Functional Crown Lengthening Procedure Available to Enhance Philadelphia Smiles

Cosmetic Dentistry: Functional Crown Lengthening

Periodontal procedures are available to lay the groundwork for periodontal and restorative dentistry and/or to improve the health and esthetics of your smile. Periodontal crown lengthening is a procedure that recontours the gum tissue surrounding one or more teeth so that an adequate amount of healthy tooth is exposed. Crown lengthening is often used as part of a treatment plan for a tooth that is to be fitted with a crown. This procedure provides the necessary space between the supporting bone and crown, preventing the new crown from damaging gum tissues and bone.

Your dentist or Periodontist may recommend a crown lengthening procedure to make a restorative procedure possible. If a tooth is badly worn, decayed, or fractured, below the gum line, crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone levels to gain access to more of the tooth so it can be restored.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

Functional crown lengthening is an important part of an integrated effort to optimize your health, appearance, comfort, and function. A beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health are your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.

Philadelphia Gum Specialist, Dr. Stephen Brown is uniquely qualified to deliver this service in the Philadelphia, PA, Montgomery County, Camden, NJ area. For a consultation with this gum disease dentist, call (215) 735-3660 or visit http://www.theperiogroup.com/.

TMD : Dental Treatment for Temporomandibular Disorders

Do you have frequent headaches, earaches, tender jaw muscles, or a dull, aching facial pain? Does your jaw lock or stray to one side when you open your mouth? These aches and pains may be related to the jaw joint, called the temporomandibular joint or "TMJ", and the muscles that work to move the joint. These painful conditions are often called "TMD" for temporomandibular disorders.

Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders

Temporomandibular disorders come in many shapes and sizes and include a wide array of signs and symptoms, all ranging in severity. Some patients will experience symptoms without any function loss that is apparent. Some specific symptoms are:

• tender jaw muscles


• clicking or popping jaw noises


• difficulty with opening and closing the mouth


• pain associated with yawning and/or chewing


• jaw joints the feel as though they are either "locked," "stuck" or "go out"


• headaches, including migraines
• pain in or around the ear

How the jaw joints and jaw muscles work

The joints and muscles on each side of your jaw help open and close the mouth. These joints move in many different directions and allow individuals to chew, talk and swallow.

The two temporomandibular joints are among the most complex joints in the body. They work together in a delicate balance with muscles, ligaments, cartilage and your jaw bones . When a problem prevents these parts from working together properly, pain may result.

What Causes TMD?

Several conditions my be associated with TMD. This often makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause of a particular case of TMD. Related conditions may include:

• injuries to the jaw or head


• diseases of the muscles or joints, such as arthritis


• bite problems (teeth don't fit together properly)


• stress

To determine how best to treat your condition, a thorough evaluation is recommended. Your dentist may check the joints and muscles for tenderness, clicking, popping or difficulty moving. Your complete medical history may be reviewed, so it is important to keep your dental office record up-to-date. Your dentist may take x-rays and may make a model of your teeth to see how your bite fits together. Your dentist may also request specialized x-rays for the TM joints.

Treatment Options

There are several ways TMD may be treated. Your general dentist may recommend treatment, or he or she may refer you to a physician or dental specialist.

Treatment may involve a series of steps. The step-by-step plan allows you to try simple treatment before moving on to more involved treatment. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has recommended a "less is often best" approach in treating TMJ disorders.

The following self-care practices may be recommended:

• eating softer foods


• avoiding chewing gum and biting your nails


• modifying the pain with heat packs


• practicing relaxation techniques to control jaw tension, such as meditation or biofeedback.

If necessary for your symptoms, the following treatments may be advised:

• exercises to strengthen your jaw muscles


• medications prescribed by your dentist, for example, muscle relaxants, analgesics, anti-anxiety drugs, or anti-inflammatory medications


• a night guard or bite plate to decrease clenching or grinding of teeth.

In some cases, your dentist may recommend fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth. Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended. Your dentist can suggest the most appropriate therapy based on the suspected cause.

*This information is supplied by an American Dental Association patient brochure. To order copies, call 1-800-947-4746 or visit www.adacatalog.org.

To learn more about TMJ or TMD, if you have chronic headaches Philadelphia or any of the other symptoms of TMD, or if you would like to ask a question about treating TMD, contact The Perio Group at (215) 735-3660 or http://www.theperiogroup.com/.

What Your Gums Can Expect When You Are Expecting

The American Academy of Periodontology

AAP Patient Page

September 2007




Congratulations! You are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant! Whether or not you want it, everyone you know will be giving you advice about how to eat, sleep, exercise, and take care of your body during this exciting time. However, what some might forget is the importance of taking care of your oral health.



Good oral health is always important. However, it may be especially important for expecting mothers as recent research suggests that pregnant women with periodontal diseases may be up to seven times more likely to have a baby that’s born too early and too small. Preterm births are dangerous for both baby and mother. They are the leading cause of neonatal death and can lead to life-long health problems such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and difficulties with blindness and lung disease.

The likely culprit of this possible connection is a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin. Very high levels of prostaglandin are found in women with severe cases of periodontal disease.

In addition, other research has identified bacteria commonly found in the mouth and associated with periodontal disease in the amniotic fluid of some pregnant women. Amniotic fluid is a liquid that surrounds an unborn baby during pregnancy. Any disruptions in the amniotic fluid, such as a bacterial infection, could potentially be dangerous to both the mother and baby.


Don’t panic! Take your concerns to your dental professional. If you’re diagnosed with periodontal disease, your periodontist might recommend a common nonsurgical procedure called scaling and root planning. During this procedure, your tooth-root surfaces are cleaned to remove plaque and tartar from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the root to remove bacterial toxins. Research suggests that scaling and root planning may reduce the risk of preterm birth in pregnant women with periodontal disease by up to 84 percent.












To learn more about the risks associated with periodontal disease, visit Philadelphia Periodontist Dr. Stephen Brown (215) 735-3660 on the web at http://www.theperiogroup.com/ or visit the AAP website at http://www.perio.org/.

Did you know that treating your gums can reduce the severity of arthritis?

In a June 2009 article in HygieneTown, Ortiz, et al reported that "treatment of moderate to severe periodontitis might relieve the symptoms of arthritis." Both Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and periodontal disease are classified as chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by local destruction of both hard and soft tissues. Both diseases release cytokines or proteins from inflammatory cells and thus the progression of one disease can impact the progression of the other and vice versa.

For the purpose of this study, researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, provided non-surgical periodontal therapy to 20 patients diagnosed with RA. A second group of 20 was formed as a control goup and also consisted of RA patients. All patients were taking medications to control RA and half the group was taking an anti TNF drug. Those takeing the anti-TNF drug were randomly assigned to both the treatment group and the control group.

Baseline exams included blood tests, DSA28, and periodontal clinical indices. Half the group received Scaling and Root planing and oral hygiene instructions and each member of both groups were evaluated after six weeks.

Those receiving non-surgical therapy showed improvement in their periodontal health and those taking the TNF drug showed greater healing than those who were not taking the drug. Scaling and Root Planing subjects not taking the anti-TNF drugs showed significant improvement in periodontal indices as well as indicators of RA severity compared to controls, either taking TNF or not. serum TNF levels were reduced for those receiving periodontal treatment compared to controls.

According to Ortiz et al, the study revealed the following clinical implications: "Treatment of moderate to sever periodontitis might relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis." Visit http://www.hygienetown.com/ for the complete story.

For more information about the perio-systemic link, visit any of the following resource websites

• http://www.theperiogroup.com/
• http://www.perio.org/
• http://www.hygienetown.com/

or call Dr. I. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group (215) 735-3660.

Philadelphia Periodontist Corrects Overgrowth of Gum Tissue During Orthodontic Treatment

Excess gum tissue can create the appearance of short teeth and a "gummy" smile—and make your oral health more difficult to manage. A number of factors can cause a gummy smile. Philadelphia periodontist, Dr. Stephen Brown can remove excess gum tissue to give your mouth a new look. Esthetic crown lengthening can enhance your smile by creating a more even gumline, making the teeth appear longer. The procedure can also improve the patient's ability to eat and allows for better oral hygiene, resulting in less irritation.

During Cosmetic Crown Lengthening, a cosmetic periodontal procedure, gum tissue is surgically removed, and in some cases, some of the underlying bone is also removed.

In this example, a young lady had experienced irritation from braces (orthodontics). If a patient has excessive gum tissue at the time of orthodontic treatment, the gums can become irritated by the braces, even with proper oral care. Following orthodontic treatment and removal of her braces, an overgrowth and enlargement of her gums became evident, making her teeth appear much too short and her smile much too "gummy".

Before

Montgomery County Periodontal Specialist, Dr. I. Stephen Brown corrected the condition utilizing a cosmetic periodontal procedure, making her smile much more attractive.

After

To learn more about correcting gummy smiles and other gum procedures, call Philadelphia Gum Specialist Dr. Stephen Brown (215) 735-3660 or visit him on the web at www.theperiogroup.com and submit your questions online using one of the "contact us" forms located throughout the website.

What is the Cost of a Dental Implant?

With the continually rising costs of health care, patients must recognize that fees for dental implants, beyond inventory and overhead, are a reflection of significant additional educational requirements and considerable investment in the highly technical equipment which is required to assure you the most favorable, predictable and long-lasting clinical outcomes.
When compared to routine dental procedures like fillings, cleanings, extractions and root canals, dental implants might be considered expensive. However, unlike conventional methods of tooth replacement, a successful dental implant can last a lifetime.

Multiple published studies have shown that virtually every other form of tooth replacement has a finite life, and requires replacement on a regular basis. For instance, caps or crowns and bridges represent short term solutions to tooth loss, and need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Every time a crown is replaced it causes additional loss of tooth and gum tissue, a potential need for root canal treatment and / or periodontal therapy Camden NJ.

Furthermore, each time a crown is replaced, the current fee is considerably greater than the original fee, simply due to inflation. Consider the initial cost of a dental implant versus the continuing costs of replacing existing restorations. Many studies have shown that the success rate of implants and implant supported crowns and bridges is around 95% or better. Every other form of tooth replacement, or medical procedure, pales by comparison.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to provide an “average” fee for dental implants. Fees are determined based on type and number of implants required. Costs are also related to the extent of related procedures which are often necessary to properly prepare the site of a missing tooth to receive an implant. These procedures may be required to build up bone and gum tissue. The condition of the jaw bone, medical issues such as Diabetes and smoking, are all elements which also must be factored into the establishment a fair fee.

It should be remembered that nobody comes to a dentist for an implant. Discerning patients expect that an implant is placed to insure a functional and cosmetically acceptable tooth replacement. Providing such an outcome requires significantly more skill than simply placing an implant in the jaw bone.

All things considered, Philadelphia dental implant treatment represents not only the most technologically advanced, but the most cost effective form of tooth replacement. Coupled with the level of care, skill and judgment exercised by a well trained implant surgeon, one would be hard pressed to find a more affordable option. Dental implants can provide a permanent solution to your dental problems, while avoiding the long term inconvenience and escalating costs associated with less permanent options for tooth replacement.

New Periodontal Laser Provides Many Benefits for Philadelphia Gum Disease Patients

Laser surgery provides another option for patients who have already undergone a scaling and root planing procedure without sufficient results. Normally traditional blade surgery would be indicated for such a patient; however, with the addition of the PerioLase® to our treatment armamentarium, patients have available to them a realistic alternative with comparable results. The benefits of LANAP™ include less pain, less gum recession, decreased bleeding, swelling and root sensitivity, and maybe the most important benefit, less downtime after treatment. An added benefit of laser surgery is the antibacterial effect that helps discinfect the periodontal pockets.

Laser treatment is also beneficial for patients who have medical problems requiring medications such as aspirin, Plavix, and Coumadin. Since LANAP® causes much less bleeding than traditional surgeries; patients do not have to discontinue using these life-saving medications prior to surgery. Patients with advanced periodontal disease who take bisphosphonate medications such as Fosamax can avoid having extractions because even teeth with a poor prognosis can often be saved with this life-changing procedure. This is especially important because studies have shown that Fosamax can lead to osteonecrosis of the jaw following tooth extraction.

For more information about how Philadelphia Dental Patients can benefit from LANAP Laser Therapy, contact Dr. I. Stephen Brown at The Perio Group 215.735.3660 or visit the "Laser Alternative" page of The Perio Group Website.