Periodontal Procedures
Scott Zirkin, DDS
Our Periodontal Specialist
Dr. Scott Zirkin is Board certified in Periodontology and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany, Dr. Zirkin graduated with his DDS from the State University of New York at Buffalo and did his post-graduate periodontal training at New York University.
At Dental Specialists of Bridgewater, we offer a wide range of periodontal procedures to treat gum disease in both hard and soft tissues in the mouth. Periodontal procedures are typically performed to preserve the jaw bone and/or gums to save teeth or allow for the placement of dental implants. They can also be used to enhance your smile by correcting problems such as uneven gum lines, receding gums, and indentations in the gums or jawbone.
Dental Implants
Dental implants replace missing teeth and can help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting techniques are used to reverse bone loss or to enhance bone tissues around the teeth or areas where teeth have been extracted.
Gum Grafting
Gum grafting treats root exposure resulting from receded gum tissue. Tissue is removed from the roof of the mouth or from gum tissue near the tooth and stitched into the area needing gingival repair.
Dental Extractions
Extractions may be necessary for a variety of reasons: in preparation for orthodontic treatment, before dental implant placement, or if a tooth is not able to be saved with restorative procedures.
Bone Regeneration
Bone regeneration is a periodontal surgical procedure that can be used to regenerate jaw bone and surrounding tissue.
Ridge Preservation
Ridge preservation involves placing a regenerative bone grafting material into empty tooth sockets to rebuild bone where an extraction has left an empty, weakened area. This process encourages your body’s natural capacity to regenerate bone.
Periodontal Splinting
Periodontal splinting is done to stabilize teeth that have become loose as a result of bone loss due to periodontal disease. The doctor will determine if periodontal splints are needed, as sometimes careful management of the periodontal disease causes the teeth to become more stable. Periodontal splints may use stabilizing wire or ribbon, composite resin, crowns, inlays/onlays, and/or veneers to accomplish the goal of stabilizing the teeth.
Other Periodontal Procedures
Maintenance Services
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure used to treat gum disease. During the scaling process, specialized dental instruments are used to remove dental plaque and calculus from beneath the gums. Planing is the procedure used to smooth the tooth's root after the scaling process. Root planing helps the gums heal and reattach themselves to a cleaner and smoother root surface.
Patient Instructions Following Scaling and Root PlaningPeriodontal Maintenance Program
Home care is an extremely important part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but even excellent home care cannot prevent bacteria and plaque. If the plaque is not removed, it can harden, becoming calculus. We will recommend a periodontal maintenance program that is best for you based on how quickly you develop calculus and your past and current periodontal health. During your maintenance visits we will perform an oral examination as well as a dental cleaning.