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What is Peri-implantitis?

June 22nd, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

If you’ve gotten dental implants in Phoenix, or have been considering them, please educate yourself about “Peri-Implantitis,” which is important to know about as a potential health risk if you do not care for your dental implants properly. It is very treatable and easy to avoid, but if not cared for quickly it can become a serious health problem.

What is Peri-Implantitis?

This condition is characterized by inflammation affecting gums, bones and other tissues surrounding dental implants. It is very similar to gum disease. Severity can range from minor inflammation of the gums to drastic deterioration of the gums and bone in the jaw. Which if it does get that severe, can lead to a patient losing their dental implants.

Progression of Periimplantitis over 5 years from a smoker

What are the symptoms of Peri-Implantitis?

The cause of peri-implantitis is the gradual accumulation of bacteria and food particles around the dental implant. Because of this, peri-implantitis usually grows without being noticed in the earliest stages. In later stages, symptoms range from minor to more sever These include:

Redness, inflammation and bleeding of the surrounding gum tissue.
Deepening of the gum pockets around the implant.
Exposure or visibility of the implant threads.
Loosening of the implant.
Pus discharging from the tissues around the implant.
Swollen lymph nodes around the neck.

What causes Peri-implantitis?

The causes of this condition are the same for periodontitis, or gum disease: buildup of plaque and tartar that are full of harmful bacteria and pathogens. Several habits can cause this, and they can all be fixed:

Brushing your teeth too infrequently. Ask your dentist how often you should brush your teeth. Most dentists suggest brushing 2-3 times per day.
Using an old, worn out toothbrush. If the bristles of your tooth brush are bent, frayed or discolored, then it cannot effectively clean your mouth. It’s time for a replacement!
Improper tooth brushing technique. Don’t make the mistake of only cleaning the tops of your teeth, or only brushing where your teeth are visible. Food often gets caught in hard to see places of your mouth, including the back corners and the gumline. Tell your dentist you want to make sure your brushing your teeth properly, and ask him or her for some tips.
Not flossing. Failure to floss leaves about one third of your mouths plaque where it was. For some people, this means weeks, months or years with the same bacteria eating away at their teeth, gums and dental implants.

If you feel you might have peri-implantitis, give us a call at Arizona Periodontal Group and schedule an appointment with Dr. Trujillo. We want you to have a healthy mouth, and we know how to help you get it!

Treat Gum Disease with the Only FDA Cleared Laser Treatment in Phoenix

May 23rd, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

What Is LANAP

Almost all of use laser applications or products of lasers on a daily basis. At Arizona Periodontal Group we put the science of lasers to good use by helping you improve the health of your gums is a significant way. LANAP is the only FDA cleared laser treatment for gum disease. “Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure” is a form of regenerative therapy rather than resection. Simply put, LANAP regrows tissue and bone lost to gum disease.

Compared to traditional osseous surgery, patients say the LANAP protocol is:
Less uncomfortable
More gentle recovery
Less gum loss (gum recession)
Improved recovery time

Tipping The Scale

Laser gum treatment at the Arizona Periodontal Group has improved the way our dentists care for your gums by taking advantage of the unique properties LANAP has to offer. Through thin fiber optic channels, powerful light is applied to delicately and precisely remove diseased tissue, sterilize open wounds and seal off small bleeds. The accuracy of laser gum treatment significantly improves our patients experience in our office and enables a fast recovery. LANAP has allowed our dentists to tip the scale in the fight against gum disease, significantly improving our ability to help stop the loss of healthy, protective gums and bone.

How It Works

One of the more exciting aspects of laser gum treatment is that the specific wavelength of the lasers used by Periodontists, passes through healthy tissue, simultaneously eliminating contacted diseased or infected tissue. The science behind the technology isn’t as easy as the procedure itself, but in simple terms, the color of light used in the laser reacts differently with the color of healthy tissue than it does with the tissue needing to be removed.

Laser gum treatment has unique properties that allow dentists to treat your gum disease without the use of general anesthetics. This less invasive treatment leads to reduced discomfort resulting in faster post-op recovery. LANAP has significantly improved our ability to treat gum disease. However, it’s still important to prioritize dental care on your own at home. Effective treatment of gum disease starts with daily and consistent brushing and flossing.

Dr. Ariel Trujillo, a skilled and qualified Periodontal specialists, continually strives to stay at the forefront of technology in terms of equipment and procedures. We want your experience to be exceptional, and lasers offer a new and improved method of treating gum disease.

Schedule An Appointment Today

If you have oral discomfort, sensitive or bleeding gums, or any other concerns about the health of your mouth, please contact our caring staff at Arizona Periodontal Group to schedule an appointment today.

Gum Disease Treatment From A Phoenix Periodontist

April 15th, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

Gum disease (known as periodontal disease or periodontitis) is serious. It is not only ugly and painful, but it can permanently alter the gums and bones in the mouth. If you feel you may be suffering from gum disease, consult with a periodontist in Phoenix to learn about treatment options.

Usually, periodontal disease is caused by the gradual influx of plaque (bacteria and food particles) around the teeth and gums.

Because gum disease often begins in this way, it’s growth usually doesn’t show symptoms in the earliest stages. Once infection sets in, symptoms include reddened, swollen, sensitive and/or bleeding gums. Sometimes this is painful. Later symptoms of this disease is a loosened tooth (or teeth), which indicates the bacterial infection has severely damaged the supporting bone around the teeth, and the gum ligaments holding them in place. At this point, tooth loss is a discrete possibility.

The primary treatment of periodontal disease is to remove all bacteria from the mouth. This technique often takes several sessions because as the gums respond to the treatment, they become less swollen. As they shrink, they reveal more plaque and tartar to be removed.

Fortunately, less severe cases of periodontitis are less invasive. Severe cases of periodontitis may require oral surgery. Some techniques for removing plaque and tartar include:

Scaling – For infected surfaces that are at or just beneath the gum line, we use specialized instruments called scalers to manually remove the bacteria.
Root planing – If the infection has reached the roots of the teeth, we use this technique, which involves shaving plaque from the surfaces of the roots.
Surgery – When more severe bacteria has infected deeper levels of the gums, it becomes difficult to reach. This may require a surgical procedure that involves making incisions into the gum to access the deepest level of the roots. Once the area has been carefully cleansed of infection, special techniques are used to help the gum regenerate and reattach.

If you feel you may be at risk of gum disease, it is best to attack this disease as early on as possible. Rather than visiting a general dentist, we urge you to visit a periodontist. Our specialists are trained to address this type of malady and can provide expert care while offering maximum comfort. Instead of fearing for your health and safety, you can feel at ease with the Arizona Periodontal Group.

If you would like information about treating periodontitis, please contact us for a consultation.

All on 4 Dental Implants

March 24th, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

All on 4 Dental Implants in Phoenix at Arizona Periodontal Group

A mouth restoration with dental implants can be extremely costly, and sometimes insurance companies won’t adequately cover the procedure. If a full mouth of dental implants isn’t in your budget, try our less expensive “All on 4” dental implants in Phoenix. With only 4 surgically placed implants, you can restore or replace all of the natural teeth on the top or bottom jaw.

As many as 35 million Americans are missing all of their teeth on their top or bottom jaws. Many patients living with missing teeth elect to use uncomfortable and inconvenient dentures, but many find that dental implants are a more comfortable option. Instead of living with uncomfortable dentures, or non-functional teeth, try an “All on 4” dental implant surgery.

Why Not Dentures?

Not only are dentures uncomfortable to wear, but many patients report issues talking and chewing. Instead of wearing dentures, a surgically placed dental implant will allow patients to talk and chew as they would with all-natural teeth!

Additionally, dentures don’t prevent future bone loss in the teeth and jaw like dental implants do. A dental implant procedure can help keep your jaw bone strong and healthy.

What Are All on 4 Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small titanium rods that are surgically implanted into your jawline in the place of every tooth. By attaching them to the jawline, the dental implant is just as strong as a natural tooth would be. As soon as the implants are adhered to your jaw, a custom crown is attached to the implant to make your smile look completely natural.

Eventually, the dental implants will completely fuse with the jawbone to provide patients with a naturally functioning smile.

With the “All on 4” dental implant procedure, you don’t need an implant in place of every tooth, you just need 4! Seriously, four implants perfectly placed on your top (or bottom) jawline is all you need for a fully restored smile. Patients will see improved appearance and functionality in their teeth at less of an out-of-pocket expense.

Don’t live with the pain and discomfort of missing teeth any longer! Visit Arizona Periodontal Group to see if the All on 4 dental implant procedure is the correct treatment option for you. Schedule an appointment today!

Why Should I Go To A Specialist For Dental Implants?

February 15th, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

Dental implants have risen in popularity over the recent years. Not everyone is properly trained in how to correctly place a dental implant, which increases the risk of an implant failing. If you are considering dental implants, you need to carefully select the right person for the job. Phoenix dental implant services are designed to correctly place an implant to ensure comfortable, long-lasting dental implants. Periodontists are trained specialists in the field of dental implants. At Arizona Periodontal Group, Dr. Trujillo has the education, training, and expertise needed to place dental implants.

Dental Implant Specialist

When you seek out a specialist for your dental implants, it pays to hire someone with the right education and training. Periodontists attend additional schooling to learn how to effectively place implants and lower the risk of complications. Several studies show dental implants have a higher rate of succeeding when placed by a dental implant specialist compared to a general dentist.

Dental implants are a complex procedure that does require precision when placing the implant. Dental implants placed by a general dentist have a higher risk of failure as they only have a few days of training compared to 5,000 hours of education that a dental implant specialist has in the industry.

Reducing Gum Disease

Everyone’s bodies react differently to surgical treatments, which can lead some patients to experience gum disease after dental implant surgery. A dental implant specialist will be able to limit gum disease risks by understanding how the bones and gums heal. Certain patients may have complications, requiring different materials to be used for successful dental implant placement. A professionally trained dental implant specialist will be able to catch these issues to ensure the implant will be able to be successful and offers cosmetic results.

Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Working with a professional dental implant specialist will focus on healing the gums prior to implant treatment. If any sign of gum disease exists before implant treatment, the implant can fail, and the gum disease will continue to worsen. There is a condition known as peri-implantitis, gum disease that attacks the bones and gums, which causes the implant to fail 40% of the time.

Do not leave your dental implant procedure in the hands of someone without the proper training, education, and precision it takes to create successful implants. If you need Phoenix dental implants, schedule an appointment with Arizona Periodontal Group today to schedule your consultation.

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When you visit our office, your oral health is our top priority. Dr. Trujillo and his entire team is dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve.

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