Saving Your Own Teeth in Bloomington

A periodontist specializes in the support structures for the teeth, which includes the periodontal (gum) tissue, jaw bone, and connective tissues. For teeth to survive and stay in place, they must have adequate support. Oral health conditions such as gum disease and tooth decay can damage the support structures, causing them to weaken, deteriorate, and recede. Periodontists provide surgical and non-surgical treatment that restores the health of these tissues so that the teeth are well-supported and more likely to remain in place.

When a dental emergency threatens your smile, fast action can make the difference between losing and preserving a natural tooth. The most common reasons patients need emergency dental care include intense tooth pain, severe pain, a persistent toothache, fractured teeth, a cracked tooth, broken teeth, knocked out teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, or a lost filling or damaged crown. Whether caused by injury or trauma, ignoring the pain or choosing to wait can lead to further damage, infection, and serious complications.

If a tooth is broken or painful, gently rinse your mouth with warm water, apply a cold compress to limit swelling, and use light pressure if bleeding occurs. For knocked out teeth, store the tooth in milk and contact our office immediately instead of going to the closest emergency room. Taking these steps is often helpful to relieve pain, sometimes relieve discomfort completely, and improve the overall outcome while we diagnose and treat the problem.

Seeking prompt urgent care allows us to address a deep cavity, replace a damaged filling, and correct other problems before they worsen. With timely care, appropriate antibiotics when necessary, and focused treatment, we help every family protect their natural teeth and receive the care they need immediately.

We are equipped with the latest technology in periodontics, which improves patient comfort and accelerates recovery. 

• Lasers for surgery and non-surgical lasers. Dental lasers are designed to seek out and eliminate diseased or damaged tissue, essentially vaporizing it without the use of a scalpel. This reduces bleeding and results in faster recovery.
• 4 different types of lasers:
  • Nd:YAG. This dental laser is used to remove the diseased tissue in the pocket between the tooth and gums.
  • Er:YSGG. This dental laser is used to remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) from the surface of the tooth root.
  • 2 different types of Diode Lasers. Diode lasers also remove diseased tissue and calculus, but use a different wavelength.