showing due to gum recession. It can also help bring the gums to a level where they are more attractive. Moreover, it helps keep your mouth healthy.

There are three types of gum grafting procedures, and we will use the one that will work best for you and fit your specific needs.

Connective-tissue grafts are the most commonly done grafts. They are usually done when the root is showing. Our dentist will cut a flap in the roof of your mouth, remove tissue underneath, and then stitch the area back up. Then the tissue that we removed gets sutured to your gum tissue. The two tissues will grow together and form a higher gumline.

Free gingival grafts are very similar to connective-tissue grafts. The big difference is that we use tissue directly from the roof of your mouth to suture to the gums. This is most commonly done for people whose gums are naturally thin.

Pedicle grafts uses your own gum tissue at the site. Our dentist will make a flap with your gum tissue, stretching it over the root. It then gets sutured into place. This works well if you have plenty of gum tissue at the exposed root.

We can also use grafts from a tissue bank to help patients who don’t have a lot of gum or tissue.

You will be able to go home as soon as your procedure is done. Many times, we give a sedative to help you relax during the procedure, so you will need someone to drive you home. We will give you detailed instructions for the next few days, so be sure to listen carefully.

You will not want to brush or floss the area until it has healed. We may also give you a special mouthwash to use. This helps control plaque.

You will need to eat soft foods for at least a few days and up to a week afterward. Some patients have a little pain, depending on their tolerance and the type of graft that we did. You may take an over-the-counter medication, though we can prescribe a medication for pain if needed. You should be able to go back to work in a day or two.

Since this specific cancer can look like a burn inside of your mouth, dentists will typically wait to see if it goes away. If not, we will perform a biopsy so that we can receive a proper diagnosis. In order to perform an oral cancer screening, we may use sedation or general anesthesia. This allows us to remove a sample of the lesion so that the pathologist is able to look at it under a microscope and come up with a diagnosis.

We understand that this can be a scary and stressful time. However, we promise to be there for you every step of the way. If you ever need anyone to talk to, we are here for you. If you simply have questions, we will be happy to answer them.

If your results come back positive, the best option will be surgery, if we are able to localize and remove the lesion. If not, we may recommend a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.

If you have any questions about oral cancer screening or would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today at (781) 595-7953.

Periodontal scaling and root planing is the most effective way to get rid of gum disease. There are times when we use a local anesthetic to numb the area before performing the procedure. Be sure to tell your dentist if you would prefer local anesthesia before we start the procedure!

Periodontal scaling and root planing cleans off tartar and other buildup on your teeth. We also clean between your gums and your teeth. We can use a standard scraping tool, but we also have an ultrasonic tool if needed. There are times when an antibiotic needs to be placed between your teeth and gums to help with the infection.

If you have any questions about periodontal scaling and root planing, please contact us today at (781) 595-7953.