Laser Pocket Disinfection
We are constantly learning and striving to advance the standard of patient care in our office and have recently added a new procedure to your routine hygiene care to help fight gum disease.

Periodontal disease affects approximately 80% of adults and is a growing epidemic in our society. Bleeding gums is an indication of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Understanding of this disease has increased greatly over the last few years. We now know that Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection in the pockets around teeth. As such, we now not only treat gums with removal of mechanical irritants and diseased tissue (your normal cleaning) but are also addressing the underlying infection that causes it. With that thought in mind we recommend that all of our patients have their teeth decontaminated with a quick laser treatment during their routine dental cleaning..

We use the LASER To kill periodontal disease bacteria, to stop their infections and bleeding before they cause physical destruction or loss of attachment around your teeth.

The laser decontamination process is virtually painless and normally takes about 5-10 minutes. We highly recommend that you take advantage of this service as part of your routine cleaning. .

Please ask your hygienist if you have any questions regarding this treatment.

What should I expect at my first
dental hygiene visit?
Many new patients that enter into our office need more than "just a cleaning". At a typical dental hygiene visit, you can expect us to do several things that include the following:

• Perform a thorough gum and periodontal evaluation
• Screen for decay with x-rays and the diagnodent (our cavity detecting laser)
• Effectively and comfortably clean your teeth with hand and/or microsonic scaling instruments.
• Polish superficial stain, floss, and apply a fluoride treatment to protect enamel.
• Instruct you on how to care for your teeth and gums at home.
• Determine frequency of visits and if repetitive therapy is needed to treat periodontal infection.

What is gum disease and how do you know
if you have it?
Statistics show 90-95% of the population is in some state of gum disease. The Medical Center Dental Group's motto is "healthy gums don't bleed"; however, most patients admit that their gums have always bled when they have their teeth cleaned. In the past, bleeding gums was more acceptable and pretty much every patient was put on a six-month interval of having their teeth cleaned. Fortunately, the standard of care has changed, and we now know that this condition is not acceptable. We treat each patient as an individual. Some people may come two, three, four, or even five times a year for their dental hygiene visits to maintain a healthy mouth. And this interval can change as things in someone's life changes, such as diet, health, stress level, systemic conditions, etc. We treat the patient the same way we would want to be treated ourselves. For this reason, we access our patients at each and every visit to determine if their treatment plan is working for them as an individual. At The Medical Center Dental Group, we want our patients to get their maximum benefits from their insurance; however, we will not jeopardize providing the highest level of care. Our philosophy is to treat the patient with their best interest in mind, rather than be mandated by the insurance companies that have no dental expertise.

What are the different types of gum disease?

Gum disease
Healthy
Healthy gums are characterized by tight pink tissue with no bleeding present during regular dental hygiene visits.

Gingivitis
Gum disease occurs in different stages. The first stage is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. Symptoms of gingivitis are inflamed gums, red tissue, and bleeding. Fortunately, there is no sign of bone loss in this first stage; therefore, it can be completely reversible.

Mild Periodontitis
Periodontitis is defined as loss of attachment in the supporting tissues of the teeth. This can vary from gum recession, pocket depths, and/or a combination of the two. Slight periodontitis has usual probing depths of 3-4mm and is common among most adults.

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Moderate Periodontitis
This is a more advanced stage of gum disease with bone loss ranging from 4-6mm. It is much more detectable on x-rays and with periodontal probing. This stage is not reversible, but is manageable in most cases. However, it can be accompanied by some tooth mobility, bad breath, sore and swollen gums, and furcation involvement.

Advanced Periodontitis
Advanced stages of gum disease are more involved and harder to treat. The pocketing is usually over 6mm in one or more areas. We will usually address this condition with a more surgical approach including laser periodontal therapy.

Refractory Periodontitis
This stage can usually result in tooth loss because the amount of bone loss is so major. We will usually address this condition in several ways, including laser periodontal therapy, splinting teeth together for more stability, and possibly some extractions. Fortunately, lost teeth can usually be replaced with bridges, dentures, or better yet - implant dentistry.

Visit the site linked below for more information:
http://www.dentalcare.com/drn.htm

No one wants to loose his or her teeth. For this reason, we treat all types of gum disease very seriously to prevent further infection and/or possible tooth loss.

Good periodontal health means
good general health.

• Periodontal bacteria can travel in the bloodstream and cause infections to major organs.
• Research indicates that periodontal infection can increase your risk for coronary heart disease, infective endocarditis, and stroke.
• Uncontrolled diabetics are at a greater risk for developing periodontal infection. Diabetes lowers your body's ability to fight infection and can cause dry mouth.
• There is a link between periodontal infection and respiratory infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If you have periodontal disease, you may be inhaling harmful bacteria.
• Healthy gums are especially important if you are pregnant. During pregnancy, your body produces higher levels of hormones. Your gums may react strongly to these hormones causing some to develop "pregnancy gingivitis". This is a condition that causes swollen, red, and tender gums that may bleed when brushing or flossing.
• There is also the risk of having a pre-term, low birth weight baby in women with even mild periodontal infection. During pregnancy, the level of prostaglandins increases, and then peaks then in labor. Extra prostaglandins are produced in response to gum infection and your body may interpret this as a signal to go into labor.

Information for our patients.
	Nightguards - Nighttime protection against Bruxing and clenching
	Bruxism - The Link Between Clenching, Headaches and Tooth Wear
	General Information for Patients with Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)