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Crown lengthening, also known as a gum lift, is generally performed by Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson in order to improve the health of the gum tissue, or to prepare the mouth for restorative or cosmetic procedures. For instance, if you’re bothered by a “gummy” smile or teeth that you feel are too small, crown lengthening can be a great option.

For years, crown lengthening, which exposes more of your natural teeth by reshaping or recontouring bone and gum tissue, has been used by periodontists as a technique to improve oral health, but the procedure has gained notoriety as a way to improve our patients’ smiles cosmetically. Let’s take a look at three main reasons why Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson would recommend crown lengthening:

• Restoring damaged teeth: Gum disease, tooth decay, and trauma can all cause severe damage to your teeth. Crown lengthening is used to prepare the area for a new restoration to treat the damaged teeth.
• Dental crowns: Another purpose crown lengthening serves is to allow more space between your jawbone and dental crown. This technique prevents the new crown from damaging surrounding gum tissues and bone once Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson and our team put it in place.
• Cosmetic purposes: The third reason why we provide crown lengthening is to remove excessive gum tissue that makes teeth look unnaturally short, as well as makes you vulnerable to periodontal infections. Reducing the amount of extra gum tissue can not only prevent periodontal disease, but also improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.

To learn more about crown lengthening, or to schedule an appointment at our convenient Romeoville, IL office.

In fancy medical terms, dry mouth is known as xerostomia. It’s really just what it sounds like: a condition in which you don’t have enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Dry mouth can be the result of certain medications you’re taking, aging, tobacco use, nerve damage, or chemotherapy.

Depending on whether you’re aware of the cause of your dry mouth, here are some simple ways to keep it at bay:

• Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine
• Avoid tobacco use, or lower your consumption of tobacco
• Floss after every meal
• Brush your teeth after every meal using a fluoride toothpaste
• Avoid foods that have a high level of salt
• Stay hydrated and drink water frequently
• Consider using a humidifier at night

If you have any questions about dry mouth and how it is affecting you, give our Romeoville, IL office a call or make sure to ask Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson during your next visit!

Short answer: No. But, since an answer that short is hardly worth the time it took you to click on the link, allow us to explain further!

We tend to think of tooth decay as something we leave behind with childhood. And, while it’s true that youthful cavities are unfortunately common, older adults face unique challenges of their own that put them at risk for cavities.

Root Cavities

Gum tissue often recedes with age. And our roots, which were once completely covered and protected by gum tissue, become partially exposed to plaque, acidic foods, and the abrasive effects of heavy-handed brushing.

This is a problem. Instead of enamel, a substance called cementum covers and protects our roots. But cementum isn’t as strong as enamel, and so our roots are much more vulnerable to the cavity-causing bacteria in plaque, erosion from dietary acids, and damage caused by abrasive brushing. Root cavities also progress faster than crown cavities, which can mean a root canal procedure in your future, or, even worse, an extraction if a cavity isn’t treated promptly.

What can you do to avoid root cavities?

• Do what you do to avoid any cavity—brush at least twice a day for two minutes, use floss to clean between the teeth and along the gumline, and use a fluoride toothpaste.
• Fluoride treatments can be applied to the exposed root area for added protection. Ask Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson about this option.
• Always use a soft toothbrush. Even a brush with medium bristles can be too firm for teeth and gums.
• Take care of your gum health. If you have symptoms of serious gum disease, expert care in diagnosis and treatment can be provided by Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson.

Why see a periodontist? Gum recession can have many serious consequences if left untreated. Besides root cavities, gum recession can lead to infection, bone loss, and tooth loss. A periodontist is skilled in treating the structures which support our teeth, with additional years of study after dental school specializing in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of gum disease.

Drs. Angela Paros, Amer Atassi, Eric Young, Alexander Katsnelson can help restore gum health with both non-surgical and surgical options at our Romeoville, IL office, including:

• Scaling and planing. These non-surgical deep cleaning procedures remove plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, and smooth tooth roots to remove bacteria and help the gum tissue reattach to the teeth.
• Flap surgery. This procedure treats persistent gum infection, reducing pocket depth between gum and tooth and re-securing the gums snugly around the teeth.
• Gum grafting. For more severe gum recession, tissue from your own mouth or a tissue bank can be surgically placed to cover exposed roots, restoring and regenerating gum tissue.

Keeping up with our dental and periodontal health is important at any age. Brushing and flossing, fluoride toothpaste, regular dental exams and cleanings—the basics of dental health don’t change over time, even if our dental challenges are a bit different as we get older. After all, do you ever outgrow an attractive, healthy smile? This answer is short and sweet: never.

Emergency rooms are for emergencies, so before you head to the hospital because of a dental problem, you need to ask yourself this question: Is what you're experiencing really a medical emergency? While emergency room visits for dental related issues are on the rise across the United States , they’re not necessarily the best solution for every problem. Many people don't know about emergency dental care services, many of which are available 24/7, and so they go to the ER.

These types of statistics are common across the country. However, despite the numbers, not all dental problems are created equal. If you've experienced some type of injury to your mouth, jaw, or face, then an ER visit is a good idea, but if you're suffering from a toothache, cavity, or broken crown or veneer, then the ER is not the best place to handle the situation. If you're having a dental emergency, then seeking emergency dental care should be your course of action.

Seeking Long-Term Solutions

The ER doesn't provide a long-term solution to your dental issue; it only gives you temporary relief. There’s a chance they will simply hand you a prescription for pain medication and tell you to call your dentist in the morning. In the end, you’re going to be saddled with two medical bills, and nobody wants that. Even if the ER outfits you with a temporary crown or filling, you're still going to have to make a follow-up appointment our office.

There are numerous homemade remedies that can sooth tooth and gum pain. However, if you're experiencing a dental emergency, the ER is not the place to go. The specialized emergency team at High Point Dental Group is available to take care of every dental problem you may have. In the case of a dental emergency, don't wait any longer than necessary. Feel free to contact our Romeoville, IL office at any time, day or night.