If your San Diego dentist has referred you to Southern California Periodontics & Implantology, you might be wondering, “Why do I need to see a periodontist? What can they do for me that my dentist can’t?” There are many reasons why patients may be referred to see Dr. Beck-Mayo, but the simple answer is because as a Board Certified Periodontist, Dr. Beck-Mayo is highly specialized in surgical and non-surgical therapies to restore health to the gum and bone surrounding your teeth. She has spent 3 additional years studying full time, learning the intricate biology of the bone, ligaments, and gum supporting the teeth. Completing a 3 year residency program in advanced periodontics, as well as a master’s degree in biomedical science, Dr. Beck-Mayo is well-versed in all the different conditions, infections, and diseases that can compromise your oral health.
Periodontists are the specialists in diagnosing and treating gum disease (technically called periodontitis), which is an oral health condition that can damage both the gums and bone surrounding your teeth, ultimately leading to tooth loss. Periodontists are highly trained surgeons who are also experts in oral surgical procedures including tooth extractions, bone grafting, dental implant placement, as well as various cosmetic oral surgical procedures. Here’s a list of just some of the conditions that Dr. Beck-Mayo specializes in treating.
- Periodontitis
Most San Diego residents have heard of gingivitis before, if not from their dentist or dental hygienist, then perhaps from toothpaste or toothbrush commercials. What many don’t realize though, is that when left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, a serious oral health condition that can lead to chronic inflammation of the gum and bone around the teeth, often resulting in tooth loss. This is why periodontists like Dr. Beck-Mayo complete specialty training programs; to help general dentists in the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of these conditions to help prevent tooth loss.
Not only is Dr. Beck-Mayo the specialist to diagnose periodontitis, but she is also a specialist in all the most current technology and procedures to treat it. During new patient consultations, Dr. Beck-Mayo performs a through examination, and discusses your unique condition and all your treatment options. If you are found to have periodontitis, treatment may include a special deep cleaning called scaling and root planing (which removes the harmful bacteria from underneath your gums and from the roots of your teeth), or a minor surgical procedure like regeneration with bone grafting or stem cell-stimulating proteins called growth factors.
- Replacement of Missing Teeth with Dental Implants
There are many reasons why people lose teeth or require tooth extractions In the past, the only way to replace missing teeth was either with dentures or bridges, but recent improvements in technology allow us to use dental implants to replace wither just one or several teeth. Dental implants replace the root of a tooth and attaches to the bone beneath the gum tissue, stimulating bone growth and prevents bone resorption. Attached to the implants are crowns, like you might have on a natural tooth. Or if multiple teeth are missing, sometimes just 4-6 implants can be used to replace a whole arch! While many dentists claim to be trained to place dental implants, only a board certified surgeon like Dr. Beck-Mayo has completed the rigorous surgical training to ensure a successful future with your new implants.
- Cosmetic Gum Surgery
Some San Diego residents are dissatisfied with the “gummy” appearance of their smile, or lack of sufficient gum causing the exposure of too much tooth when they laugh or smile. A minor surgical procedure called Esthetic Crown Lengthening is when excess gum tissue is removed, exposing the full natural teeth underneath. As a patient who has had this procedure done herself and has personally experienced how easy and painless the recovery is, Dr. Beck-Mayo couldn’t be more excited to talk to her patients about their gummy smile correction. Correction of too much tooth exposure is a little more complicated and there are numerous treatment options. If you are concerned about gum recession or your toothy smile, Dr. Beck-Mayo would be happy to discuss your concerns and various treatment options.
Call Us Today to Schedule an Appointment
Whether your general dentist has referred you to us, or you have a condition you think Dr. Beck-Mayo can help you with, we would love to meet you and discuss your concerns. Contact our office in San Diego today to schedule an initial appointment at (858) 635-6700.
