Periodontics in Minneapolis & Minnetonka, MN

Millions of Americans suffer from periodontal disease. At Holger Dental Group, we treat patients throughout the Minneapolis and Minnetonka area struggling with this condition and provide various treatment solutions to help combat the symptoms and heal the gums. If you are concerned that your gums are unhealthy, call us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Holger, Dr. Akradi and receive a dental examination.

What are the signs of gum disease?

If your gums are red, swollen, or bleeding, you may have gum disease. It is natural for this to happen from time to time after eating something that irritates your gums or brushing too aggressively. However, if this happens regularly, you may have some gum disease. Another symptom is bad breath, loose teeth, pain while chewing, sensitive teeth, or teeth that appear longer. If you live in the Minneapolis or Minnetonka area, we can examine your gums and let you know what the source of your problem is.

The consequences of periodontal disease

In its early stages, gum disease can cause some irritation and bleeding. There may be some discomfort, but it will be minimal. This stage is called gingivitis. If, however, it is left untreated, the disease will spread, and the gums will start to recede by pulling away from the tooth. This creates pockets in the gum tissue that can expose more of the tooth structure and the root system. Once exposed, the tooth and roots are more susceptible to becoming infected as bacteria can gather and start to irritate the area. This can lead to cavities and infections, along with bone loss. In severe cases, bone loss in combination with receding gums can lead to tooth loss. In many cases, adult teeth fall out because of gum disease.

What causes gum disease?

In short – bacteria. When bacteria remain on the teeth, they can form plaque and tartar. When this substance becomes stuck between the teeth and gums, it can lead to gum complications. The best way to prevent this is to brush and floss several times throughout the day, along with visiting the dentist for regular teeth cleanings.

Are certain people at risk for the condition?

You can do things to increase your risk of getting gum disease. This includes smoking, hormonal changes, pregnancy, diabetes, certain medications, and genetics. Any time the blood flow is constricted or reduced, your risk for the disease increases. People with diabetes and pregnant women are more susceptible to the condition. At Holger Dental Group, we recommend that our pregnant patients visit our office at least twice during pregnancy to decrease their risk and the pregnancy complications that come with it.

How is it treated?

At Holger Dental Group, there are several ways to treat gum disease. After examining your teeth and gums, we will recommend determining what the source of the problem is and what should be done to address it. The severity of the periodontitis often dictates the treatment plan. We recommend that patients look for the signs of gum disease and schedule an appointment immediately so that the least invasive procedure can be used to correct the problem. Once the disease has progressed too far, more effective procedures may be necessary to heal the gums. At times, this can involve surgery.

The first step in addressing gum disease is to complete a deep cleaning. By removing plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums, we can help patients throughout the Minneapolis and Minnetonka area start the healing process. Once the bacteria and plaque have been removed, the gums will heal naturally. Standard teeth cleaning will work if the plaque is only around the edge of the gum line. A scaling and root planing procedure will be required if it has become trapped between the gums and teeth. In this case, we will need to scrape the plaque off from the teeth underneath the gums. Some dentists use a laser to do so to complete the procedure faster.

When surgery is required, it is typically because the gums have receded so significantly. When pockets form in the gum tissue, they need to be restored to protect the tooth again. In this case, a gum graft can be helpful. This works by taking tissue from the roof of the mouth or another area and grafting it to the gums so that the gum tissue can start to regenerate. The gums then need to be secured back around the tooth to protect it and the roots. A bone graft may be necessary to restore and strengthen the tooth if bone loss has occurred due to gum disease. In this procedure, natural or synthetic bone is compacted into the area and sealed so that the bone can start to regenerate.

These procedures combined can help to both heal and restore your gums. To tell which procedures are necessary for you, call us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Holger, Dr. Akradi. At Holger Dental Group, we may start with a deep cleaning to see how well your gums react and start to heal. If they do not recover in short order, we may move to surgical procedures as necessary.

How to Keep Your Gums Healthy

You can prevent periodontitis by taking simple steps that include brushing your teeth after meals, flossing daily, and rinsing your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash once a day. This will help remove bacteria and sugar from your teeth and gums before turning into plaque. Eating a healthy diet low in sugar can also help keep your gums healthy. At Holger Dental Group, we also recommend having your teeth cleaned professionally at least twice a year so that we can remove plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach places. This will ensure that your gums remain healthy.

Definition of Periodontic Terminology

Bacterial Plaque

Bacterial plaque is a sticky film consisting of bacteria that coat teeth and lead to tooth decay without proper oral hygiene.

Calculus

Calculus, also known as tartar, refers to the hardened dental plaque that forms on teeth due to improper oral hygiene.

Dental Prophylaxis

A dental prophylaxis is a thorough cleaning procedure that helps prevent periodontal disease, gingivitis, and the spread of plaque on the teeth.

Inflammatory Disease

Inflammatory disease can result from oral inflammation and can lead to other disorders such as a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea, and more.

Peri-Implantitis

Peri-Implantitis refers to the inflammation of the soft and hard gum tissue that surrounds a dental implant and can result from losing supporting bone.

Periodontal Ligament

A periodontal ligament is a tissue that connects the tooth to the bone and is destroyed by advanced periodontal disease.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a lethal gum infection that results from poor oral hygiene, damaging soft tissue, and destroying the bones that support the teeth.

Regenerative Procedures

Regenerative procedures can include bone grafting that replaces missing bone in the jaw with bone from the patient, a donor, or a substitute material.

Root Surface Debridement

During a root scaling procedure to remove tartar from the surface of the teeth, a professional will also use root surface debridement to ensure the teeth are clean.

Alveolar Bone Loss

Alveolar bone loss occurs when the bone containing the tooth sockets in the mouth decreases due to infection or resorption.

Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation

A comprehensive periodontal evaluation is an effective and professional method for examining a patient’s teeth, plaque, gums, bite, bone structure, and any potential risk factors to one’s oral health.

Gingival Flap Surgery

Gingival flap surgery is a procedure in which the periodontist temporarily separates the gums from the teeth to reach the root of the tooth and nearby bone.

Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases

A necrotizing periodontal disease is a disease that involves the necrosis of gingival tissues and lesions forming in the mouth.

Periapical Abscess

A periapical abscess is an abscess that forms from inflammation containing pus in the tissue surrounding the tooth.

Periodontal Pockets

Periodontal pockets form when disease destroys surrounding bone and tissue, resulting in pockets that can create space for bacteria to live in.

Periodontium

The periodontium is the tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth, gums, periodontal ligament, and bone.

Root Scaling and Planing

Root scaling and planing is a non-surgical procedure that involves removing plaque and calculus from the pockets around the root before smoothing the surfaces of the root to help everything heal.