Dr. Gebhard has been a specialist in periodontics living and working in Sherman for over thirty years. His office has always tried to provide the latest, most predictable, cost effective treatments for gum disease. Dr. Gebhard is happy to work with your general dentist in maintaining your oral health. Working together with Dr. Gebhard and his staff you can maintain a healthy smile.

Periodontal means around the tooth. Periodontal disease destroys the gum and bone that surround and support your teeth. Technically, the disease is called periodontitis. It is an infection caused by the bacteria that grow on the surface of your teeth. The bacteria form a gooey biofilm on your teeth that's called plaque or bacterial plaque. Plaque absorbs minerals from your saliva and hardens into tartar what dentists call calculus. When plaque and calculus aren't removed in a timely manner they begin a process that destroys the gums and bone around the teeth, forming 'pockets'. Eventually teeth that lose too much of their support loosen, and are lost. Periodontitis becomes an important cause of tooth loss in people as they age.

Periodontal disease is usually a complex ongoing problem. Obviously, like any infection, you have to be exposed to the agents that cause the disease. However, other factors enter into the progress of the disease. They include the following:

Treatment for periodontal disease varies from person to person and often from one tooth to another. In the beginning stages it can often be treated with simple minimal techniques. Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease characterized by sensitive bleeding gums. This is usually easy to reverse. As the disease progresses more advanced treatment is needed. Dr. Gebhard offers the following treatment options.

1. Scaling and root planning. For more minimal disease removing the accumulated deposits of plaque and calculus from the roots of your teeth will resolve most of the problems. This non-surgical procedure has been part of treating periodontal disease for over a hundred years. It can be supplemented with local or systemic antibiotics for even better results.

3. Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure. This is a non-surgical procedure that combines a laser to remove bacteria ridden diseased tissue from the pockets around your teeth. In addition scaling and root planning is done followed by selective alteration of the chewing surfaces of your teeth to reduce tooth mobility.

4. Root coverage procedures. These tend to be called gum grafts or gingival grafts and are used to cover the exposed roots of teeth. The procedures became common in the 1980's and has evolved to produce better results with less patient discomfort. Tissue for these grafts can come from your palate or an a cellular dermal matrix material can be used. Root exposure has a number of causes including periodontitis, excessive tooth brushing and even trauma from grinding and clenching your teeth. Covering the exposed root usually looks better, allows for easier cleaning, and stops further gum recession.

5. Crown Lengthening procedure. This procedure is a variation on a surgical method for treating periodontal disease. Essentially it allows enough tooth to be exposed to place a crown on a tooth. Patients are usually referred for this surgical treatment by the dentist restoring the tooth. Teeth requiring this procedure are often badly decayed or partially fractured.

6. Cosmetic Crown Lengthening (Gum contouring). Usually this is done to correct a gummy smile. These procedures were developed to make short looking teeth look longer. Usually they involve the front teeth and are done to expose the full natural crown of the upper front teeth. They make the upper front teeth look longer and less blocky.

7. Implants came into their own in the 1980s and 1990s. Clinical trials, experience and knowledge have changed implants from shiny titanium cylinders at their inception to smaller carefully designed fixtures with carefully designed surfaces to enhance their integration with bone they can serve as an alternative to bridges and partial dentures. They can even support full dentures. Dr. Gebhard offers the Bicon short implant in his practice.