HEALTHY GUMS

Matrix Dental Periodontist, Dr Feheem Bhamjee, is responsible for the management of all aspects of gum health around teeth and dental implants.  From disease management to gum rejuvenation and cosmetic treatments we have a suitable diagnostic based solution.

Inflammatory conditions of the gums and bone that support our teeth (Periodontitis) remains the most common cause of tooth loss in adults worldwide.

The best way to treat any condition is to prevent its initiation.

Periodontitis is a disease initiated by the presence of dental plaque along the gum-line. The body responds with inflammation noted by the patient only as slight bleeding when brushing their teeth. When the inflammation is limited only to the gums and without bone loss, the condition is termed as Gingivitis. At this stage, we will initiate simple measures to restore your gums to health.

If the inflammation is untreated, a “Pocket” may form between the gums and teeth and allow plaque and calculus (tartar; i.e the mineralised biofilm) to grow beneath the gums. This process may lead to loss of gum and bone necessary to support our teeth. For many patients, the disease is chronic and leads to a progressive loss of tissue over many years. This often fools patients into believing that they lose teeth because of age! For others, the loss of tissue occurs more rapidly resulting in many teeth lost within a short time. The trouble for the majority of patients is that most gum disease is completely painless!!! The absence of pain is significant as it allows the disease to advance without the patient realising that tooth loss awaits them in future.

Signs of gum disease:

  • Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating.
  • Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
  • Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth or implant, causing the teeth to look longer than before or even sensitive.
  • Progressive loosening or migration of teeth.
  • Pus between your gums and teeth.
  • Sores in your mouth.
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Mobile teeth

The goal of periodontal treatment is to establish a healthy attachment between each tooth and its surrounding bone and gum. In milder forms, non-surgical treatments can eliminate the disease after which we focus on preventing recurrence. In moderate to severe forms, minor surgery may be required to, eliminate deeply seated plaque and calculus and in some cases, regenerate the gum and bone tissues destroyed by the disease.

Once gum disease is treated, it is critical to follow a stringent maintenance protocol to prevent disease recurrence and prevent future tooth loss. At MDS we are driven to give you a lifetime of smiles!

Cosmetic and regenerative periodontal treatments:

Healthy, symmetrical gums enhance the appearance of your teeth, like a frame around a beautiful painting. Our MDS periodontist can assist you with the following concerns

  • Gummy smiles and crown lengthening: Some clients may feel that that they show too much gum when they smile. Others may feel that their teeth are too short and do not fill their smile. Our MDS Periodontist will diagnose the source of your concerns and determine the optimal solution. These solutions may involve a surgical correction alone or in combination with restorative dentistry and/or orthodontic treatment.
  • Crown lengthening: These surgical procedures are often involved in patients with gummy smiles in a procedure termed aesthetic crown lengthening. However, the greatest benefit of this minor surgical procedure is its use in saving extensively decayed teeth. As restorative materials require tooth structure for their retention, this procedure exposes healthy parts of the tooth, which may lie below the gum line. The creation of biologic space allows us to restore your tooth and maintain gum health
  • Receding gums: If your teeth appear longer than they used to be, you may have a receding gum line. As the gum recedes, it exposes the underlying roots. As roots do not have the protective and resistant enamel layer, their exposure may cause tooth sensitivity and exposes the roots to further trauma or decay. The most common causes of gum recession is inflammatory gum disease or traumatic brushing and flossing. To find out if you are a candidate for gum rejuvenation treatments or one of our gum lift surgeries, please consult our MDS Periodontist Dr Feheem Bhamjee
  • We are a vibrant and colourful nation and we appreciate your unique smile. However, some patients may be concerned with darkened gums, or patches of darker areas of gum affecting their smiles. For many of us, the colour of our gums are determined by our inherent levels of pigmentation. Increasing pigmentation may also be a consequence of smoking, medications or even underlying systemic disease. The priority of the MDS periodontist is to determine the cause of the pigmentation following a complete medical history and clinical examination. If you are a candidate, the depigmentation procedure is a minor surgery performed in the clinic under local anaesthesia.
  • Bone and soft tissue reconstruction. The bone and gum around teeth begin to deteriorate following tooth extraction or as a consequence to gum disease, dental infections, pathology or trauma. The loss of these tissues result in an anatomic defect when compared to surrounding healthy teeth. Specialised techniques allows MDS Periodontist to reconstruct the area in preparation for a future or immediate prosthesis (false tooth, temporary bridge or implant prosthesis) with the aim replicate the lost anatomy.

A tooth requires extraction and you wish to have an implant now or in the near future?

Periodontists are specialists in minimal trauma dental extractions. These techniques aim to preserve as much of the bone and gum surrounding our teeth. In ideal conditions, implants placement can proceed immediately after tooth removal along with a temporary implant restoration. Consult our MDS periodontist about your options before removing teeth so that a treatment plan can be designed to suite your needs and save you money.

Wisdom tooth removal:

For many patients, our mouths just do not have the space to accommodate our third molar teeth. For many of us, our wisdom teeth remain locked within the bone or only a portion peeks through the gum. Either way, these teeth often lead to serious risk of pain and infection. If you would like to know your risk, or require your wisdom teeth removed “ASAP”, we can certainly assist at medical aid guided rates.

Oral medicine and pathology

Oral medicine is a speciality related to the diagnosis and management of patients with complex diseases of the oral tissues. These may range from oral cancer screening and detection to the management of complex chronic and painful disorders of the oral tissues. At MDS, every dental examination includes a screening for oral lesions, especially cancer.

If you have any concerns, or referred by your medical professional, visit our Periodontist for assessment, advice and treatment at medical aid guided rates. For some patients, a lump or bump may simply require surgical removal while for others management may involve long-term follow up due to the chronic nature of their disease.

These conditions include:

  • Medical/ Dermatologic conditions affecting the mouth
  • Disorders of the tongue, cheeks, palate, lips and gums
  • Lichen planus
  • Oral ulceration
  • Lumps and bumps in the mouth
  • Premalignant lesions
  • White patches
  • Red patches
  • Oral mucosal conditions
  • Dry mouth
  • Taste disorders
  • Orofacial granulomatosis
  • Oral manifestations of systemic disease
  • Burning mouth syndrome
  • Atypical facial pain
  • Persistent orofacial pain
  • Trigeminal neuralgia

At times, management may involve a team approach with medical and dental specialities including, radiology, psychiatry, clinical psychology, neurology, neurosurgery, dermatology, rheumatology, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), maxillo-facial surgery and gastroenterology.