PERIODONTIST NEAR BONITA SPRINGS, FL

ALSO SERVING BONITA SPRINGS, FL

Do you struggle with periodontal disease? Perhaps you have missing teeth you want to replace. Whatever your need is, turn to Bradley Piotrowski, DDS, MSD, LLC, a periodontist serving the Bonita Springs, FL, area.

• Faster healing time and less trauma to teeth and gums.
• Less anesthetic for most procedures.
• Treating dental needs in more than one part of the mouth in one visit.
• Making dental care a more relaxing experience for you.

The Benefits of WaterLase Dentistry

More Comfortable

WaterLase dentistry uses laser energy and a gentle spray of water to perform a wide range of dental procedures without the heat, vibration and pressure associated with the dental drill. With many procedures, it’s possible to use less anesthetic, or no anesthetic at all.

MORE CONVENIENT

Your WaterLase dentist can often get you in and out of the dentist chair faster, since it’s less likely that you’ll need an injection. It’s nice to avoid that shot, isn’t it?

Not using anesthetic can allow your dentist to perform procedures that used to require more than one visit in a single appointment. Also, a WaterLase dentist can perform procedures that once meant an additional trip to a specialist, saving you even more time.

MORE PRECISE

A WaterLase dentist can remove decay far more precisely than the drill. This saves more of the healthy parts of your tooth and avoids micro-fractures that the friction of a drill can cause.

Saving your natural teeth can save you the discomfort and cost of bridges, dentures and implants. Even better, studies show people with natural teeth live longer.

What Can WaterLase Dentistry Do?

We may use WaterLase dentistry laser to treat your gums or other soft tissue in your mouth to:

IMPROVE YOUR SMILE

We may suggest contouring or shaping your gums using WaterLase dentistry to improve the appearance of your smile – safely removing excess gum tissue that may give you a “gummy” smile, or make your front teeth appear irregular in size or shape.

REMOVE ORAL GROWTHS

Quickly and safely remove growths or excess tissue in your mouth including gum tissue over an unerupted tooth, small “tags” called papilla, and growths called fibromas.

FIX A “TONGUE TIE” OR PREVENT GUM RECESSION

Connections that restrict the movement of your tongue or cause your gums to recede can be “released” with less post-operative pain.

TREAT PERIODONTAL DISEASE

We recommend using WaterLase dentistry to remove debris and bacteria between your teeth and gums that can cause bleeding gums, gum recession and even loss of teeth. For moderate to severe gum disease, ask your doctor about REPAIR minimally invasive periodontal treatment.

We may also use our WaterLase iPlus laser to perform other procedures that could benefit you.

Contact us today to find out if WaterLase Dentistry is right for you.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

A dental implant is an artificial tooth that is implanted directly into the jaw. If you have the means and are deemed a good candidate, you should strongly consider getting a dental implant.

• Permanent Replacement: A dental implant is meant to replace your existing tooth for a lifetime. Bridges and dentures, on the other hand, need to be replaced after a few years.

• Easy Maintenance: Unlike dentures, you don't remove your implants to clean them. You can brush and floss your implants as you would your natural teeth.

• Good-Looking Results: Once your dental implant is installed, it will be virtually impossible for others to tell it apart from your natural teeth. Your implant will also function just like your natural teeth.

DENTAL IMPLANT PROCESS

Before you get serious about dental implants, you should know what to expect. Between local anesthetic and Dr. Piotrowski's expertise in sedation dentistry, you'll find the process to be painless and straightforward.

• Implantation: After an initial consultation, Dr. Piotrowski will insert the screw-like implant into the gum. This implant is designed to replace the root of your missing natural tooth.

• Osseointegration: Over the next six months or so, your mouth will heal around the implant as the implant fuses to your jawbone. This ensures that the implant is securely anchored inside your mouth.

• Crown Installation: Finally, Dr. Piotrowski places the artificial crown atop the implant abutment. The crown is custom designed to ensure the best possible appearance and function.

If you've recently lost a tooth, Dr. Bradley Piotrowski, DDS can install a permanent replacement. If you're afraid of visiting the dentist, you'll be glad to know that Dr. Piotrowski is an expert in sedation dentistry. Our cosmetic-implant dentistry team has been fixing smiles throughout the Naples area for over 13 years. To find out if you're a good candidate for dental implants, call our office at (239) 719-2576 and set up a consultation.

Common Dental Emergencies

There are several situations in which you should not wait to seek dental care by an emergency dentist. If you sustain any of the following injuries, you will want to call our practice to schedule an emergency appointment, which may be held after normal hours in some cases.

• Broken or chipped teeth – Whether you crack your tooth on a piece of hard candy or you sustain a blow to the face during basketball practice, a broken tooth can cause a great deal of discomfort. With rapid care, however, you may be able to get the tooth back in one piece within the same day as the injury.

• Knocked out teeth – A tooth that is fully knocked out will not only cause pain and bleeding in the short term, but it can lead to significant bone loss and gum disease if it is left untreated for an extended period of time. Sometimes it is possible to reattach a knocked out tooth if you are able to get to the dentist right away, though you may ultimately need an implant to restore the tooth.

• Broken jaw – Any impact to the face may have the potential to dislocate your jaw or crack the bone. If you suspect that you have a broken jaw, you might head directly to the ER and see your dentist later on for follow-up care.

• Soft tissue injuries – If you injure your gums or lips and are in extreme pain or unable to stop bleeding from the injury, you should see the dentist right away.

Immediate Treatment and First Aid

With any type of oral injury, you should clean the area as much as possible and control bleeding. You may use a cold compress on the face to minimize swelling and control pain before getting to the dentist’s office.

For regular dental care and emergency dental services by and emergency dentist in Naples, call (239) 719-2576 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Piotrowski. We have nearly 15 years of experience serving southwest Florida with affordable, gentle dental care.

Causes of Discomfort in the Dentist’s Office

Older adults who have not been to the dentist lately often have false expectations about the pain and discomfort involved in common dental procedures. Historically, procedures like root canals and tooth extraction may have been painful and unpleasant, but modern technologies have made these services much easier on patients. If you are generally uneasy about dental checkups because of the close contact required to clean and examine your teeth, sedation dentistry can help you relax and remain at ease while your teeth get the care they need. You might also be more comfortable in the dentist’s office if you schedule a preliminary visit to discuss your dental health history before getting in the chair for a full exam.

Types of Sedation

There are a few different types of sedation used in the dentist’s office. Generally, Dr. Piotrowski will recommend oral or light conscious sedation, which will allow you to stay awake in a state of deep relaxation rather than falling asleep. For more involved procedures or patients with special needs, an anesthesiologist may be brought into the office to provide general anesthesia, which will put you completely to sleep.

• Oral medication – With oral sedation, you will be given a prescription for Valium or a similar relaxing sedative that should be taken prior to your appointment. You will need to have a ride to and from the dentist’s office, but you should remain cognizant and aware throughout your appointment with a sense of overall relaxation.

• Light conscious sedation – Light conscious sedation is given intravenously, but it will not put you to sleep. You do not need any preparation ahead of time, and you may be in a more dreamlike state during your sedation. This type of sedation may be most appropriate for procedures like dental implants or root canals, which each require a longer visit to the dentist’s office.



• General anesthesia – General anesthesia is typically used only for oral surgery with patients who have extreme dental anxiety or more complex cases requiring a more involved surgical approach.

Whether you are due for a checkup or you need extensive restorative care to repair your smile, call the office of Dr. Bradley Piotrowski at (239) 719-2576. We have been serving the Naples community since 2001, and we remain dedicated to the most advanced technologies and equipment to enhance patient comfort and clinical outcomes.

CAUSES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

There are many different reasons gum disease may develop, and some may not be preventable. Still, when you know you have a predisposition to periodontal disease, you can reduce your risk by scheduling a consultation with a periodontist to create a more effective preventive routine. Here's a closer look at some of the preventable and unavoidable causes of gum disease that everyone should be aware of.

• Poor oral hygiene – Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, and it is frequently caused by neglecting to floss and rinse effectively. While most adults brush their teeth properly, many skip the step of flossing, which is necessary to remove plaque and tartar that builds up in the tiny spaces between the teeth that brushing cannot reach.

• Genetics – If gum disease runs in your family, you may be more likely to develop it yourself.

• Medications – Prescription medications that have the side effect of dry mouth can increase the risk of gum disease, since saliva protects the mouth from bacteria that can eat away at the gum tissue.

• Other illnesses – Certain illnesses may lead to gum disease—especially those that cause reduced immune function such as cancer. Diabetes also makes patients more prone to infections, making gingivitis and more severe periodontitis more likely.

• Smoking – Gum disease is among the conditions on the long list of health effects caused by smoking, which may also lead to yellowing of the teeth, tooth decay, and bone loss. Therefore, quitting may be the best thing you can do for your oral health if you are a smoker.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

The first sign of gum disease is minor inflammation and bleeding gums. You may not notice early gum disease (gingivitis) on your own, but a regular checkup with the dentist can reveal the problem. At this stage, gum disease is easily treated with an improved daily oral hygiene routine and follow-up visits with the dentist. As gum disease progresses, it may cause painful chewing, chronic bad breath, receding gums, and sensitivity in the teeth. If periodontal disease is allowed to continue progressing without treatment, it may lead to severe gum recession and tooth loss, which can require extensive oral surgery to repair.

With treatment at the office of Dr. Brad Piotrowski, DDS, you can get on the path to better gum health for an overall healthier smile. Schedule a consultation to assess your periodontal health by calling (239) 719-2576. As a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, American Dental Association, and Florida Dental Association, Dr. Piotrowski provides excellent care for patients in Naples with a wide range of treatment options utilizing sedation dentistry for ultimate comfort.