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Periodontist

The commitment to advanced treatment and precision ensures your journey to optimal oral health and aesthetic excellence is in skilled hands. Enhance your oral health through our customized, high-quality periodontal and implant services.

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Specialising in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease (gum disease), restoration of lost hard and soft tissues (gum and bone) and in the
placement of dental implants.

Periodontists perform a wide range of treatments to halt the progression of gum disease, replace missing teeth and make the appearance of the smile more aesthetically pleasing by certain treatments such as soft tissue and bone grafting, implant placement, sinus lift surgery and crown lengthening surgery.

There are many reasons why the gums and jawbone may require corrective treatment. These can include periodontal disease, trauma, failed dental treatment, tooth decay and congenital anomalies. New procedures and technologies have added to the repertoire of the periodontist, allowing restoration of health, function and aesthetics in a timely and comfortable manner.

Signs and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

  • Bleeding gums – gums should never bleed, even when you brush vigorously or use dental floss
  • Loose teeth – also caused by bone loss or weakened periodontal fibers (fibers that support the tooth to the bone)
  • New spacing between teeth – caused by bone loss
  • Persistent bad breath – caused by bacteria in the mouth
  • Pus around the teeth and gums – sign that there is an infection present
  • Receding gums – loss of gum around a tooth
  • Red and puffy gums – gums should never be red or swollen
  • Tenderness or discomfort – plaque, calculus, and bacteria irritate the gums and teeth

Periodontal disease is diagnosed by your dentist or dental hygienist during a periodontal examination. This type of exam should always be part of your regular dental check-up.

The first step in periodontal care is called initial treatment. As part of this phase
great emphasis is placed on improving oral hygiene with demonstration of
techniques to clean all aspects of the tooth. The periodontist will also clean the tooth root surfaces. Disinfectants may be applied to enhance results. For many patients this is the only stage of active treatment that is required.

In some severe cases of periodontal disease surgical treatment is required. This procedure involves directly accessing the tooth root surfaces to clean them and repositioning the gum tissues such that future cleaning by the patient is easier.

It is now possible, in some cases, to regenerate or regrow tissues lost due to periodontal disease. These surgical procedures have been developed over the past 25 year and utilize new technologies, like growth factors, to prompt the regeneration of new tooth tissue support to replace that lost due to periodontal disease. Periodontal regeneration surgery is a very minor procedure.

Gingival recession, or receding gums, leads to exposed tooth roots and can cause tooth sensitivity, visible roots, and an unesthetic “toothy” smile. Early detection is crucial and can minimise future treatment needs. Treatments range from regular monitoring, modification of oral hygiene techniques to replacement of lost gum tissues with soft tissue grafting.

Gingival or gum grafts are used to cover exposed tooth roots and thicken tissue to reduce the risk of further recession occurring. Modern techniques have been developed that result in much less invasive procedures that heal much faster and more comfortably. New ‘biologicals’, substances used during the procedure, result in even faster healing, greater comfort and enhanced results.

Crown lengthening aids tooth restoration and can enhance the aesthetics of the teeth and smile. This procedure is often used to address a “gummy” smile. Quickly performed under local anaesthesia, hard and soft tissue are reshaped with almost immediate results. If restorations are require for the teeth such as crowns, these are placed after a short time to allow the gum tissues to mature. In the interim, aesthetic provisional restorations can be placed.

Tooth loss usually results in the loss of the bone that supported the tooth. This can result in a cosmetic defect and or a situation where a dental implant cannot be placed. Bone grafting can repair this defect and results in the formation of new bone. New materials and techniques mean that many areas, previously unsuitable for dental implant placement, can now be treated.

Dental implants have two components. A portion that is inserted into the jaw bone, the dental implant. The prosthesis (crown, bridge, denture) is then attached to the implant.

The dental implant is usually placed by a surgeon, like a periodontist. The prosthesis is usually made by a dentist such as a prosthodontist. Dental implants provide a fixed solution for replacement of missing individual teeth. They can be used to anchor partial and complete dentures, enhancing denture stability and retention.

Dental implant supported prostheses look natural, restore smiles, and improve chewing, speech, and digestion.

The process involves a diagnostic or preparatory phase to ensure the implants are placed in the proper position. Then the implants are placed. Once the implants have integrated the prosthetic teeth may be fabricated.

The maxillary sinus is an air filled space, connected to the nose, located above the posterior upper teeth. In some patients, after posterior upper teeth are lost, the maxillary sinus expands such that there is not enough bone to support dental implants.

A number of options are available that allow the deficient bone to be increased such that dental implants may be placed. In some instances this increase in bone is performed a number of months before the dental implant is placed. In other cases the bone support is increased at the time of implant placement.

The various techniques for sinus grafting have a long track record of success. These procedures allow patients to have options that were not previously possible. In recent years new techniques and materials have allowed for even faster and simpler sinus elevation treatments.

Occlusion is a term used by dentists to describe how teeth contact together. In some instances, due to tooth movement or poorly contoured dental restorations, traumatic tooth contacts occur. These traumatic contacts can accelerate the progress of periodontal disease.

Bruxism is a term used to describe patterns of teeth grinding and jaw clenching that usually occur at night. This parafunctional activity can result in tooth loosening, tooth fracture and accelerated progression of periodontal disease.

Treatment for both of these occlusal issues, trauma from occlusion and Bruxism, can involve adjustments of teeth, mouthguards (such as the Michigan Splint) and new dental restorations. Periodontal disease must also be treated and controlled.

Pathology screenings are crucial for early detection of oral cancer, which often starts in the lips, mouth, salivary glands, throat, or face. Early-stage treatments are highly effective. Dentists conduct painless exams to check for lumps, red patches, sores, leukoplakia, or other abnormalities in the mouth and surrounding areas, with biopsies taken if necessary for further investigation.

What’s the first step with a Periodontist?

A consultation will be the first appointment that is made for you. This is a comprehensive examination carried out by our specialist dentist and normally takes approximately 45 minutes.

On arrival at our practice, you will be asked to fill out some paperwork including your medical and dental history. This will be reviewed with the dentist to make sure that appropriate treatment is delivered successfully. If you have been referred to us by your dentist, we will have a referral letter on file and our dentist will review this before your visit.

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A Tradition of Excellence in Dental Technology

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Comprehensive Treatment Planning for Optimal Results

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Innovative Surgical Techniques for Enhanced Healing

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Expertise in Restorative Dentistry

5 stars

The clinic is very professional. I had an appointment with Dr Paul and then with Lucia. Both were excellent, treatment and advice was spot on. Reception staff were accommodating and friendly and organised a suitable appointment time. I felt in good hands from start to finish.

Paul Hegarty

4 stars

Traveling around long term so we wanted to keep up our dental hygiene on the road. Since we have gum issues, we were specifically looking for someone with a good periodontal practice for our cleaning but wouldn’t require us to go through a whole new patient appointment since we have doctors at home but just wanted to keep up our cleaning regimen while traveling. They were happy to book appointments for us with just the hygienist, Maria, who we thought did a thorough job. Cleaning is about the same cost as at home (€90 each). We were pleased and if we ever move to Ireland or need another cleaning while we are here, we would definitely come back.

Alexandra Smith

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