Scaling and Root Planing

At our practice, we actively strive to help our patients maintain optimal oral health and retain their original teeth. By offering scaling and root planing to treat early gum disease, Dr. Alan Dilsaver can restore the health of your gums and save your smile.

Periodontal disease is responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, making it critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and starts when a buildup of plaque on your teeth hardens into tartar and creates a suitable environment for bacteria to collect and attack the surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it become periodontis, which can destroy your gum tissue, lead to tooth loss and even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone. Heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into more serious periodontal disease. The procedure allows the dentist to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar that is causing your inflammation.

The procedure is incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth. If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you have red, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment at Lehigh Valley Smiles by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.LehighValleySmiles.net.

TMJ

TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull at the temporal bone. While many call disorders associated with this joint TMJ, those disorders are more appropriately called TMD (temporomandibular disorder), and TMD can have symptoms that range from teeth grinding and headaches to trouble chewing and pain when opening and closing your mouth. TMD is not only an annoying disorder; it is also a destructive one and can cause serious damage to your teeth if left untreated. Here at Lehigh Valley Smiles, Dr. Alan Dilsaver can determine if you suffer from TMD and offer ways to treat the disorder.

The TMJ controls an assortment of jaw functions, including chewing, so if you’re chewing muscles or the joint itself is in pain, it is possible that you have TMD. TMD is often caused by stress, which leads to unconscious clenching and teeth grinding while awake and asleep. TMD’s symptoms include pain, trouble chewing, lock jaw, headaches or ear pain and a popping or clicking sound when opening your mouth. However, these symptoms may be indicative of other health problems as well, so it is important to see a medical professional for a diagnosis.

Grinding your teeth is an especially worrisome TMD-associated behavior since it can lead to further problems with your mouth. If your teeth grinding is left unaddressed, you will cause serious wear to the enamel of your teeth and expose the dentin, which will make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold and more susceptible to decay. However, you can work with Dr. Dilsaver to relieve symptoms with mouthguards or nightguards.

If you think that you might be suffering from TMD or teeth grinding in Easton, PA, schedule an appointment with our office by calling (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.LehighValleySmiles.com.

Why Would You Need Bone Grafting?

In some cases, our patients do not have the proper amount of bone mass in their jaw to allow for the placement of dental implants. However, thanks to recent developments in bone grafting, people who would not have qualified a few years ago can now receive dental implants. In Easton, PA, Dr. Alan Dilsaver performs bone grafting to increase the amount of bone in his patients’ jaw to allow for future implants at Lehigh Valley Smiles.

There are several bone grafting techniques, but they can all be grouped into two types. The first type of bone grafting is the most extensive type and is performed only by an oral surgeon, which Dr. Dilsaver is. Always done as a surgery separate from dental implant placement, this first type makes large changes to the shape and size of the dental ridge for the sake of implants, which are usually not implanted until several months later.

The second type of bone grafting is usually performed if the jaw has enough bone for implant placement but not enough to completely cover the sides of the implant. These grafts are usually small and performed when dental implants are placed.

Whether you need bone grafting or not, if you are looking to receive dental implants, we can make it happen. To schedule an appointment, call (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.LehighValleySmiles.net.

Screening for Oral Cancer

Being screened for oral cancer is an important part of maintaining your oral health and should be a regular part of your oral hygiene routine. At our practice in Easton, PA, we take oral cancer seriously and are dedicated to keeping our patients safe with thorough screenings.

While everyone is at risk for oral cancer, certain factors can increase your risk in developing the disease. Lifestyle choices, such as heavy drinking or smoking, can greatly affect the health of tissues in the mouth, so it is especially important for you to receive regular screenings if you partake in these activities. If oral abnormalities are caught early, it will not only expand your treatment options, including less invasive and less radical treatments, but it will also increase your chances of beating oral cancer.

Screening for oral cancer can be done during routine checkups by Dr. Alan Dilsaver, who uses ultraviolet light to help him spot abnormal tissue in your mouth. Abnormal tissue can then be tested to see if it is cancerous or not.

Oral cancer is a serious issue, and at Lehigh Valley Smiles, we strive to protect all our patients. To schedule an appointment, call (610) 252-7414. For more information, visit www.LehighValleySmiles.net.