Periodontics in Minot, ND

Dakota Dental Health Center provides periodontic services in Minot, ND. Call 701-852-4755 to learn more and schedule your appointment.

Periodontics focuses on the gums, jawbones, and soft tissues that support the teeth. If these structures become damaged or infected, you may need a periodontal procedure. Periodontics can also correct some cosmetic issues with your smile, and can even prepare you for dental implants.

Periodontal disease is the top cause of tooth loss among American adults. It is also associated with such system-wide health issues as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Arestin is a powdered antibiotic designed to fight periodontal infection where it starts. After a thorough scaling and root planing procedure, we can place the powder inside the infected periodontal pockets to clear the infection before it spreads.

If you have unusual sores or lesions in your gum tissue, or unexplained bleeding from the gums, a simple biopsy can determine the cause. An incisional or excisional biopsy involves cutting away a small piece of tissue. A percutaneous fine needle biopsy extracts a few cells through a needle, while a percutaneous core needle biopsy uses a small round blade to pop out a core of cells. A brush biopsy simply involves rubbing a brush along the questionable area. Whichever biopsy you have, the cells will be sent to a lab for examination.

Crown lengthening can be a cosmetic procedure to correct a gummy smile. It is also used when a tooth is broken or decayed below the gum line, making it impossible to successfully secure a crown. Either way, the goal is to expose more of the tooth by pushing back the gum line.

A frenulum is a piece of tissue that holds an organ in place. There is one that connects each lip to the gums, as well as one that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth. When a frenulum is too short or too thick, it can interfere with movement, speech, and other activities.

A frenectomy is a minor in-office surgery designed to reduce an overgrown frenulum. It takes just a few minutes with either a scalpel or a dental laser, though the laser is preferred due to reduced pain and shorter healing times.

An occlusal adjustment realigns the bite, or the way the teeth fit together. It is most often needed when teeth are loose, crowded, or missing. Teeth grinding and clenching can also cause the bite to move slightly out of alignment. Occlusal adjustment uses a fine filing stone attached to a dental drill to gently shift the bite. You may also need to wear a removable mouthpiece for a period of time to protect the teeth and relax the jaw muscles.

We will use a digital scan of your mouth to record your bite registrations and determine exactly which areas need adjustments. This ensures that we make only the needed adjustments and improve the final results.

Teeth can become loose for many reasons, including trauma, orthodontic treatment, and pressure from tooth misalignment. Regardless of the reason, though, loose teeth are uncomfortable and are at higher risk for damage or even loss.

Periodontal splinting uses composite material to attach the loose teeth to the stable adjoining teeth. This create a solid unit that is stronger than each individual tooth, restoring your ability to eat normally and reducing the risks of damaging or losing the weakened teeth.

When a tooth is missing, the jawbone begins to shrink through the natural process of resorption. This can eventually lead to a hollow, sunken look and premature aging. In addition, it can make dental implant placement difficult or impossible. Bone grafting can reverse this bone loss, filling out the face and providing a stable base for dental implants.

Everyone needs dental cleanings twice per year. If you have neglected a few cleanings or are prone to gum disease, though, you might need a deeper cleaning known as scaling and root planing. Scaling refers to the process of removing dental plaque and tartar from the tooth surface beneath the gum line, while root planing involves smoothing the root surfaces to make it easier for them to smoothly reattach to the gums.

If you have advanced gum disease, your gums may have receded significantly. If they have receded enough to expose the tooth root, soft tissue grafting can help. We will remove soft tissue either from the adjacent gums or from the roof of the mouth, and graft it to the existing gum tissue to cover the tooth roots.

Call 701-852-4755 to schedule your first appointment.