Periodontist in Arlington, VA

In order to have healthy teeth, you need to have healthy gums. Fighting and preventing gum disease is the specialty of our periodontists. Our periodontic team also specializes in the placement and maintenance of dental implants.

According to the CDC, 47.2% of Americans over 30 and 70.1% of adults over 65 suffer from a form of periodontal disease. Earlier or less severe stages of periodontal disease can usually be treated by a dentist, but a periodontist can tackle more severe stages of gum disease.

If you have periodontal disease or are in need of dental implants, our dental professionals are here to help.

What is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease, also known as gum disease (or in more severe forms, periodontitis). Many dentists will handle basic or early stage gum issues like gingivitis, but will refer patients to a periodontist for more serious concerns such as periodontitis.

Here at CNS Dental, we have a periodontist on staff, Dr. Changi, who sees patients two days a month for specific gum and implant dentistry.

Dentist vs. Periodontist

The difference between a dentist and a periodontist is that a dentist handles all oral health issues while a periodontist is specifically focused on issues that relate to gum health.

Periodontal Cleaning

During a routine cleaning, your general dentist or dental hygienist will remove tartar buildup from your teeth and gums. Sometimes, a basic teeth cleaning isn’t enough, and a more thorough periodontal cleaning is necessary.

Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal scaling and root planing is a procedure done to treat patients who have periodontal disease.

During the “scaling” step, teeth are cleaned underneath the gum line down to the root to remove bacteria in the form of plaque and tartar.

In the “root planing” step, the root of the tooth is smoothed over so the gums can easily re-attach.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is fairly common, but can be serious if not treated. Some early signs of periodontal disease include:

• Bleeding gums during routine brushing & flossing
• Gums that are red, swollen, or tender to the touch
• Pus on the gum line
• Gum recession
• Teeth that have shifted noticeably
• Teeth that are sensitive or loose
• Teeth falling out
• Consistent bad breath
• Pain while chewing

Stages of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease develops in four distinct stages, with some being more severe or worrisome than others.

1. Gingivitis

   Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that develops when bacteria festers on the gums without being properly cleaned. Gingivitis is an early warning sign that periodontal disease could be on the horizon if changes are not made.

   People with gingivitis may have swollen or puffy gums that appear bright red in color and are sensitive to the touch. If your gums bleed while brushing or flossing, you almost certainly have gingivitis.

   Gingivitis often develops due to poor oral hygiene practices. Dr. Schantz may warn you that you have gingivitis if you aren’t brushing and flossing properly between professional cleaning visits. Gingivitis can develop after just a couple of weeks of poor oral hygiene, so stay vigilant!

2. Periodontitis Stage 1: Initial Periodontal Disease

   Gingivitis that is not treated can advance to the first stage of periodontitis. Once you’ve advanced to this stage the damage done to your periodontal ligaments will become permanent. Your periodontitis will not go away, but can be managed effectively with the help of a trained periodontist.

   The initial stage of periodontitis is defined by a more pronounced inflammation of the gums. Otherwise, the symptoms of this stage are very similar to gingivitis which makes it difficult to detect from home.

3. Periodontitis Stage 2: Moderate Periodontal Disease

   At this stage, the permanent damage to your gums becomes more severe and may even become noticeable from home. Your teeth may shift or become loose as the gums lose their ability to properly support your teeth and hold them in place.

4. Periodontitis Stage 3: Advanced Periodontal Disease

   The advanced stage of periodontitis is frightening because it introduces the very real possibility of tooth loss. Your gums may recede, revealing more of the root of your teeth while pus can develop along the gums.

   If you have reached this stage, it is imperative that you seek professional treatment to avoid losing teeth.

Gum Restoration Methods

At CNS Dental, we offer a number of different options for patients who are dealing with gum disease.

Gum Grafting

For people with severe gum recession, gum grafting is a solution to repair the gum so it can continue to protect your tooth enamel. Depending on the severity of gum recession and the specifics of your periodontal issues, any of four different types of gum grafting procedures can take place.

1. Connective Tissue Graft

   This is the most common treatment, with the periodontist taking a piece of tissue from underneath the roof of your mouth and using it to cover the sensitive exposed enamel root.

2. Free Gingival Graft

   This procedure is for people who have unusually thin gum tissue. Tissue will once again be taken from the roof of the mouth and is used to reinforce the existing tissue to reverse the effects of gum recession.

3. Pedicle Graft

   If you have a sufficient amount of gum tissue in the area surrounding the receded gums, your periodontist will take tissue from that area and cover the exposed root with it.

4. Donor Graft

   If none of the above options is feasible or if there are multiple areas of the mouth in which there is severe gum recession, our periodontist may recommend a donor graft. In this procedure, gum tissue will be taken from a cadaver to cover the exposed root.

Osseous Surgery

If your periodontal disease has progressed to the point where non-surgical options no longer suffice, osseous surgery is an effective method for gum line repair and restoration.

During osseous surgery, the periodontist will pull back the gum tissue so the root surface can be cleaned of all bacteria. The tooth is then smoothed and reshaped as necessary to get rid of gum pockets that host this bacteria. The periodontist will then graft the gum back onto the tooth.

Dental Implants

If you have already progressed to the final stage of periodontal disease and have lost teeth as a result, dental implants are one way to restore your tooth function.

Dental implants replace the tooth root using a post, generally made from aluminum. The post is then covered with a crown or bridge to replace the missing enamel.

All-on-4 Procedure

All-on-4 dental implants are an alternative form of implants usually used with patients for whom standard implants are not an option or for patients who have lost all or most of their teeth in their upper or lower jaw.

During this procedure, our periodontist will place four dental implant posts at specific locations along the jaw, acting as anchors for the full arch of replacement teeth. This is a short procedure that can completely restore the look and functionality of your missing teeth.

Overdenture

Also referred to as implant-retained dentures, overdentures are similar to all-on-4 in that the procedure is for people who have lost all or most of their teeth in either their upper or lower jaw. This is also an excellent solution for anyone who uses dentures and commonly experiences slipping or shifting of the denture in their mouth.

During this procedure, our periodontist will place dental implants to serve as anchors for your denture. The denture can then be secured onto the jaw to prevent it from slipping in the future. This type of denture is still removable from home.

Hybrid Denture

For patients looking for a more permanent denture solution, hybrid dentures are another option. The main difference between overdentures and hybrid dentures is that hybrid dentures are secured to the jaw by screws and can only be removed by the dentist. This makes it a good choice if you want a denture that looks and FUNCTIONS more like natural teeth.

Gum Specialist in Arlington, VA

From gum grafting to dental implants, our periodontist, Dr. Changi, in Arlington, VA can provide you with the treatment you need. Book an appointment today to get started.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

Our office hours are as follows:

Monday & Thursday
9am - 5pm

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
7am - 2pm