Periodontics

Periodontics is a branch in dentistry that is concerned with the supporting tissues of your teeth and diseases and conditions that affect them. While general dentistry deals with treatment and aesthetics of your teeth, periodontics deals primarily with the gums.

Periodontal Disease
Our eating habits and inadequate cleaning regimen makes periodontal disease quite easy to contract. Food particles that remain in your mouth after eating combined with bacteria that is naturally found in your mouth find their way into crevices and gaps between the teeth and may remain there even after proper brushing and flossing. Over time, it may start to eat away at the supporting bone and the surface of your teeth. Your gums may become inflamed, sore, or bleed if proper care and treatment is not taken early on. Because these issues worsen with time, it is critical to visit the dentist regularly to detect any abnormalities early on before they become untreatable. Fortunately, the effects of periodontal disease can be reversed if treated in its early stages.

Alhough not all forms of periodontal disease cause noticeable symptoms, you may want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hanookai if you experience any of the following: gingivitis, swollen gums, tender gums, bleeding gums during or after brushing or chewing, unprovoked bleeding of the gums, sore gums, sore teeth, pain when brushing or chewing, pain when flossing, receding gums, bad breath that does not go away with brushing, bad taste in the mouth, visible gaps or pockets between the teeth and gums, loose teeth, teeth that fall out, or noticeable changes in your bite or appearance of your smile.

Dr. Hanookai understands that cases of periodontal disease vary from patient to patient, and that is why a thorough inspection of your teeth and gums will provide the necessary information to allow Dr. Hanookai to cater her treatment specifically for your situation. If your periodontal disease case is discovered early on, treatment may include a deep cleaning of the teeth, gum pockets, and spaces between the teeth and gums, known as scaling, and planing of the roots to remove plaque and bacteria that may have worked their way deep under the tooth. If infection has occurred, antibiotics will be prescribed. If your periodontal disease is severe, pocket reduction surgery or a soft tissue gum graft may be necessary to remove infected portions of gum tissue and repair the affected area.

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery
Dr. Hanookai works with a professional and experienced dental staff and is more than willing to discuss cosmetic dental surgery with you. If you are a Los Angeles dentist looking to refer your patients to a periodontal dentist for cosmetic periodontal surgery, or if you are a patient who has been referred, Dr. Hanookai can help. We provide a number of cosmetic periodontal surgery procedures and can cater them to your specifications.

For patients looking to restructure their smiles and gum lines, we offer top-of-the-line gingivectomy procedures. Dr. Hanookai’s comprehensive gingivectomy can reshape any gum line, can reduce a gummy smile, receding gums, or uneven gums, and can correct the cosmetic issues that sometimes arise from periodontal disease.

A crown lengthening procedure can be performed for patients who wish to correct their overly gummy smile. Our crown lengthening procedure reduces the amount of gum that appears above your teeth, creating the appearance of longer teeth. If you wish to reduce your gum line to create a more aesthetic smile, crown lengthening is a viable option.

Lastly, Los Angeles dentist Dr. Hanookai provides ridge augmentation procedures to patients who suffer from indentations in the gum line. These indentations can arise when a tooth falls out or is extracted, as the gum line and jaw begin to pull back. Without the tooth to hold the gum and bone in place, the area can sag. This issue can easily be resolved by a ridge augmentation followed by a dental implant.

We would be happy to take your call at 818-788-4788 to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Patients looking for a Beverly Hills dentist can reach us (310) 553-8875