MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Click here to schedule an appointment online – with a little information about you or your family.
VISIT OUR SMILE GALLERY
Would you like to see some photos of recently treated patients? Just click on the link and see some of our own results.
TAKE OUR SMILE SELF EVALUATION TEST
Do you already love your smile? Or are you a candidate for a more perfect smile? Would you like to take two minutes to answer a couple of questions and see if a smile upgrade might be in your future?
TAKE OUR SMILE SELF EVALUATION TEST
PATIENT FINANCING OPTIONS
If you want to finance any treatment we are able to accommodate you. Just let us know and we can discuss your options.
WHAT'S NEW
Dentistry is full of new techniques! Do you usually feel the administration of local anesthesia (novocaine)? Has any dental professional mentioned that slight reshaping of your front teeth can dramatically improve your smile? Are you aware of new technology in restorative dentistry that eliminates the blackened silver/mercury fillings that mar some smiles? Have you seen how easy it is to whiten your existing teeth?
CAN I GET FLEX SPENDING?
Absolutely – if you have put aside tax free money with your employer we will be happy to help you with the paperwork to use it. And if you would like estimates to help you put aside the right amount for next year, we can provide you with accurate amounts and make sure you don’t leave it with the employer too!
What Is Periodontal
What is Periodontal (Gum Disease)
You have probably noticed the commercials on television referring to Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Yet a lot of people still don’t know very much about Periodontal Disease even after hearing about it. Following is an outline that we hope will be helpful.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal Disease is the most common chronic inflammatory disease in the country. It is an infection of the tissues that surround your teeth and primarily caused by the bacteria that collect between your teeth and gums. There is a small crevice, or sulcus, between the tooth and gums that is normally three millimeters or less. If you have periodontal disease, this space grows and is called a pocket. As the disease worsens, these pockets get larger and more bacteria accumulate. If left untreated, the bone around the teeth is destroyed, and the teeth may become loose, abscessed, or even fall out.
Early periodontal disease starts in the gums, and is called gingivitis. With appropriate treatment Gingivitis is reversible. Without treatment it progresses and eventually affects the bone around the tooth and becomes Periodontitis. Periodontal Disease can be stopped, but the bone loss is permanent.
Who Gets Periodontal Disease?
While Periodontal disease can affect anyone these factors increase your risk:
- Ineffective brushing and flossing habits
- Smoking and/or chewing tobacco
- Broken fillings, crowns or teeth.
- Pregnancy, Puberty, and Oral Contraceptives.
- Medications.
- Systemic diseases like diabetes and blood cell disorders.
Periodontal Disease has warning signs that often do not cause discomfort. Some of these warning signs include:
- Gums that bleed easily.
- Red and swollen gum tissue.
- Persistent Bad Breath.
- Receding Gums.
- Changes in the way your teeth come together when you bite.
It is also possible to have periodontal disease with no warning signs.
Prevention and Treatments
The best way to prevent periodontal disease is to have regular examinations and cleanings while maintaining good oral hygiene at home. We usually treat moderate Periodontal Disease by cleaning your teeth thoroughly every three months until we are convinced that it is under control. More severe cases include deep scalings. We may also recommend the use of topical or oral antibiotics. In rare cases, we have to turn to surgical procedures.
Located in Tewksbury, we are proud to serve the Greater Boston communities of Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, and Wilmington, Massachusetts.