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For many people interested in getting dental implants, it’s gum disease that started it all and caused the need for implants in the first place. Once gum disease progresses to its advanced stage, “periodontitis,” it begins to do irreversible damage to the teeth and gums. Eventually, teeth will rot and fall out, necessitating the need for dental implants. Yet, you can still be a strong candidate for dental implants despite having periodontitis.

Getting Gum Disease Under Control

If, hypothetically, gum disease was left untreated before your dental implant placement surgery, it’d continue to rage on after your implants have been placed. It’d threaten the success of your implants from the start, creating infections that caused the implants to fail to heal properly.

If you have untreated gum disease, your dentist will start there before moving on to dental implants. After you’ve received gum disease treatment, you still. may not be quite ready for dental implants. You may need another procedure or two rebuild areas damaged by periodontitis.

Solutions for Dental Implants with Periodontitis

Among its many perils, periodontitis can the teeth, gums and jawbone underneath to deteriorate. However, the following procedures can help improve your candidacy for dental implants and to drastically improve your chances of long-term success:

Bone grafting – when the mass or density of the jawbone under your gums has deteriorated too much, a bone graft can help regenerate bone in the area to provide a reliable foundation for dental implants.

Gum grafting – if the gums have receded too much, it may be necessary to graft new gum tissue into the area to help cover the implant posts.

Tooth extractions – remaining teeth will likely need to be pulled. Loose and decaying teeth won’t just stand in the way of new dental implants, they could harbor an infection that could cause your dental implants to fail. Essentially, removing failed teeth will help improve your oral health overall.

More on Dental Implants in North Hills, CA

Take a moment to schedule an appointment with a dentist to learn more about what you’ll need to do to get dental implants in North Hills, CA and Van Nuys, CA.

How’s a deep cleaning different than a standard teeth cleaning procedure? How can a dentist or hygienist go even deeper than a standard cleaning? Find out how a deep cleaning working and how it can help you get your oral health back on track after being ravaged by gum disease.

When Is a Deep Cleaning Necessary?

A standard teeth cleaning procedure aims to remove tartar that has hardened onto the teeth. Tartar, hardened plaque, can’t be removed by brushing. It takes the precision of a dental scaling and experienced hands to carefully remove tartar from teeth.

If too much time has passed since the last standard teeth cleaning, that tartar buildup will begin to dip below the gum line and amass on the roots of teeth. 

Tartar on the roots of teeth can create bacterial pockets, which will only make the situation worse. The pockets get deeper, the infection gets worse and, eventually, the teeth and gums will start to suffer irreversible damage. Scaling and root planning, commonly called a “deep cleaning,” offer a way to pull your oral health back from the brink.

Scaling and Root Planning: How Does It Work?

There are two primary elements of a deep cleaning, scaling and root planning:

Scaling – this portion of the procedure entails carefully removing tartar from, not only the visible surfaces of teeth but the roots of teeth as well. Before scaling begins, the dentist or hygienist will administer a shot of a local anesthetic to the gums so no pain will be felt.

Root planning – with the tartar removed, the dentist or hygienist will smooth the roots of the teeth. Smoothing the roots ensures that the gums attach uniformly with the teeth. This smoothing is necessary to prevent or eliminate pockets of space between the teeth and gums, pockets that will harbor bacteria.

Gum Disease Treatment in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to reserve an appointment with a local dentist to find out more about your options for gum disease treatment in Van Nuys, CA.

Oftentimes, people confuse IV sedation with general anesthesia. Though similar, there are some clear distinctions between the two. One of the biggest: IV sedation is safer than general anesthesia, in general. But does that mean that IV sedation is safe? How safe is it, exactly? Take a look at why you shouldn’t be afraid of IV sedation and learn how it can take the fear out of your next appointment.

Differences Between IV Sedation and General Anesthesia

The biggest difference between IV sedation and general anesthesia is how deeply the later sedates you than the former. With General anesthesia, you’ll be completely unconscious when the medication takes effect. You may fall asleep with IV sedation, but it’s more likely you’ll remain conscious – which is why IV sedation is sometimes referred to as “conscious sedation.”

The danger with general anesthesia is that it makes the patient sleep until the anesthesia wears off. Shaking, prodding or speaking to the patient won’t rouse them. The medical staff simply monitors the patient’s condition and waits for the anesthesia to wear off.
Even if you do happen to dose off with IV sedation, it’ll be easy for anyone to awaken you.

Risks of IV Sedation

The biggest risks of IV sedation are the same for all forms of sedation. Because sedation relaxes the body, there’s a risk that it could depress the respiratory systems. But keep in mind that you’ll be monitored the entire time. And among sedation options, IV sedation is one of the most predictable. Your dental staff will know exactly how much of a sedative you’ve been given and will monitor your status in real-time.

Serious complications are rare. Side effects are much more common:

·         Feelings of sleepiness, heaviness

·         Slowed response times

·         Short term memory loss

·         Low blood pressure

More on IV Sedation Dentistry in Van Nuys, CA

Take a moment to schedule an appointment with a local dentist to learn more about your options for IV sedation dentistry in Van Nuys, CA.