Periodontist Downtown San Diego

Periodontics refers to techniques used to prevent, diagnose, and treat periodontal disease. At Fifth Avenue Dental Arts in Downtown Downtown San Diego, California, Ramin Ghassemi, DDS, MS, Nina Mojaver, DMD, and the team offer both surgical and nonsurgical therapies to treat gum disease effectively. If you’re concerned about gum disease, call the office or request a periodontal consultation at Fifth Avenue Dental Arts online.

Periodontics Q & A

What is periodontitis?

Also known as gum or periodontal disease, periodontitis is an infection that affects your gums and the bone that holds your teeth in place. Periodontitis typically occurs as a result of poor oral hygiene. Bacteria in your mouth forms a sticky film on the surface of your teeth known as plaque. Without proper daily brushing and flossing, this plaque eventually hardens and turns into tartar.

Once plaque becomes tartar, it cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing. The longer tartar sits on your teeth, the more damage it does. Without professional treatment, tartar causes inflammation (also known as gingivitis) and, eventually, infection. Advanced periodontitis causes ongoing inflammation and damage to your gums and bone, which can cause tooth loss.

What are the symptoms of periodontitis?

Symptoms of periodontitis include:

Swollen gums
Painful chewing
Persistent bad breath
Sensitive teeth
Loose teeth
Receding gums
Bleeding gums

In order to avoid serious complications like tooth and bone loss, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Early to moderate stage periodontitis can be effectively treated with nonsurgical methods. If you experience symptoms, Fifth Avenue Dental Arts is dedicated to helping you find the right treatment for your condition.

What nonsurgical treatments are available?

If you experience gum disease, nonsurgical treatment begins with scaling and root planing. To perform scaling and root planing, your doctor manually removes plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth below your gum line. Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend additional nonsurgical therapies like:

Antibiotics
Splinting
Bite correction

The goal of periodontal therapy is to remove plaque and tartar and slow down the progression of gum disease. In some cases, the damage caused by periodontitis requires surgical care for successful treatment.

What if I need surgery?

If your gum disease is more advanced, surgical treatment is often required to restore the health, structure, and appearance of your smile. Fifth Avenue Dental Arts offers a number of effective surgical therapies, including:

Gingivectomy
Soft tissue graft
Gum tissue regeneration

If you experience bone loss, your doctor may perform bone surgery to smooth holes and defects in your jawbone or bone grafting to rebuild areas of lost bone.

Fifth Avenue Dental Arts is led by a team of highly experienced dentists, like Ramin Ghassemi, DDS, MS, who have decades of combined experience. To discuss your condition and find out which treatment is right for you, call the office or book an appointment online today.

Office Hours

Monday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed