Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  A non-invasive oral examination with x-rays prior to transplantation is imperative.  The patient is at increased risk of oral and systemic infections and other complications because of a compromised immune system.  The results of the examination are discussed with the patient’s physician in order to establish the proper timing of treatment, the possible need for antibiotics or other medications, and other precautions to be considered.
• X-rays
• Oral Cancer Screening

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment

Periodontics

• Periodontal Surgery
  Depending on the severity of the periodontal disease, the treatment will vary. For mild disease, scaling and root planing is recommended, along with creating new oral hygiene habits to eliminate its recurrence. It is important to follow through with the follow-up evaluation to confirm the status of your oral health. If the disease is more moderate, then scaling and root planing and improved oral hygiene habits may be accompanied by the administration of local and/or systemic antibiotics, as well as more frequent scheduled hygiene appointments to help manage the disease. If this is not sufficient, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove diseased tissue, eliminate pocket depth or regenerate lost supporting tissue. When periodontal disease is advanced, treatment options may change again. In addition to the treatment recommendations of moderate periodontal disease, more aggressive periodontal surgery and/or tooth removal may be necessary.
• Deep Cleaning
  During this deep cleaning procedure plaque biofilm, calculus, and toxins against the teeth are removed from above and below the gum tissue and rough areas on the root surfaces are smoothed. By eliminating toxins and irritants the gum tissue is able to heal and the pockets begin to shrink. At times antibiotics or medicated mouth rinses are used to destroy any remaining bacteria. The goal of treatment is to remove the irritants that are causing the inflammation of the gums.This procedure can be performed painlessly with the aid of a local anesthetic.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures

Implants

• Dental Implants
  Dr. Kurpis received his doctorate degree from Columbia University, School of Dental Medicine, in 1974. Upon graduation, he was immediately asked back to Columbia to serve as a teacher of Prosthodontics while continuing his research on dental implants on primate baboons. His research on the influence of dental implant design on osseous tissue culminated in being granted a U.S. Patent for the ‘dental implant’ in 1988.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
• Osseous Surgery
  As the periodontist is cleaning the teeth and roots during the open flap curettage procedure, he or she may find that the supporting bone tissue is diseased or irregular. The periodontist will then smooth and re-shape this irregular bone to provide an optimal, healthy environment for the gum tissue to re-attach. The gums can now heal in a more uniform way and with a reduction in pocket depth.
• Tooth Extractions
• Ridge Augmentation
  If one or more teeth are extracted, you may get an indentation in the gums and jawbone where the tooth or teeth used to be. This happens because the bone surrounding a tooth resorbs away when it is no longer holding a tooth in place. This indentation is unattractive and causes the replacement tooth to look unnatural. Ridge augmentation is a procedure that fills in this bone defect with a grafting material, re-creating the natural contour of the bone and overlying gum tissue. Ridge augmentation may also be necessary prior to placing dental implants. Dental implants are artificial roots used to replace missing teeth. Their success is dependant upon the quantity and quality of available bone, hence the need for bone grafting prior to implant placement. The artificial tooth that is then placed on top of the dental implant now looks like it is growing out of the gum as a natural tooth would. This is much more realistic looking.
• Bone Grafting
  Since periodontal disease is the leading cause of bone loss in the oral cavity, bone grafting is a useful procedure to replace lost bone tissue and to stimulate natural bone growth. Bone grafts may be needed to create a stable foundation for the placement of a dental implant, to arrest the progression of periodontal disease, or to create a more esthetic smile. Bone graft materials can come from the person receiving the graft (Autogenous bone graft), from synthetic bone made in a laboratory (Allograft), or from another animal (Xenograft). Freeze dried demineralized bone (FDDMB), which has been irradiated to completely sterilize it, can also be used as a graft material. Biologic modifiers that aid in regeneration such as bone morphogenic protein, enamel matrix protein, and platelet derived growth factor are also available. All of these grafting materials are safe and have been used with success for many years. After your gum tissue has been lifted back and the disease causing bacteria has been removed from the teeth and roots, bone grafting material is used to fill the voids in the bone surrounding the teeth. Often the bone graft is also combined with tissue-stimulating proteins which help the body to regenerate bone and tissue. Tissue regenerative membranes may also be placed over the bone graft to stabilize the graft and further stimulate bone and tissue regeneration. Removing bacteria and toxins and regenerating bone and tissue helps to reduce pocket depths and repair damage caused by periodontal disease.

General

• Cosmetic Dentistry