Periodontist St. John, MO
Periodontist St. John, MO. Periodontal disease, which is a severe gum infection, usually begins as gingivitis, which is a moderate form of gum disease caused by plaque and other buildup. John Martin & Associates are here to help patients that may be struggling with various tooth and gum conditions. Contact our offices today or call us at (314) 739-1222 for our Maryland Heights location or (573) 764-2425 for our Gerald office to schedule an appointment.
What Does a St. John, MO, Periodontist Do?
A periodontist is a dental expert who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of periodontal disease. This includes services such as dental implant maintenance, soft tissue grafting, bone grafting, tissue regeneration, crown repairs, and gum grafting.
John Martin & Associates has the capabilities for:
- Periodontal Disease Treatment
- Root Canal Therapy
- Oral Cancer Screenings
- Endodontic Therapy
- Dental Bonding
- Chipped Tooth Repair
- Cosmetic Dentistry
As an all-in-one family dentist, our St. Louis-based periodontists help prevent painful and even life-threatening oral diseases in St. John, MO. Get in touch with us now if you want to see a periodontist.
Regular brushing, flossing, abstaining from smoking, and routine dental visits are key to preventing periodontitis.
Additional services we provide St. John, MO, patients include:
- Gum Disease Treatment
- Root Canal
- Teeth Implants
- Pediatric Dentist
- Cosmetic Dentistry Services
- Severe Tooth Pain
- Crowded Teeth
- All on 4 Dental Implants
- Chipped Tooth Repair
- Best Dentist Near Me
When Should You See a Periodontist?
Gum disease is preventable with daily brushing, flossing, and bi-annual dental cleanings. But, even with regular oral health maintenance, some patients are more genetically predisposed to gingivitis, periodontitis, and other oral health conditions.
Periodontitis is typically detected during standard dentist appointments. During a dental examination, your dentist will use a "probe," which is a tiny ruler, to measure the depth of your teeth's pockets, search for bone loss or damage, and look for other signs of gum disease, oral cancer, and other conditions.
If you have noticed any of the following symptoms, you could have periodontitis and require immediate treatment from a St. John Periodontist:
- Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums - when periodontal bacteria develops, it can lead to extreme gum sensitivity, bleeding gums, and spacing between teeth
- Abnormal spaces between teeth - plaque, tartar, and other buildup can lead to gum recession and tooth loss, and destroy the jaw bone
- Chronic tooth pain - gum inflammation can cause deep pockets surrounding the teeth, that fill with pus, and when food, air, or water touches it, can lead to extreme sensitivity and pain, and make it challenging to eat, drink, or talk
In many cases, periodontal disease can be prevented with regular visits to the dentist office, specialty dental products, and brushing/flossing at home between dental appointments. But, if you do develop periodontitis, it's important to keep in mind that it's entirely treatable and can be cured with aggressive periodontal disease treatment.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in St. John
There are four stages of periodontal disease; gingivitis and slight, moderate, and advanced periodontitis. Each stage of periodontitis has its own challenges and therefore, requires specialized treatment.
If your St. John Periodontist thinks that you might have periodontitis, you might need one of the following St. John gum disease treatments:
- Scaling, or, tartar and buildup removal, which is performed using a dental scaler to scratch buildup from the surface of each individual tooth and between the gums
- Root planing, commonly known as "deep cleaning," is perfomed using a dental scaler to smooth down the roots of teeth to prevent infection. Root planing also helps teeth that might have loosened reattach to gums
- Applying topical antibiotics to the surface of the teeth, between each individual tooth, and along the gum line to eliminate existing bacteria and aid against regrowth
- Flap surgery involves making a small incision in the gum, lifting it back, and performing deep scaling and root planing
- Soft tissue grafting restores soft tissue damaged by periodontal disease
- Bone grafting, which is used during advanced periodontal disease treatment, takes small samples of bone from non-infected areas to stimulate natural regrowth of bone and prevent future bone damage
- Guided tissue regeneration is performed using a thin, but malleable, dental fabric, and placing it between the infected tooth and existing bone to limit infection and aid in regrowth of natural bone that was destroyed by periodontitis
- Tissue-stimulating proteins are carefully applied to the root of infected teeth to prevent further infection and generate natural bone and healthy tissue
After a St. John Periodontist performs in-office treatment, at-home prevention of periodontal disease typically involves brushing twice a day, flossing daily or after every snack and meal, using fluoride mouth rinses to prevent infection, and a water pick to clean gums.
St. John Periodontist
If you think that you might have periodontitis or another type of gum disease, you need to seek treatment from a St. John periodontist right away. Early detection of gingivitis can prevent severe oral health damage such as tooth loss, gum decay, and bone destruction.
Dr. John Martin and Dr. Tyler Musto have a combined total of over 35 years of experienced in the St. Louis dental industry. Our periodontists' goal is to improve your oral health, prevent future tooth, gum, or other oral health conditions, and ensure that you are satisfied with our St. John dental services every time you visit our office.
If you are looking for a St. John Periodontist, call (314) 739-1222 (Maryland Heights), (573) 764-2425 (Gerald), or contact Martin Dental & Associates today to schedule an appointment.
Martin Dental & Associates serves residents in the following cities in the Greater St. Louis Area: