Traditional Periodontal Therapy

Healthy gums cling tightly to the necks of your teeth. When gums become infected due to periodontal disease, they pull away from the tooth surface in response to the infection, creating deep pockets around your teeth. The destructive bacteria that cause periodontal disease thrive in these deepened pockets.

To eliminate this bacterial "breeding ground" are restore health to the gum tissue, one of the treatment options is a surgical procedure in which we trim away unhealthy gum tissue to reduce the pocket size and restore health to your teeth and gums.

First, we thoroughly numb the affected area. Incisions are made, and the gums are gently pulled back. Infected gum tissue is eliminated along with the deep seeded plaque and tartar on the root surfaces. After the reshaping and sculpting of the tissues, dissolvable stitches are used to close the area for quick healing.

After a few weeks, the area will be completely healed. Your gums will have regained their healthy appearance and your periodontal health will be greatly improved. Patients will maintain the restored health with routine cleanings every three months in our office (or alternating with your general dentist).

Options available for periodontal surgery

Laser Assisted Periodontal Surgery

Jacksonville Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is continually committed to patient care and comfort and we are excited to be able to introduce to you Laser Assisted Periodontal Surgery (LAPS).

LAPS is a direct alternative to conventional periodontal surgery. The goal of LAPS is similar to traditional periodontal surgery- to reduce the gum pocket and to allow better access for complete root cleaning during your normal hygiene/cleaning visit. LAPS has been shown to have an additional potential clinical benefit of bone regeneration to help you replace the lost and diseased bone and tissue previously supporting the teeth!

One reason many patients choose to proceed with LAPS is due to the minimally invasive nature of laser assisted procedure (minimal bleeding, no sutures, virtually pain free). Other reasons patients choose to have LAPS is due to compromised medical histories (on blood thinners), to minimize gum recession associated with conventional surgery, and less time away from work and family.

Patients can elect either local anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV/twilight sedation for LAPS. Patients will be required to take an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory for one week after each session of LAPS. Typically the entire mouth can be treated in two short visits with several follow-up visits. Although this treatment produces very little post-operative trauma, follow-up instructions are vital to the ideal healing sequence to follow.

Click video below for demos

IV/Twilight Sedation

When a patient is undergoing periodontal and/or implant surgery, it is not uncommon for the patient to feel anxious or nervous. Dr. Young is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and is licensed by the State of Florida to safely provide conscious IV sedation for patients undergoing dental procedures. Conscious/twilight IV sedation allows our patients to enter a state of extreme relaxation while remaining alert enough to respond to our dental team as needed. With continual monitoring to ensure patient safety, Dr. Young provides a pain-free, completely comfortable dental experience.