NJ Periodontist Dental Implants NJ Periodontist Michele Dimaira

Michele J. Dimaira Periodontal D.M.D., M.S., P.A.

Our Services

Cosmetic Procedures

	Periodontal procedures enhance restorative and cosmetic dentistry. This will help to improve the overall health and esthetics of your smile.

	Cosmetic Crown Lengthening:
	If your teeth appear short or you have a “gummy” smile because a lot of gum tissue shows, a simple procedure can be performed to enhance your look. In this procedure excess gum tissue is removed and the remaining tissue is sculpted into a pleasing appearance.

	*Ridge Augmentation*:
	When a tooth is lost and not replaced by a dental implant, the bone and gum in that area tends to recede. This can cause bone and gum loss on the neighboring teeth as well. This results in an unnatural appearance and loss of support for the adjacent teeth. This defect can be repaired using a combination of soft and hard tissues in order to restore the natural appearance of that part of the jaw. This means that gum tissue and /or bone graft materials may added depending upon the individual needs of the patient.

	*Root Coverage*:
	Gum grafts can be used to cover unsightly exposed root surfaces. Exposed root surfaces can make the tooth appear longer and give a person an older appearance: “long in the tooth”. They can also cause severe sensitivity to hot, cold and touch. Root surfaces are also prone to decay. A gum graft will solve all of these concerns. In this procedure, Dr. Dimaira will take a small piece of tissue from the roof of the mouth (palate) and transfer it to the needed site. Alternately, “processed” gum tissue can be used, which negates the need to harvest your own tissue.

	Frenectomy:
	A frenum is a band of tissue which connects the gum to the lip/cheeks or the tongue to the floor of the mouth. Occasionally a frenum might be exceptionally thick or tight. This can cause recession on the involved teeth or even separation of the adjacent teeth. In the tongue area, this can cause alteration of speech (lisping). Repositioning of the frenum is an easy procedure which solves these dilemmas.

Dental Implants

	*Dental Implants*:
	A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth.

	The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.

	This procedure is a team effort between you, your dentist and Dr. Dimaira. She and your dentist will consult with you to determine where and how your implant should be placed. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, Dr. Dimaira will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.

	Replacing a Single Tooth:
	If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it. A dental implant replaces both the lost natural tooth and its root.

	Replacing Several Teeth:
	If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.

	Replacing All of Your Teeth:
	If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them.

	*Sinus Augmentation*:
	A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the close proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants.

	Ridge Modification:
	Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge. Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come.

	As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply! After treatment, Dr. Dimaira will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.

	*Benefits of Dental Implant Treatment*:
	Provides the closest and best possible replacements for your natural teeth Replacement teeth are stable for eating, talking and smiling with confidence No other teeth are affected by your dental implant No discomfort caused by dentures The bone is preserved in the jaw Face shape is maintained

Dr. Dimaira is an expert at providing dental implant therapy. She has been placing dental implants for over 20 years. She is an expert at immediate dental implant placement (same-day extraction and placement of the implant) as well as immediate dental implant placement with temporization (a front tooth being extracted, implant placed and a temporary tooth placed on the implant).

Periodontal Non-Surgical Therapy

	*Scaling and Root Planing*:
	Scaling and root planing is the removal of tarter (calculus) below the gum line. Calculus is dental plaque which has picked up minerals from the saliva and hardened. Dental plaque is a film of bacteria which can cause bone loss, gum recession and decay.

	Scaling and root planing is also known as a “deep cleaning”. It is usually done with anesthetic such as lidocaine injection or a topical gel so that the patient is comfortable. This cleaning is very thorough and meticulous and may take up to 4 or more visits.

	The goal of this procedure is to shrink periodontal pockets while eliminating harmful bacteria from the mouth. A periodontal pocket is an abnormally deep crevice which exists between the tooth and the gum. This is the hiding spot for bacteria.


	*Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing*:
	Controls the growth of bacteria both above and below the gum line Helps gums reattach and pocket depths to be reduced Reduces pain and sensitivity Decreases bleeding gums Prevents bone and tooth loss Promotes healthy gums and teeth

Dr. Dimaira’s office is equipped with a state of the art magnification system (Perioscope) which aids in the scaling and root planing process. Although this highly technical equipment is not needed for every patient, it may be beneficial for certain cases, especially in patients which are not surgical candidates. Click here to read more about the perioscope.

Periodontal Surgical Therapy

	Deep periodontal pockets may not completely heal after scaling and root planing. Surgery may be needed to decrease the deep gum pockets, remove inflamed tissue and reduce damage to the bone supporting the teeth.

	Surgery allows Dr. Dimaira to access hard-to-reach areas under the gum and along roots where plaque and calculus have accumulated.

	Wherever possible, the ultimate goal of surgery is to perform bone regeneration. In this procedure either human (cadaver), cow (bovine) or synthetic bone is placed adjacent to the tooth in order to provide additional support. These procedures involve making a small incision between the tooth and gum in order to obtain access to the diseased root and bone. The area is meticulously cleaned and medicated and then the appropriate regenerative material is applied.

	Surgical therapy also includes extraction of hopeless teeth. When teeth are extracted it is frequently recommended to preserve the socket with bone graft material in order to prevent loss of support for adjacent teeth and the jaw bone in general.

X-Ray Diagnosis

Dr. Dimaira’s office is equipped with state of the art radiographic technology. In addition to digital-rays for intra-oral diagnosis, the office also has 3-D (cone/beam) technology. This allows a comprehensive evaluation of the length and width of the jaw bone and allows safer and more accurate implant placement.

Prevention & Maintenance

	Supportive Periodontal Therapy is a crucial part of periodontal therapy especially for patients with a history of periodontal disease. It is an extension of active periodontal therapy. Dr. Dimaira will collaborate with your dentist to ensure that you are closely supervised. This includes an update of your medical and dental history, review of X-rays and an oral and soft tissue examination. It also includes a periodontal exam, review of patient’s oral hygiene, scaling and root planing and polishing of teeth.