What to Expect from Your Periodontal Treatment

Any new form of dental treatment can be a little intimidating. For those who are experiencing gingivitis or periodontal disease for the first time, an appointment to deal with these problems carries apprehension. What will happen during periodontal treatment? This week's blog post from our Schenetady dentist is a refresher course on periodontal disease, the areas it affects, and how periodontal treatment will repair damage that has been done. By educating yourself as to what will happen during your periodontal treatment, you give yourself valuable preparation that will find you calm and comfortable during treatment.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. It is the preliminary stage of gum infection that can lead to full-on periodontal disease. Patients with gingivitis will likely have swollen, inflamed, bleeding, and sore gums. Catching gum problems at the gingivitis stage makes treatment simpler. If you are experiencing the aforementioned symptoms, contact your dentist right away.

What is periodontal disease?

When gingivitis progresses, the soft tissues of the mouth become infected by harmful bacteria. Periodontal disease (also called periodontitis) affects the gums and the teeth. It can lead to gum recession, tissue loss, decay, loose teeth, bone loss, and tooth loss. For this reason, we're serious about treating periodontal disease in a thorough and prompt fashion.

What does periodontal treatment entail?

Periodontal treatment removes disease from affected areas of the mouth. This typically means scaling and root planing, which may be accompanied by antibiotics (taken orally or placed in periodontal pockets) and gum surgery.

What are scaling and root planing? Are they painful?

Scaling is actually something that takes place during every one of your dental exams with our Schenectady dentist. It's simply bacteria and plaque being scraped from your teeth. Root planing is scaling that targets areas below the gum line. Depending on the severity of your infection, we will employ local anesthesia or dental sedation to ensure that you feel nothing during scaling and planing. We may treat your mouth in sections, spread over multiple appointments, to minimize discomfort. After your periodontal treatment, your gums will heal and you will find the effects of disease have retreated.

Our Schenectady dentist will answer any questions you may have about periodontal treatment. If your gums are in pain, don't hesitate to contact our office and begin the healing process.

When we straighten our teeth, we hope to finish the process as quickly (and painlessly!) as possible. Not only is traditional orthodontic treatment bulky and uncomfortable, we're eager to get our braces off and finally see the stunning results. In this way, ideal orthodontic treatment is that which is the fastest, most comfortable, and generally the least invasive with regard to patients' dailly lives. With Invisalign treatment, those goals are achieved. Our Schenectady dentist offers Invisalign to adults and teens seeking something a little different from traditional orthodontic fare. We find the results are equal to those gained with braces, and the treatment process far superior.

The Convenience of Invisalign | Schenectady Dentist

Invisalign aligners differ from metal braces in a basic, fundamental way. By moving teeth without obscuring teeth, Invisalign treament creates a new kind of orthodontic process. We’ve outlined a few of our favorite things about Invisalign below.

• Invisalign allows you to straighten on your own. You need visit your dentist less frequently, as you are able to change to new aligner trays at home. As your trays are completely removable, you manage your orthodontic treatment. This isn’t to say that your Schenectady dentist won’t be involved – we’ll see you every six weeks, and always be available to answer questions.
• Invisalign doesn’t let anyone know you’re straightening your teeth. Invisalign trays are made of clear plastic, and sit snugly against your teeth. They won’t be noticeable when you are smiling or speaking.
• Invisalign trays are comfortable in your mouth. The smooth plastic trays don’t catch on your cheeks or cause discomfort. Whereas braces can have poking wires and sharp brackets, Invisalign trays will not irritate the inside of your mouth.
• Invisalign lets you monitor your progress. Clear Invisalign trays allow you to watch your teeth move and anticipate the final results.

Schenectady Dentist on Who is Right for Invisalign Treatment

We’d love to offer Invisalign to every single one of our patients. Unfortunately, it’s not right for every bite. Depending on the severity of your malocclusion, Invisalign may not move your teeth in the way they need to be shifted. Invisalign is right for patients with mild to medium malocclusions, who primarily need to move the teeth that are a part of their smiles. Contact our office to determine whether you can straighten with Invisalign.

Your children look up to you in every way, and the ways they approach the world stem from what you teach them. Because of this, your children's dental health lies in your hands. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to inspire excellent oral hygiene in children. They can't process the full extent of what oral hygiene during childhood will accomplish throughout their lives, so brushing and flossing just seem like a boring, pointless step in a day that could be spent elsewise. Today, our Schenectady dentist discusses the ways in which our practice helps make brushing, flossing fun for your kids. A stable foundation of dental knowledge during a child's development will enable him to better care for his teeth for the rest of his life.

Children's Oral Hygiene | Schenectady Dentist

If your kids learn to think of oral hygiene as a vital part of the day, their dental health attitudes will develop in a positive way. They may even enjoy trips to the dentist! We hope to help every young patient find dental health pleasant, and here we list a few ways we work to accomplish that:

• Stress-free first appointments - Your child's first trip to our office will be one to put him or her at ease. You will accompany your child he or she tours the office and meets our staff. If your child is young or especially nervous, you may sit in the dental chair with them during their first teeth cleaning. Feeling good about the office will help your child feel great about future dental treatment, and avoid forming dental anxiety.
• Engaging education on oral health - Learning about plaque, cavities, and the problems that follow candy pigouts and poor brushing will do more to engage your child in oral health than vague admonitions to brush and floss. There are a variety of fun games that can help visually demonstrate the effects of bacteria and acid on teeth.
• Fun dental products - The wide variety of products available means there are brushes, pastes, and floss that are just right for your son or daughter. Colors, addition of cartoon characters, and other alterations to the boring old brush and floss make oral hygiene more exciting. 
• Oral health rewards - A cavity-free mouth should be rewarded! Just make sure it's not in the form of a sugary treat!

If your kids are seeking a pleasant, comfortable dental experience, visit our office to get them acquainted with our staff and our space. We looking forward to meeting them!

Cosmetic dentistry isn't always a complicated process. While it is possible to have a full smile makeover, our Schenectady dentist finds patients are often more interested in correcting minor cosmetic flaws. Dental bonding is a wonderful option for those seeking small smile adjustments. Bonding can be completed in a single appointment, can strengthen teeth and beautify teeth, and is very affordable. But since dental bonding doesn't sound quite as glamorous as porcelain veneers or dental crowns, many patients don't know what it is. This week's blog post serves as a guide to dental bonding and all that it could accomplish for your smile.

Dental Bonding Is the Quick, Affordable Route to An Updated Smile

Dental bonding involves a piece of tooth-colored resin that is bonded to teeth. Our Schenectady dentist will match the resin to your natural tooth color, making your dental work unnoticeable. Our Schenectady dentist's skill will make for bonding that blends naturally and aesthetically with the rest of your smile. Dental bonding can repair so many dental concerns, including:

• Gap teeth
• Stained teeth
• Short teeth
• Cracked teeth
• Chipped teeth
• Teeth that require structural support
• Crooked teeth

The resin may be applied to nearly any tooth area that is not involved in heavy chewing. The process is painless and speedy. Our Schenectady dentist simply shapes the resin so that it will fit with your existing teeth, then bonds it in place. Because dental bonding creates new tooth structure, but does not involve porcelain restorations (a unique combination of factors for cosmetc dental treatments), the bonding can be completed without waiting to receive prosthetics from a lab. There will be no temporaries, and no second appointment.

Your dental bonding work will be with you for years to come. With proper care, results can be especially long-lasting.

If there's something about your smile that you're not completely happy with, contact our Schenectady dentist. Bonding could be your simple answer.