Periodontics Treatment in Santa Barbara, CA

At See Me Smile Dental, we understand that a beautiful smile starts with healthy gums. Visiting a dentist with training in periodontics is often an underestimated, but vital part of keeping your smile strong and gorgeous for years to come.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Gum disease, aka periodontal disease, is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease is caused by bacteria in dental plaque. Bad breath, red and swollen gums, and loose and sensitive teeth are the commonly noted symptoms.

How Can See Me Smile Dental Help with Periodontal Disease?

Our highly trained dentist Dr. Omid Barkhordar will use his expertise to create a personalized plan designed to reverse any gum complications or issues you may suffer from. His practice uses only the latest in techniques and technology to ensure your gums are healthy and that you are completely satisfied.

What Is Periodontal Treatment?

Periodontal disease has a large range of severity, from the mild form of gingivitis to the more advanced stage of periodontitis that can cause tooth loss, infections and intense tooth sensitivity. Proper periodontal treatment can eradicate gum disease and revive your oral health. Treatment involves improvement of dental hygiene, medication, and surgery.

What Types of Periodontal Treatment Are Available?

Our highly qualified dentists and staff will determine the proper periodontal treatment for your needs. At a basic level, this includes dental hygiene and teeth cleaning. Periodontal treatment generally falls into two categories: non-surgical periodontal treatment and surgical periodontal treatment.

What Is NonSurgical Periodontal Treatment?

The first line of defense with gum disease is non-surgical periodontal treatment. Typically, this will include deep teeth cleaning, with root scaling, to make sure all plaque and tartar below the gumline is removed. (If you want to know the difference between plaque, tartar, and calculus, in short, tartar - also known as calculus - is what happens when dental plaque hardens.) Non-surgical treatments might also include antibiotics (topical and internal).

What Is Surgical Periodontal Treatment?

If a significant amount of gum loss has happened - and especially if the root of the tooth is exposed - a surgical remedy might be appropriate. One such periodontal treatment is soft tissue grafting, also known as gum grafting. Soft tissue grafting involves taking some tissue (usually from the roof of the mouth) and attaching it to the area that needs more gum tissue.

Prior to determining what type of periodontal treatment you need, we will conduct an examination and take X-rays to assess the state of teeth, gums, and bone.

Periodontal Treatment Near Me Santa Barbara CA

What Are the Benefits of Periodontal Treatment?

Periodontal treatment is absolutely crucial for the health of your teeth and gums, but it also can help your overall health. Here are some of the benefits of periodontal treatment in Santa Barbara:

Removal of plaque and tartar:

What does a dental hygienist do? Clean away that pesky plaque and tartar that builds up even with the best brushing and flossing. It's this tartar and plaque that provides a home for the bacteria that erodes the gums in periodontal disease.

Less pain and sensitivity:

You may be wondering why are your teeth sensitive - it could be gum disease! Strengthening the gums may help alleviate sensitivity.

Preventing tooth loss:

No-one wants to lose a tooth. By getting proper periodontal treatment, you can save your gums and your teeth as well.

Better overall health:

The bacteria that infects your gums in periodontal disease can travel to other parts of the body, such as the heart, causing other health problems. For this reason, you should treat your periodontitis treated as soon as possible.

Improving your smile:

Built up tartar and plaque can make your teeth look more stained and yellow. Receding gums can also make your smile look less beautiful. Periodontal treatment can help restore the look of your smile.

Freshening breath:

If you are suffering from bad breath (halitosis), it may be caused by gum disease. Food particles that get stuck in gum pockets can begin to rot, and infection from the bacteria in the gums, can also cause bad breath. By cleaning the plaque and tartar off, and removing debris from the gums, the breath will smell better.

What Is Periodontal Teeth Cleaning, Scaling, and Root Planing?

One of the key treatments for periodontitis is to perform a thorough teeth cleaning. Your dentist will let you know when to do a deep cleaning. These professional teeth cleanings are critical in stopping the progression of gum disease.

Depending on the severity of your gum disease, you may need a specialized deep cleaning that is done in quadrants of the mouth. This is called scaling and root planing. This is more expensive than a regular periodontal cleaning but can help restore the mouth when the periodontal disease is serious or in danger of becoming serious.

Peridontal Teeth Claning Santa Barbara CA

What Happens During a Deep Teeth Cleaning?

Here are a few things that might happen during your deep teeth cleaning:

Supragingival cleaning:

(Above the gums.) This cleans the teeth above the gum line.

Subgingival cleaning:

(Below the gums.) Deep cleaning will be done below the gum line, sometimes with an ultrasonic cleaner.

Root planing:

The surface of the tooth root is "planed" or smoothed to remove bacteria.

Medication:

Antimicrobial or antibiotics may be applied to the pockets in the gums to kill any leftover bacteria.

Is Deep Teeth Cleaning Painful?

You may wonder how to avoid pain during teeth cleaning, especially a deep cleaning. Your dentist may use a topical anesthetic or numbing agent to make you comfortable during the cleaning. For severe cases of periodontitis with a severe infection, a general anesthetic might be used along with additional protective equipment to keep your lungs safe from bacteria.

Meet Dr. Omid

Dr. Omid Barkhordar, DDS has earned his reputation as a leading family and cosmetic dentist in Santa Barbara, the Central Coast, and Southern California. He is committed to providing patients of all ages with compassionate care.

From general dentistry to advanced procedures, Dr. Omid uses innovative technology and gentle techniques to deliver safe and stress-free dental care so patients can enjoy a painless, healthy, and gorgeous smile.

Dr. Omid earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry in one of the best dental programs in the United States. His dedication to helping patients achieve their perfect smile has earned Dr. Omid the continued trust and recommendation of many clients.

No matter the age or needs of the patient, Dr. Omid is committed to helping you discover the benefits of a healthy, beautiful smile.

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