Clearwater FL Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten Shares: What is LANAP Laser Surgical Gum Therapy?

What is LANAP Laser Surgical Gum Therapy?

Our office offers a minimally-invasive periodontal surgery procedure called the LANAP protocol.Gum disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys the tissue and bone around the teeth.  If left untreated, the disease can lead to receding gums, loss of bone, and ultimately tooth loss. The LANAP protocol is the only laser periodontitis treatment that is cleared by the U.S. FDA and is clinically and histologically proven to regenerate new gum, tissue, ligament and bone

Who is a candidate for LANAP laser surgery?

Patients with moderate-to-severe gum disease can especially benefit from the LANAP protocol.  The LANAP protocol is also an excellent treatment option for patients who are fearful of conventional scalpel surgery and patients taking certain medications, such as blood thinners.  It is important to state however, that not every patient is a candidate for laser surgery, it all depends on the individual.  Dr. Britten will thoroughly explore all options to help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_s044_R-Q

Dr. Todd Britten has received intensive training in the LANAP protocol by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry.  The LANAP protocol is the only laser periodontitis treatment scientifically and clinically proven to regenerate soft tissue and bone.  The surgery is performed here in our practice with the only laser specifically designed for the LANAP protocol -- the PerioLase MVP-7.

For more information regarding LANAP Laser Gum Treatment offered by Dr. Todd Britten, contact our office at 727-586-2681 or visit our website at www.brittenperio.com.

Clearwater Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten Shares Bone Grafting Procedure

If a patient has severe bone loss surrounding existing teeth, Dr. Britten may recommend a regenerative procedure called Periodontal Regeneration Grafting. This procedures can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone and tissue.

During this procedure, Dr. Britten accesses the deeper disease and removes the disease‐causing bacteria in a procedure called osseous surgery . Barrier membranes, bone grafts or tissue‐stimulating proteins can then be used to encourage your body’s natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue. The bone grafting material is placed in the bony defects around the teeth. A membrane may be used to cover and protect the bone graft. When healed, new bone will grow and attach to the teeth.

For questions about if a bone grafting procedure might be right for you, contact our office at 727-586-2681.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPORajUKNe4

Clearwater FL Periodontist Shares: Clenching and Grinding & Custom Nightguard

Many people clench or grind their teeth whether they realize it or not. Clenching and grinding can be detrimental to your teeth and to their supporting structures (gum tissues and bone). It can cause wear on the biting surfaces, root defects, gum recession, contribute to gum disease and tooth shifting and mobility, and cause muscular and TMJ (joint) issues.

Most people are completely unaware that they do it, because it happens while they are sleeping. Many patients do not realize they grind their teeth and find the thought of wearing a night guard very unappealing.

Nightguards purchased online or at the drug store are not custom fitted, they are usual one size fits all or boil & bites. They can be large, unattractive, poorly fitting and may even come out during the grinding.

Your dentist is trained in how a persons' bite should function, how the teeth should come together and will take into account your specific situation and grinding pattern. Your dentist’s office will take impressions of your teeth so that the dental lab can make a might guard that is the exact match to your teeth.

Although the initial investment may be greater, a custom fit nightguard can be an extremely worthwhile investment in the long run. It is designed by your dentist to fit your teeth exactly and is much more likely than a store bought guard to prevent you from needing more expensive dental work in the future. In many case, dental insurance covers all or part of the cost.
Dr. Britten can check your teeth and bite for signs of abnormal clenching and grinding and work with your dentist to fabricate the right appliance for you. Contact our office at 728-586-2681, via email at healthysmiles@brittenperio.com or visit our website at www.brittenperio.com with any questions or concerns you have.

Clearwater Periodontist Shares Flossing Tips

Flossing Tips from Dr. Britten:

Typically, dental floss should be wrapped around the 2 middle fingers and stretched to a 12 to 18 inch length. Gently move back and forth in the area where the teeth contact each other, wrapping your floss it in a “C” shape around the side of the tooth. Once the floss is through this contact area it is gently moved under the tissue just until resistance is met. It is important not to “jam” the floss under the tissue, as this pulls on the periodontal ligament and can cause damage to the tissue and result in very sore gum tissue. At this point a cleaning stroke moves the floss away from the gum tissue toward the contact spot. Continue with this 6-8 times until a squeak can be heard and the tooth surface is clean.

Then move the floss to the adjacent tooth and do the same. While traditional flossing methods are most effective, flossing aids, such as floss picks or Soft Picks (GUM), are available for those with dexterity issues.

Flossing video:
https://youtu.be/fRpCTwoe2W0

Flossing is so important for the health of your gums and should be done every day. For more great oral hygiene tips, keep following us here on Google,  and stay tuned for our up and coming redesigned website which will have many helpful and insightful oral hygiene tips!

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.

Clearwater Periodontist & Implant Specialist Dr. Todd Britten: Surgical Procedures: Implant Placement

Extraction of a root tip (tooth broken to gumline), placement of bone graft with immediate implant placement.

First, the extraction of a root tip: Careful management of extraction sockets after a tooth is removed prevents unsightly bone loss and provides a better cosmetic outcome for tooth replacement.

Bone graft plaement: For successful implant placement, and to prevent bone resorption, a ridge preservation(or bone grafting) procedure may be recommended. Without the use of a bone graft and collagen barrier at the time of extraction, studies show that 30­-40% of the jaw bone is immediately lost. This is because your body perceives that once the root is removed, the bone is no longer needed and your body absorbs or removes it, creating a ridge deformity.

Dental implant placement: Implants are versatile. If you are missing only one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.

Sometimes an implant can be placed at the time of extraction and grafting, and sometimes it cannot. This video demonstrates immediate implant placement and an uncovery procedure of the implant at the end of healing. Your implant specialist and restorative dentist will work together to come up with the best treatment plan suited for your particular case.

Please contact our office if you have any questions about dental implants at 727-586-2681 or www.brittenperio.com. ‪#‎dentalimplants‬

Clearwater Periodontist Dr. Todd Britten on Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

Non Surgical Periodontal Therapy also known as scaling and root planing or “a deep cleaning” is often recommended as the first step in periodontal therapy. Treatment is done by one of our hygienists using local anesthesia to provide comfort for the patient as the root surfaces in deep periodontal pockets are debrided to remove calculus or “tartar” and to smooth the root surfaces to remove bacterial toxins. This may take more than one visit with the hygienist and is followed up with a visit with Dr. Britten in four to six weeks to re­evaluate the periodontal tissues.


https://youtu.be/LSRn45Spnc8