Periodontics & TMJ Therapy in Reseda, California

Reseda Periodontist Richard Benveniste, DDS, MSD offers several treatment options to help reverse the effects of periodontal gum disease. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque that forms from bacteria on the teeth. Overtime, it hardens into calculus, or tartar, that can begin to destroy the gum tissue and eventually cause tooth loss.

Gum disease is the 2nd most common disease in the world, 3 out of 4 adults suffer from some stage of gum disease, often without realizing it.

Common symptoms are bad breath, bleeding when brushing or flossing, red swollen gums and a change in bite or the fit of dentures.

Gum and Root Scaling

Scaling is a technique which removes calculus deposits from your teeth. Root surfaces are then carefully smoothed to allow the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth itself. By removing the soft tissue lining the periodontal pocket, the gum tissue is allowed to heal.

Laser Therapy

Disfigured gums can be recontoured using advanced laser techniques. When indicated, this surgical method can remove diseased tissues with a precision unmatched by conventional techniques.

Bone Replacement Surgery

Most gum problems are a result of underlying bone loss.  This procedure actually restores lost bone to prevent tooth loss, removes draining infection, and strengthens the patients chewing ability.

Flap Access

By pulling the gum flap back, plaque and diseased tissue can be removed from the root of the tooth, thereby preserving as much of the gum coverage as possible.

Osseous Surgery

Often used in conjunction with flap surgery,  This procedure restructures the distorted bone surrounding the tooth. Supportive bone around the root is diseased and partially destroyed First, plaque and tartar are removed from the infected pocket. The bone is smoothed reducing spaces where bacteria can grow and new bone forming medications is placed to actually restore bone The gum is then closed over the reshaped bone at the original gumline providing for longer term retaining of teeth.

TMJ Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome

When the chewing muscles and the joint connected to the lower jaw don't function properly, muscle spasms, pain and tissue damage can result.  Improper bite, arthritis, injuries,  and grinding and clenching are common causes of Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ).

TMJ Therapy in Reseda, CA

If you're experiencing headaches, jaw tenderness, locked jaws, ear aches, face pain, difficulty chewing, dizziness, clicking / popping / grating sounds when opening or closing the mouth you may suffer from TMJ and be a candidate for TMJ Therapy at our dental office in Reseda.

Bite Correction and Stress Release

Habitual grinding and clenching the teeth while sleeping can not only cause irreversible damage, but is one of the most common causes of TMJ.  Made from a mold of your teeth, a corrective bite plate or splint can be worn at night to reduce stress on the teeth and jaw. By relieving stress on the teeth and offering a protective barrier, it helps prevent the grinding and clenching that can lead to muscle spasms, and ultimately to jaw joint deterioration.  Dr. Benveniste may also recommend smoothing down misaligned teeth that are too high to prevent abnormal stress on the chewing muscles.  This is typically painless and requires only one appointment.

Pain Relief

To relieve pain and muscle spasms, Dr. Benveniste may recommend ultrasound, moist heat packs, muscle massage and switching to a soft, non-chewy diet. Occasionally muscle relaxant and pain medication are prescribed.

Surgical Corrections

When other methods of relief have proved insufficient, the joint itself is injured or arthritic or when muscle spasms have occurred for long periods of time, surgery may be recommended, but only on very rare occasions.

Relaxation Therapy

Biofeedback and stress control techniques may be utilized to reduce muscle  tension in the jaws.

If you're experiencing any symptoms of Gum Disease, or TMJ, call (818) 881-7337 for more information or to schedule an appointment.