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Goodbye, Gum Grafts! Hello, Pinhole Surgical Technique!

August 10th, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

Having a receding gum line is something that can be embarrassing as well as something to be concerned about. Some of the problems involved with receding gums can be increased tooth sensitivity and other serious issues that could lead ultimately lead to tooth loss. It can be caused by multiple oral health issues such as extreme tooth decay, high levels of plaque or even gum disease.

Gum recession is something that should not be left alone. If left untreated, harmful bacteria can build-up and lead to damaged dental tissue and your bone structure will begin to deteriorate which can in time lead to tooth loss.

How gum recession is treated

A thorough cleaning and a procedure called root planing is the first method in dealing with receding gums. This is the standard procedure for minor forms of gum recession which gets rid of harmful plaque and tartar that has built up along the gum line. Dr. Trujillo’s goal in performing this procedure is for the gum disease to disappear and that the gums will stop receding more. If this doesn’t solve the problem then there are other methods which can be used to treat the receding gums including Gum Grafting and The Pinhole Surgical Technique

Gum Grafting vs. The Pinhole Surgical Technique

Gum grafting used to be the only way to treat receding gums or at least the most traditional method. During gum grafting, tissues will be take from one part of the mouth like the pallet and will then be sutured over your receding gums. Sound painful? It is especially if tissue is taken away and placed back over the treated gum area.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique is a more non-invasive procedure that we would recommend over a traditional gum graft. During the procedure Dr. Trujillo will make a small hole in the gum tissue, then he will loosen healthy tissue and slide it down over the top of the the exposed teeth. Although this process is fairly simple, it’s popular because its effect at restoring the gum-line without patients having to undergo extensive surgery. The pain level is lessened compared to a gum graft and there is only some slight discomfort during the procedure.

Benefits of The Pinhole Surgical Technique

Besides feeling less pain than traditional gum grafting, the pinhole surgical technique brings other benefits as well:

Performed without the use of a scalpel.
Delivers an instantly improved appearance.
Patients can enjoy a speedier recovery because there is no surgical wound or incision to care for.
Can reverse receding gums on multiple teeth in a single session.
Does not require a second surgical site like gum grafting.

The Pinhole Surgical Technique offerd by Dr Trujillo in Phoenix has numerous advantages over traditional gum grafting procedures. The team at Arizona Periodontal Group is are happy to go over the benefits of the procedure with you. Contact us today for a consultation with Dr. Trujillo to reverse your receding gums.

What is Recovery Like For All on 4 Dental Implants

July 31st, 2018 by AZ Perio Group | No Comments

Illustration of All On 4 Dental Implants

Receiving All-on-4 dental implants is a exciting time. Your whole world can change in just one office appointment. A patient will walk away from Arizona Periodontal Group with a full, natural looking smile, that will improve appearance, oral function and overall quality of life. If you are considering receiving this procedure than you probably have many questions. You might be wondering how having these dental implants will change your day to day life and what to expect after the procedure. We hope to address the questions that you may have here, but we recommend scheduling an appointment with Dr. Trujillo where he can answer all of your questions in person.

Comfort and Healing

Dr. Trujillo takes great care to make sure that our patients have comfort during and after their procedures. When you receive All-on-4 dental implants, we will administer a sedative as well as pain medication so that you are relaxed and have minimal discomfort. While we are very concerned about your comfort during the procedure we also care that you are comfortable as you are healing. Medication will be prescribed after the procedure as well. It is very important for our patients to take medication exactly as prescribed to reduce swelling and minimize any potential discomfort.

After your procedure refrain from exercise, heavy lifting and any physical activity for the first week following surgery. Elevation of heart rate and blood pressure may promote bleeding and delay healing. Check back with us after the first week to see if picking up your regular physical activity level is best for you.

Do not smoke for the first week after surgery. Smoking may dry out the tissues and delay healing. It can also cause bleeding for longer periods of time.

The specific amount of time needed to rest after your procedure will be carefully monitored and determined by our staff. Recovery time can vary from patient to patient.

Altering Eating Habits

During the time you are recovering you will be give instructions on which foods you can and cannot eat. You will most likely to be asked to consume liquids such as soups and smoothies. This is because it take time for the jawbone to fuse around the implants. Patients can expect to slowly be able to incorporate non-liquid food items into your diet under our guidance.

Remember that we are concerned about your well-being. If you should experience any difficulty during your recovery please contact us immediately. There is always someone on call to answer your questions or to provide you with the care you need.

If you are looking for the All on 4 dental implants in Phoenix, call our office today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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.

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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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