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clearwater periodontal office

Exploring Advanced Techniques in Periodontal Surgery

Advanced Techniques in Periodontal Surgery: Innovations for Improved Oral Health

In the ever-evolving landscape of dental care, advancements in periodontal surgery have transformed the way we approach the treatment of gum disease and related issues. From innovative technologies to refined surgical techniques, these advancements offer new hope for patients seeking improved oral health and wellbeing.

Laser Therapy: Precision and Efficiency

One of the most significant advancements in periodontal surgery is the widespread adoption of laser therapy. Laser-assisted procedures offer several advantages:

  • Precision: Lasers target diseased tissue with unparalleled accuracy, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
  • Minimal Discomfort: Laser therapy is generally associated with less pain and discomfort compared to osseous surgery, reducing the need for anesthesia and post-operative medication.
  • Faster healing: The precise nature of laser therapy promotes faster healing times, allowing patients to resume their normal activities sooner.

Guided Tissue Regeneration: Restoring Function and Aesthetics

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is another advanced technique revolutionizing periodontal surgery. This procedure involves the use of barrier membranes to promote the regeneration of lost gum and bone tissues, ultimately restoring both function and aesthetics. Key benefits of GTR include:

  • Tissue Regeneration: GTR encourages the growth of new bone and gum tissue, reversing the damage caused by periodontal disease.
  • Preservation of Tooth Structure: By promoting tissue regeneration, GTR helps preserve the natural structure of the teeth and surrounding tissues.
  • Long-Term Results: With proper post-operative care, the results of guided tissue regeneration can be long-lasting, providing lasting benefits for patients.

Advancements in Dental Implant Surgery: Innovations for a Brighter Smile

Dental implant surgery has undergone remarkable advancements in recent years, revolutionizing the way we restore missing teeth and rejuvenate smiles. From improved materials to cutting-edge techniques, these innovations have advanced the safety, effectiveness, and aesthetics of dental implant procedures, offering new hope to patients seeking durable and natural-looking teeth replacements. Some of these advances include:

  • Enhanced Imaging: CBCT scans provide 3D images of the jawbone and surrounding structures, allowing for precise treatment planning and placement of dental implants.
  • Digital Impressions: Digital models allow for the creation of virtual models, helping for the design of custom-made implant restorations that blend seamlessly with natural teeth.
  • Improved surgical techniques which provide reduced trauma, faster recovery, and preservation of bone structure.
  • Advanced Materials: Significant improvements have been made resulting in implants that are stronger, more biocompatible , and more aesthetically pleasing.

Advanced techniques in periodontal surgery have transformed periodontal treatment with highly predictable, minimally invasive, and aesthetic treatment options for patients. As technology continues to evolve, the future holds even greater promise for periodontal and implant dentistry, paving the way for continued improvements in patient care and satisfaction.

Breakthrough laser procedure to save dental implants

Dental implants are a great way to give you a beautiful and functional smile, they are not without limitations. Some patients could experience swelling or infection around their implants, which is known as peri-implantitis.

If you noticed a change in your implants, Dr. Todd Britten can provide a breakthrough procedure following the LAPIP® protocol.

How the Procedure Works

This procedure is minimally invasive, due to the use of cutting-edge, gentle laser technology. This allows Dr. Britten to treat peri-implantitis without the need for incisions. During the procedure, our state-of-the-art PerioLase laser targets the inflamed area of the gum tissue and eliminates harmful bacteria and infection that has developed. There is no need to worry about an extensive recovery period, sutures or any incisions.

The importance of eliminating unhealthy tissue

Even though dental implants are a great option for patients who have lost their teeth due to periodontal disease, the disease can still continue even around dental implants.

It is essential that diseased implants receive proper treatment as soon as possible to protect these implants, other teeth, bone structure and oral health.

If you think your gums might be inflamed around your dental implants, schedule an appointment with us today. Contact us today to learn more about the LAPIP® protocol and its many benefits to you and your oral health.

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www.brittenperio.com

4th Annual Veterans Day Event

Dr. Todd M. Britten and the team at Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry held their 4th annual Free Dental Day for Veterans on November 9, 2018. The team at Britten Periodontics had overwhelming offers to help from many dental professionals in the community willing to donate their time and resources to provide free dental care. This year’s event was assisted by local family dentists and restorative specialists Dr. Jeffrey Ellenberg and Dr. Michael Podlusky. “Having local dentists involved enables us to provide more comprehensive care to our veterans,” Dr. Todd Britten said.

“The Community Dental Clinic in Clearwater helped us to coordinate this year’s event. We are so happy to help provide care for their patients who need to see a periodontist,” said one of Dr. Britten’s team members. “Once again this year, with the help of our restorative dentists, we were able to provide extractions, full dentures, fillings, dental implants, dental cleanings, x-rays and exams,” said another team member.

Air Force Veteran John Fallon was looking forward to his new smile, provided by Dr. Michael Podlusky who practices in Largo, Florida.  When asked what the dental care provided by this event means to him, Fallon said, “Going out more, being able to talk to people and not running away because I get self-conscious with no teeth.”

Dr. Jeffrey Ellenberg of Clearwater, Florida, was helping in the care of Navy Veteran Ernest Bach. Bach said, “This Veteran’s Day is very special to me specifically because of the generosity of the dentists who are donating their time and talents to give this veteran a new perspective and the ability to socialize and participate as I once used to!”

Check out the Video here:

https://youtu.be/S82xHdxBEnQ

Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten offers sedation dentistry, which can be very helpful for those needing advanced treatment, suffer from PTSD or have a fear of the dentist. For more information, contact us today:

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This is How to Prevent Infection of Your Gums Around Dental Implants

Just like natural teeth there is no guarantee a person’s dental implant(s) will last a lifetime. Although they may look bionic in pictures, a dental implant still needs careful monitoring and regular care. True, they cannot decay like natural teeth – but they are subject to the same complications of gum disease and bone loss. Once a dental implant is placed, treatment does not stop there. If it does, there’s a high chance of a infection of the gums, even around implants.

If you’ve undergone treatment for periodontal (gum) disease, you know how involved it can be. If you have lost teeth to periodontal disease and have had dental implants placed, you know the great investment in time and money it takes. Naturally, you would like to protect your investment and keep your dental implant(s) for many years, if not for life! Even if you have had an implant placed due to decay or a cracked root or badly broken tooth, you need to keep the gum support around the implant health, just as you do for natural teeth.

Periodontal maintenance (PM) is important for all patients after treatment, especially those with dental implants. Plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles responsible gum disease, continue to grow again on your tooth and/or implant surfaces as it did before. Diligent, daily brushing and flossing will help to curb that development.

It is also important to keep up regular dental visits for advanced cleaning to remove hard to reach plaque and calculus. Patients prone to gum disease are usually prescribed three or four but for some other gum disease patients, six times a year, especially just after treatment. Many patients alternate visits for periodontal maintenance between a periodontal or implant specialist and their general dentist so that their periodontal condition is closely monitored, as well as the health of their teeth.

Our goal is to reduce the chances of infection of the gums, especially around a dental implant. To do this, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and any implants for signs of disease (as well as an oral cancer screening). This includes an assessment the health of your teeth and gums and to see how well you’re doing with plaque control and review your recommended customized daily oral hygiene instructions.

Overall, we want to prevent the occurrence of any future disease and treat it as soon as possible if it relapses. Keeping up with homemade and a routine periodontal maintenance schedule will help ensure your gums, and your implants continue to stay healthy.

If you would like more information on periodontal disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation 727-586-2681.

Improve your gum health with non-surgical periodontal therapy

Non Surgical Periodontal Therapy also known as scaling and root planing or “a deep cleaning” is often recommended as the first step in periodontal therapy. Treatment is done by one of our hygienists using local anesthesia to provide comfort for the patient as the root surfaces in deep periodontal pockets are debrided to remove calculus or “tartar” and to smooth the root surfaces to remove bacterial toxins. This may take more than one visit with the hygienist and is followed up with a visit with Dr. Britten in four to six weeks to re­evaluate the periodontal tissues.

For more information about options for periodontal treatment, contact us today at 727-586-2681 or visit www.brittenperio.com

Valuable Information About the Different Types of Gum Disease

“TYPES OF GUM DISEASE (from Mouth Healthy.org)

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis and can eventually lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

GINGIVITIS
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Factors that may contribute to gingivitis include, diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases and conditions, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.

PERIODONTITIS
Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

There are many forms of periodontitis. The most common ones include the following.

Aggressive periodontitis occurs in patients who are otherwise clinically healthy. Common features include rapid attachment loss and bone destruction and familial aggregation.
Chronic periodontitis results in inflammation within the supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment and bone loss. This is the most frequently occurring form of periodontitis and is characterized by pocket formation and/or recession of the gingiva. It is prevalent in adults, but can occur at any age. Progression of attachment loss usually occurs slowly, but periods of rapid progression can occur.

Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases often begins at a young age. Systemic conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes are associated with this form of periodontitis.

Necrotizing periodontal disease is an infection characterized by necrosis of gingival tissues, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. These lesions are most commonly observed in individuals with systemic conditions such as HIV infection, malnutrition and immunosuppression.”

From Mouthhealthy.org (American Dental Association)

This is How to Prevent Re-Infection of Your Gums After Periodontal Treatment

If you’ve undergone treatment for periodontal (gum) disease, you know how involved it can be, whether your treatment required nonsurgical therapy, surgical therapy or a combination of both.

Following gum surgery or scaling and root planing, a nonsurgical periodontal therapy, plaque and calculus (hardened plaque deposits) are removed and as they heal swollen, red gums finally begin to regain their healthy pink color.

Treatment does not stop there. If it does, there’s a high chance of a re-infection of the gums.

Periodontal maintenance (PM) is important for gum disease patients after treatment. Plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles responsible gum disease, continue to grow again on your tooth surfaces as it did before. Diligent, daily brushing and flossing to curb that development.

It is also important to keep up regular dental visits for advanced cleaning to remove hard to reach plaque and calculus. For patients with gum disease it is usually four but for some advanced gum disease patients, six times a year, especially just after treatment. Many of our patients alternate visits for periodontal maintenance between our office and their general dentist so that their periodontal condition is closely monitored, as well as the health of their teeth.

Our goal is to reduce the chances of re-infection. To do this, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and any implants for signs of disease (as well as an oral cancer screening). This includes an assessment the health of your teeth and gums and to see how well you’re doing with plaque control and review your recommended customized daily oral hygiene instructions.

Overall, we want to prevent the occurrence of any future disease and treat it as soon as possible if it relapses. Keeping up with homecare and a routine periodontal maintenance schedule will help ensure your gums continue to stay healthy.

If you would like more information on periodontal disease, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation 727-586-2681.

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Diabetes Awareness Month: Why your dentist might be the first one to suspect diabetes

Did you know that 90% of pre-diabetics are unaware of their condition and 25% of Type II diabetics are unaware they have the disease? Many patients see their dentist or dental hygienist more often than they see their primary care physician. This is particularly true for people with periodontal (gum) disease, who require more frequent dental hygiene visits or gum treatments. Your dentist or dental hygienist should take a thorough medical history at each visit.  Some of the things they should look for which could indicate diabetes or prediabetes. Risk factors that indicate a potential for diabetes or pre-diabetes include:

  • Overweight or obese – BMI greater than 25
  • High blood pressure
  • Familial history of diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • History of heart disease
  • Other symptoms or complaints may include thirst, urinating frequently, constant fatigue, weight loss (Type 1), blurred vision, and uncontrolled infections even within the mouth (poorly controlled Type 2 diabetics).

There are also dental clues that may indicate diabetes.

  • A patient that has 26% of periodontal pockets measuring 5 millimeters or more or 4 or more missing teeth (not including wisdom teeth), has a high chance of having a metabolic problem – and diabetes is a metabolic problem.
  • Periodontal disease
  • Dental caries
  • Burning mouth syndrome
  • Oral candidiasis (common in those with poor glycemic control)
  • Salivary problems or dry mouth
  • Neurosensory disorders
  • Soft tissue abnormalities such as stomatitis or lichen planus
  • Dry mouth

A chairside diabetes HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) test may soon be able to be performed in our practice, or if you have had a recent test with your doctor showing a result of 5.7 or greater indicates a 92% chance the patient is metabolically challenged. At this point, the patient should be referred to their physician.

If you are concerned about your oral health or are experiencing symptoms in your mouth or health that could be related to diabetes, contact us today 727-586-2681.

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Clearwater FL Periodontist Dr. Todd M. Britten and the team at Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry are holding their 3rd annual Free Dental Day for Veterans on Friday, November 3rd

Clearwater FL Periodontist Dr. Todd M. Britten and the team at Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry are holding their 3rd annual Free Dental Day for Veterans this Friday, November 3rd, 2017. “The sacrifices made by veterans and their families are truly astounding. I am aware that dental coverage for veterans is very hard to attain, so each year, we have hit the ground running trying to deliver periodontal care to as many veterans as we could.” Britten Periodontics once again had overwhelming offers to help from many dental professionals in the community willing to donate their time and resources to provide free dental care. Patients were directed to the event this year from The Homeless Emergency Project in Clearwater, as well as local V.A. Branches from Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

“Once again, we have had an incredible response from the community and were able to get skilled and compassionate local restorative dentists involved.”  For the third year in a row, Clearwater Dental Associates, Dr. Jim Hayslett and Dr. Keith Kiskadden and their staff are on board to help out with our event, seeing patients for fillings, crowns and even dentures. New to this year’s event, Dr. Michael Podlusky in Seminole, Florida, also reached out to Dr. Britten to also help, making upper and lower dentures at no-cost for one of the patients.

Dr. Britten’s dental specialty, periodontics, often involves managing and treating advanced gum disease. A periodontist is often able to help a patient in danger of losing teeth or with active oral infection to turn their health around. “Having Clearwater Dental Associates involved again this year, and the gracious help of Dr. Mike Podlusky and his team enables us to provide more comprehensive care to our veterans. Being a periodontist, my specialty is really the surrounding structures of the teeth; roots, gum and bone. My job is to help with the foundation. Having the restorative specialists involved helps us to treat the whole mouth and really deliver comprehensive care to these veterans.”  “Most of the time, periodontal disease is not painful until it gets to be very advanced. Some of the veterans had been dealing with painful teeth for a long time,” Dr. Britten expressed his concern. “Even though we sometimes have to remove some teeth we felt better knowing these veterans do not have to be in discomfort anymore.” Britten says being able to offer two different forms of sedation to Veterans for this event in his Clearwater, FL practice has helped for patients who have PTSD, dental anxiety, or need extensive surgical treatment.

For Britten and his team this event is something they look forward to all year long. They keep in touch and have provided follow up care for many of the veterans. “This year we were able to invite Veterans from previous events to receive follow up maintenance care at this year’s event,” said one dental hygienist at Britten Periodontics who helped organize this year’s event.

Dr. Todd Britten explained how glad he is to be doing this the third year in a row and would like to do it annually for the entirety of his career. When asked why this is a cause so near and dear to his heart he stated that his grandfathers and uncles served in the military and giving back to veterans in need is a top priority for him. Dr. Britten said, “The entire staff at Britten Periodontics is so grateful to the men and women in the military that make so many sacrifices for our freedom.”

727-586-2681

What We’ve Been Up To: Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

“On Wednesday’s we wear pink!”

(Dr. Britten and his surgical assistants in their pink surgical gowns!)

It is Breast Cancer Awareness month and in honor of those fighting or who have fought this disease as a patient or a support system we will wear pink.

We will also be donating $5 for every patient we see on Wednesday’s to The American Cancer Society.

Our office is participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in St. Pete on Saturday, October 14th. To Donate our join our team, contact us!

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This week we also gave our patient chocolate whoopie pies in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month! These were made by our friend Stacey at The Sweet Life Bakery http://www.thesweetlife-bakery.com/

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