This is Why Braces and Healthy Gums Go Together

If you have crooked teeth, you should schedule a visit to your dentist and ask about braces. Your dentist will likely send you to an orthodontist who will explain you in detail all the benefits of the treatment, the risks and the costs involved.

The number one reason people want braces is to have a beautiful smile. But crooked teeth are not only a cosmetic problem. It is also often a health problem.

Misaligned or crooked teeth can cause problems with your bite. Over time, a bad bite can hurt your teeth and gums by causing wear to the enamel, fractured or broken teeth, and contribute to periodontal disease. A bad bite can also  the jaw bone and the TMJ joint. sometimes leading to lots of other medical problems such as headaches or migraines.

In addition, when your teeth are positioned in the correctly in your mouth, this provides the comfort and the ease of being able to clean your teeth properly.

Make sure your gums are as healthy as they can be before orthodontic treament! Your gums are the tissue that help hold your teeth in place. If your gums are not in good shape, the stress of moving your teeth with braces cause him recession, bone loss and also impact tooth stability.

Dr. Todd Britten works cohesively with the orthodontists and general dentists to provide you with the best care possible. This way, you can be seen by a team of dentists that focuses on the area that they are trained and most skilled at and work together to provide the best care.

Please contact us today with any aspect of dentistry that concerns you. Our very knowledgeable staff would be happy to answer your questions! Contact us today 727-586-2681

https://youtu.be/poEQjuLPCXE

What is Gum Recession?

Clearwater FL Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten discusses Gum Recession
Clearwater, FL Gum Grafting
Clearwater, FL tissue grafting

Gum recession is the process in which the gum tissue that which surrounds your teeth wears away, or pulls back, exposing the tooth's root. If left untreated, gum recession may ultimately result in tooth loss.

Most people don't notice their gums receding because it occurs very gradually. You may notice tooth sensitivity, or that your tooth looks longer than normal. Sometimes a notch can be felt near the gum line with your fingernail
Gum recession is often caused by periodontal disease. If untreated, gum disease leads to the destruction gum tissue and supporting bone that hold your teeth in place.

Aggressive tooth brushing. If you brush your teeth too hard, it can cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away and your gums to recede.  Clenching and grinding of the teeth can also contribute to gum recession and defects in the tooth roots. Many people do not even realize they have this habit, and many do it in their sleep!

Insufficient dental care. Inadequate brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash makes it easy for plaque to harden into tartar or calculus, a hard substance that builds on and between your teeth and can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning.

Gum recession is not something you want to ignore. If you think your gums are receding, make an appointment with your dentist. There are treatments that can repair the gum and prevent further damage.

Clearwater Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten is using new technology to promote healing of surgical procedures

Clearwater Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten is using Platelet Concentrates (L-PRF, or Leukocyte-Platelet Rich Fibrin) to promote healing in dental procedures in his Clearwater, FL periodontal practice.

Concentrated blood has been used in hospitals for a long time to accelerate healing.  Leukocyte Rich Platelet Rich Fibrin (L- PRF) is a by-products of a patient's own blood that can help healing after dental procedures such as a tooth extraction, as well as promote healing around bone or tissue grafts and dental implants.

L-PRF™ is a 3-D autogenous combination of Platelet Rich Fibrin derived from a patient’s blood.  First, it is determined if patient is a candidate for L-PRF treatment.  If so, blood is then drawn in Dr. Britten's office from a patient's arm. The blood is then immediately placed into a centrifuge to separate the blood into layers.  This thin, compressed layer of platelet rich fibrin is strong, pliable and even suitable for suturing. This natural fibrin network is rich in platelets, growth factors (PDGF, BMP, VEGF)  and cytokines derived from the blood platelets and white blood cells called leukocytes. These proteins promote rapid healing, especially during the critical first seven days after they are placed.

Growth factors are triggered and released and clot formation is stimulated by blood platelets, fibrin and growth factors to help heal wounds.  Growth factors stimulate stem cells to produce new host tissue quickly, making L-PRF effective in the healing process.

Advantages of using L-PRF also include lower infection risk after surgical dental procedures by sealing a treatment wound from bacteria after treatment.  Saturation of the surgical area, bone graft material and/or dental implant helps increase tissue formation due to its growth factors such as BMP, VEGF and PDGF, and this, in turn, results in faster gum and bone regeneration. Speedier healing decreases the risk of later infections, complications, and discomfort."The use of this technology has been shown to lower the chance of dry sockets after extraction, which can be very painful." Dr. Britten said.

L-PRF treatments are often used for greater success for necessary procedures for dental implant placement,  including socket bone grafts, sinus lifts, ridge augmentation, correcting peri-implantitis, block bone grafts and extraction sites prior to implant placement.


Dr. Britten explained, "L-PRF technology is used to quicken the healing process and is completely safe. Disease transmission is not a factor since blood is drawn from a patient's own body.  Most patients report a greater degree of comfort during healing even immediately after their procedure. The amount of blood needed is minimal and can be collected easily."

If you have any questions about treatment with platelet rich fibrin/plasma or would like to find out if you are a candidate and can benefit from this treatment, you can contact Dr. Todd Britten in his Clearwater, Florida periodontal practice at 727-586-2681. 

Clearwater FL Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten: Surgical Procedures: Cosmetic Crown Lengthening and Correction of a Gummy Smile

Correcting a Gummy Smile, or Cosmetic periodontal surgery:

This periodontal procedure is designed to expose more tooth structure prior to restorative and cosmetic dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line. A frequently asked question is whether we can change the esthetics of a gummy smile because the teeth appear somewhat short. Your teeth can actually be of proper length and just covered with excessive gum tissue. In such circumstances, a crown lengthening procedure will correct this by exposing the shape of your natural teeth.