Northfield

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Periodontal Specialists has one of the largest & most experienced practices in the Midwest, with offices in Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester, Winona, and Red Wing.

The charming and beautiful city of Northfield, MN, lies along the banks of the Cannon River. With its 150 years of history, art, and culture, Northfield offers something for everyone. Bicyclists pursue the varied terrain in this city, whereas nature lovers hike the trails of Cowling Arboretum. On top of that, music aficionados come for the lively scene, and foodies savor the dining options available here.

From the Bridge Chamber Music Festival to the Defeat of Jesse James Days to a summer-long Riverwalk Market Fair each Saturday, Northfield gathers everyone’s interests, and people appreciate it! And if you appreciate the health of your gums and teeth, do visit Periodontal Specialists at our Northfield office.

Our staff is highly skilled in the specialty of Periodontics & Implant Dentistry. And we work together to ensure quality care, simple recovery, and the successful maintenance of our patients’ teeth for life.

Below are some of the treatments administered in our Northfield office (and all our offices) with top-notch precision & care.

Periodontal Plastic Surgery: Northfield, MN

Plastic surgery in dentistry is a concept foreign to most people. However, periodontists, or dentists specializing in the care of gums, have long been referred to as plastic surgeons of the dental world.

Periodontal plastic surgery mainly concerns the regeneration of damaged or missing gum and bone tissue around the tooth. In the case of a gummy smile, we remove extra gum tissue to reveal the beautiful teeth & smile hiding underneath.

Our Periodontists are experts in not just treating your gum disease, but they’re also adept at improving the appearance of your smile through surgical enhancements of your teeth and gums.

If you have receding gums or a gummy smile, our expert periodontists will correct gummy smiles & receding gum lines in a flash. Plus, they give patients a smile they’ve always wanted.

Periodontal & Gum disease treatment Northfield, MN

Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is one of the most common dental problems affecting more than half of the American population. While periodontal disease usually begins as mild gingivitis, characterized by mildly inflamed gums that may bleed occasionally, it can worsen over time and lead to a more severe form of the disease.

This disease goes from bleeding gums to eventually making its way under the gums down to the bone. Eventually, bone loss occurs, which is irreversible, and if left untreated, it’ll lead to tooth loss. Unlike most dental conditions, Chronic periodontal disease is not associated with pain, so it can be hard to detect.

Chronic periodontal disease is characterized by bleeding gums, receding gums, spaces between the teeth, and loss of bone support around the tooth, all of which lead to tooth loss.

Causes for Periodontal Disease

The primary cause for the development of periodontal disease is the build-up of plaque around the tooth and gums. Plaque is teeming with bacteria, which, if allowed to accumulate, can cause infection and elicit an inflammatory reaction from the gums, leading to gum disease.

Other causes like autoimmune diseases, hereditary tooth loss in the family, or hormonal imbalances occurring in the body during puberty and pregnancy have also been linked to an increased risk of periodontal disease.

In dentistry, we talk a lot about periodontal disease and tooth loss, but it’s not just about that. As periodontists, our focus is also on your WHOLE BODY HEALTH. Maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing plaque from accumulating is one of the top ways to prevent periodontal disease.

Extensive research has shown that periodontal disease is strongly linked to a wide variety of medical conditions. Heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory diseases may worsen in the presence of chronic periodontal disease, with the possibility of these medical conditions worsening pre-existing periodontal disease.

Smoking and tobacco chewing habits, crowding of teeth, habitual teeth grinding, and clenching can all be predisposing factors that worsen periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can become a debilitating condition if left unchecked. Gum disease doesn’t cause toothaches, so it is sneaky. That’s why it’s so important to see your dentist, hygienist, or periodontist in Northfield for checkups.

Head to the Periodontal Specialists clinic in Northfield, MN, and schedule an appointment with our expert dental team today for a healthier smile and a healthier life.

• Dental implants do not move or shift in the mouth, allowing the patient to eat, talk, and smile without worrying about their dentures falling out or any other discomfort. They feel very natural, just like your natural teeth, and most people forget they even have an implant.
• Dental implants are self-supporting. Unlike a bridge, they do not require drilling into or sacrificing adjacent teeth to use them as support. Bridges or the teeth supporting a bridge can also often crack under pressure. Bridges still have a place in dentistry when dental implants are not an option, but since dental implants leave the adjacent teeth alone and are self-supporting, they don’t put any extra stress or strain on the neighboring teeth. This is especially important in people with a heavy bite or who clench or grind their teeth. Dental implants leave the teeth next door to space alone and allow biting forces to be more evenly distributed.
• Since dental implants are placed in the jawbone, they preserve the bone structure and, in turn, help maintain the shape of the face.
• Dental implants can last almost a lifetime with the right care and maintenance and do not require frequent replacements like dentures and bridges.

• Dental implants are much more comfortable & secure than dentures. One of the things we focus on in periodontics is quality of life. Everyone wants to eat & chew the foods they love, smile in photos and with their families, and not feel like they have to hide dentures or worry about their teeth falling out or getting loose. Dental implants feel like natural teeth, and so they offer the maintenance of very high quality of life.
• There is no upper age limit for dental implants. Quality of life is essential, which becomes even more critical in the later years of someone’s life. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, and we’ve had many patients in their 80s & 90s asking for and then successfully receiving dental implant treatment to allow them to maintain their smile and comfort and ensure they can enjoy the food they wish to eat.
• There is a lower age limit for dental implants. Patients who receive implants should be adults who have passed their period of growth. And their jawbones are done growing as well. So there is a lower age limit of around 16 for girls and 19 for boys. But this varies from person to person.
• Dental implants can be used to replace single or multiple missing teeth. Patients who have no teeth can opt for snap-in dentures mounted on multiple dental implants in the upper and lower arch to help make dentures much more secure & comfortable compared to the conventional kind.