MacDonald Periodontics

At MacDonald Periodontics, we provide a comprehensive periodontal consultation that takes about one and a half hours to complete and includes:

• Head and Neck Examination
• Complete intraoral soft and hard tissue examination
• Oral cancer screening
• Periodontal charting including an assessment of decay
• Radiographic (X-Ray) Examination
• Oral Hygiene Instruction
• Discussion of Diagnosis
• Proposed Treatment Plan Options (including referrals for non-periodontal procedures
• Fee Estimate and Insurance submission for benefit pre-determination

Please note, prior to your consultation, in order to aid in the appropriate diagnosis of your case, you will receive an office mailing that will include medical and dental history forms and an office policy form. A postage paid return envelope will be included for your convenience. It is important that those forms are completed, signed, and returned prior to your initial visit in order to aid in the appropriate diagnosis of your case.

Have a question or want to book an appointment? Give us a call at 780-439-6662.

The American Academy of Periodontology treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved through the least invasive and cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished with non-surgical periodontal treatment.

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and Root Planing is a thorough cleaning of the root surfaces of the teeth to remove plaque, bacteria, and calculus (tartar) from periodontal pockets and to smooth the root to remove bacterial toxins. This procedure often achieves gum reattachment and a reduction in pocket depth. Scaling and Root Planing may on occasion be accompanied by antibiotic therapy on a case-by-case basis.

Have a question or want to book an appointment? Give us a call at 780-439-6662.

Following periodontal therapy, whether it be scaling & root planing or some form of surgical therapy, maintenance therapy is designed to preserve and further improve your periodontal status. Just like your car, your house or a piece of equipment, regular maintenance cleanings are required to keep your gums and teeth in healthy working order for long-term stability.

Maintenance therapy is an on-going personalized dental cleaning program designed to prevent the recurrence of gum disease. The frequency of maintenance recall cleanings is based upon your healing response to periodontal treatment and your ability to perform meticulous home care. Intervals can vary from once a month to every six months.

A periodontal maintenance visit will include:

• A review of your medical history
• Examining your mouth for any abnormal soft or hard tissue changes
• Assessing your oral hygiene effectiveness and providing instruction for improvement
• Measuring pocket depths and other periodontal measurements of health
• Examining your teeth for cavities or other dental problems
• Obtaining X-Rays if required
• Thoroughly cleaning your teeth of plaque and calculus deposits
• Applying desensitizing solutions to your teeth if required

Periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. Maintenance visits will help protect your periodontal health and reduce your risk of future dental problems. Treating periodontal disease early can reduce the amount of treatment and the complexity of the treatment than if it is left to the later stages. Simply put, a maintenance visit is a wise investment in your dental health!

A commitment to periodontal maintenance therapy is a commitment to better health!

Have a question or want to book an appointment? Give us a call at 780-439-6662.

Periodontal Plastic Surgery Procedures

Periodontists are often considered the “plastic surgeons of dentistry”. If you are looking to improve your smile, a periodontist may be able to help you.

Procedures that may help improve the esthetic appearance of your gums and teeth may involve esthetic crown lengthening surgery, reshaping of the teeth and gum tissues, gum grafting procedures, or more.

Esthetic Crown Lengthening Surgery for the “Gummy Smile”

You may feel that your teeth look too short and that your smile is too “gummy”. Alternatively, your gums may cover too much of one tooth or not enough of another tooth, or just be right on others. Esthetic crown lengthening surgery is designed to remove excess gum tissue and sculpt the remaining gum tissues to provide you with a more harmonious, esthetic smile and appearance.

Crown Lengthening Surgery for Short or Broken Teeth prior to Crowns

In order to provide better retention for a proposed crown(s) or bridge(s), crown lengthening surgery is performed to reshape excess gum and bone in order to expose more natural tooth surface and provide better retention for the proposed crown(s).

Gum Grafting

Gum grafting surgery can reduce the risk of on-going gum recession and bone loss. In certain cases, gum grafting may be able to cover some root surface – which may reduce tooth sensitivity and the risk of tooth decay. Whether a gum graft is performed to improve function or esthetics, the patient may receive the benefit of both with an improved smile and improved periodontal health.

Impacted Tooth Exposures

Occasionally, tooth eruption may be delayed or halted for a number of reasons. Depending upon the case, the periodontist may be able to surgically expose a tooth in preparation for an orthodontist to move the teeth into a better functional and esthetic position.

Pre-Prosthetic or Pre-Orthodontic Periodontal Surgery

In cases of complex multi-disciplinary dentistry, the periodontist is often called upon to build up (gum grafting) the gum tissues or reshape the tissues in order to create healthy functional and esthetic gum tissues prior to, during or following complex orthodontic and prosthetic work. These procedures are performed to create a healthy periodontal base and attempt to reduce the risk of case complications.

Have a question or want to book an appointment? Give us a call at 780-439-6662.