PERIODONTAL CARE IN Evergreen Park, IL

Teeth grinding, formally known as bruxism, is the common habit of grinding teeth, whether it be consciously during the day or unconsciously while sleeping. Bruxism is a very common condition that countless dental patients experience, and our team at Dental Group of Evergreen Park has years of experience helping patients find relief from this condition and protect their smile. Bruxism can also affect the jaw, such as with habitual jaw clenching or similar habits. Bruxism is a common condition that can be both a sleep disorder as well as dental concern. There are several different types of treatments that can be used to address bruxism that our team at Dental Group of Evergreen Park can help you explore:

Custom Mouthguards

Mouthguards can help those who grind their teeth at night find relief, as these custom appliances help separate the two rows of teeth so that teeth grinding cannot occur. Typically made of acrylic, mouthguards are custom appliances that many patients use to successfully stop or reduce symptoms associated with teeth grinding, which can include stress, eating disorders, and other symptoms.

NTI-tss Device

These are specialty devices cover the front side of the teeth and are custom fitted to each patient. This is because the rear molars are typically the areas of the mouth that take much of the burden of teeth grinding, and these appliances help stop this process.

Get in touch with our team at Dental Group of Evergreen Park today to learn more about teeth grinding treatments at our office!

Deep cleanings are common treatments that help to remove bacteria and plaque from the teeth and gums that brushing and flossing alone cannot reach. Deep cleanings are a great step to take to combat gum disease as well as tooth decay, and can be provided to patients here at Dental Group of Evergreen Park when requested. This process helps to prevent inflammation and other oral health concerns by removing harmful tartar and plaque. Deep cleanings are typically recommended for patients suffering from tooth decay or cases of gum disease that are likely to progress without treatment.

Scaling

Root Planing

Root planing is meant to remove more harmful micro organisms and bacteria that that brushing alone can't remove. In these treatments, the root of the tooth itself is smoothed over, which prevents these harmful bacteria from forming again. Antibiotics and special mouth rinses may also be prescribed to patients to help remove these harmful bacteria and infections. These antibiotics can also actually be planted in the gums and tooth sockets directly for advanced cases.

A healthy bite should consist of full rows of teeth with no missing teeth and no teeth that are badly decayed. When teeth become worn, this can cause the bite to become less effective when it comes to eating and other functions of the teeth, bite and jaw. Bite maintenance becomes needed when the teeth become badly decayed or when the bite is no longer aligned, or there are teeth that are missing. Bite therapies offered by our team at Dental Group of Evergreen Park include:

• Reshaping of the bite surface of the tooth to help patients eat, speak, and chew food correctly. This process involved removing or smoothing the bite surface of the tooth in order to help these teeth function properly when performing common tasks.
• Bite splints are custom trays that our team provides that are meant to keep the teeth apart from each other when sleeping. This helps avoids tooth grinding which can be problematic in that this common habit can wear away the bite surface of the tooth, as well as cause TMJ, or moderate to severe jaw pain.
• Braces to better position teeth that are not ideally positioned or that are otherwise resulting in a misaligned bite.
• Replacement of tooth fillings.
• Reconstruction or extraction and replacement of worn or decayed teeth.

Osseous surgery, which can also be called a pocket reduction surgery or gingivectomy, are different types of procedures that aim to gain access to the roots of the tooth to remove deeply-rooted bacteria and plaque that brushing and flossing alone can't reach.

Around the teeth, the gum tissue and jawbone should be snug. If gum disease isn't addressed, the supporting bone and tissue deteriorates, causing the gums to pull away from the teeth. These "pockets" contain tartar and infection, which can be difficult to heal if not treated properly. If left untreated, gum infections can lead to tissue and bone loss, eroding the foundation that holds your teeth in place.

The pockets of infection deepen over time, allowing the bacteria to grow in a broader region. By folding back the gum tissue and removing the infection, a pocket reduction surgery can be done.

These procedures also reshape the tooth socket itself  into a more preferable shape for avoiding decay and bacteria buildup. The real aim of these procedures is to reduce the likelihood if infections forming in these sockets so that patients don't suffer from cases of gum disease and other infections. Different types of osseous surgeries can include:

Controlling Bacterial Spread: Bacteria and tartar that is located deep in the gums can cause infection as these areas cannot be reached through brushing and flossing alone - they must be reached using special tools, and this tartar must be removed to prevent future infection. Our team is capable of removing these deep bacterias to help patients prevent long-term oral health complications.

Preventing Bone Loss: The bone material underneath the teeth can begin to decay when teeth aren't cared for properly and when tartar begins to build in the gums. Osseous surgeries aimed at bone loss prevention help to keep the gums and teeth clear of this deep tartar so that the bone material remains healthy and stimulated by your teeth, maintaining the strength and function of the jawbone as well as its ability to create new bone cells.

Correcting Imperfections in the Smile: Periodontal disease can greatly affect the aesthetic appearance of the teeth in that it can cause discoloration and staining that brushing alone cannot remove. Osseous surgeries can help correct these aesthetic concerns by working to remove the bacteria that causes this discoloration in the first place.

At-Home Care: Our team can also help patients prevent bacteria buildup in the gum by recommending and providing at-home remedies that can help to remove and manage the discoloration and concerns that can occur with deep tartar buildup.

The frenum is a muscle structure that is positioned between the teeth and that connects the lips to the gum tissue. When issues occur with these structure, the result can be gum recession, resulting in a "gummy" smile as well as an increased chance of developing gum disease. When the frenum is too large, this can create spacing issues in the teeth that make it easier for bacteria and plaque to form. A frenectomy is a surgical procedure where the frenum itself is removed or a section of it is removed in order to help the teeth come together and prevent gaps. This may be required before orthodontic care, or simply due to a patient having a large frenum which creates gaps in the teeth. Specifically for orthodontic patients, these procedure can help improve the overall results of orthodontic care and help patients achieve the healthiest smile possible!

For patients who are experiencing gum recession, this receeding gum tissue can result in a "gummy" smile as well as increased risks of oral infections and plaque buildup in the mouth. For cases where gum recession is severe, gum grafts are one option that help patients restore the full health of their gums. For more minor cases of gum recession, at-home care may not be necessary as there is still enough gum material to cover the tooth root and keep the teeth safe from infection. When this gum tissue is not present, bacteria can then form underneath the gum line, making oral infections and complications much more likely.

Gum recession can also result in sensitivity that can make eating and brushing your teeth difficult, making it necessary to protect the roots of the tooth where the gum line has receeded. Gum grafts are designs to correct these issues and complications by taking gum tissue from one area of the mouth and placing it where more gum tissue is needed.

When your gums have receded, gum graft surgery is an effective strategy to protect your teeth. When gum disease has developed, the surrounding tissue pulls away from the tooth, exposing the tooth root. Gum recession can lead to bone deterioration over time. Not only does gum recession impact the aesthetics of your smile, but it can also increase tooth sensitivity and, if left untreated, lead to tooth loss.

Tissue is extracted from a small area on the roof of your mouth during the surgery. Then, to cover the exposed tooth root, the donor tissue is sewn in place. After the procedure, you should eat soft foods for a week or two and avoid flossing the surgical region until it has healed.

Gum grafts are considered to be extremely safe procedures that can be performed by our team at Dental Group of Evergreen Park. These procedures are meant to replace missing gum tissue and restore this lost protection to the gums and roots of the teeth.

Gum disease is typically treated by removing infected areas of tissue as well as removing deep tartar so that additional infection cannot occur. While this is still an effective procedure, a more advanced means of corrected gum disease is by tissue regeneration techniques that actually rebuild tissue and protect at-risk and infected areas of the gums and teeth from infection. These techniques may be used to correct gum disease, or as a means of preparing the teeth and gums for dental implants.

Gum disease results in pockets within the gums becoming infected, making it necessary to remove this infected tissue. If the bone that supports your teeth is weak or insufficient, a periodontal regeneration treatment could be indicated. This technique has the potential to reverse periodontal disease's effects.

To remove the infection, the surgeon folds back a part of the gum tissue. The affected area is then treated with filters, proteins, or bone grafts to aid the body's ability to rebuild tissue and bone. This procedure can aid in the preservation of the natural jaw line. If necessary, a foundation for the placement of a dental implant can also be created.

During regenerative techniques, these pockets are cleaned and membranes are placed in these areas that will encourage the growth of new and healthy gum tissue. This method helps entirely new gum tissue regenerate on its own.

It's important to note that while this is an incredible new treatment technique that patients have gotten incredible results from, the results of these treatments heavily depends on the ongoing oral health of the patient - it's vital to maintain a strong oral health regiment after receiving a gum regeneration operation.

Oral cancers can develop as we age, and also as the result of neglected oral health and habits such as frequent tobacco and alcohol use. Oral cancer screenings are completely painless, and our team at Dental Group of Evergreen Park is capable of providing these helpful and important screenings to patients to help them remain free of early signs and symptoms of oral cancers.

These tests involve scans that provide a highly detailed look into the teeth as well as the underlying bone structure to allow our team to spot early warning signs of oral cancers early on. Red spots, sores, and other symptoms are signs of oral cancer or that oral cancers may be developing in certain areas of the mouth. Sores that are bleeding are a large red flag that oral cancers are forming, and patients experiencing these symptoms should be seen for an oral cancer screening as soon as possible. Lumps, bumps, and other abnormalities can also be signs of oral cancer, and should be met with an oral cancer screening. Our team is able to provide customized treatment plans for each patient that address these symptoms and stop them from developing into oral cancer.

It's also vital to note that the vast majority of oral cancer cases are directly linked to habits such as tobacco use and alcohol. To best protect your oral health and prevent oral cancers from forming, limit these habits or better yet, eliminate them entirely to make for the strongest possible oral health.