Gum Grafting

Gum disease can ruin your oral health and it can perpetuate the condition by changing the gum tissues. Deep pockets are formed that hold in bacteria and make gum disease hard to clear up. For this reason, at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we perform gum grafting.

Even patients with healthy teeth and gums can have recessed gums that need grafting to fix them; however, gum disease is a common reason why gums recess. It can even create those previously mentioned pockets that trap bacteria. A gum graft is needed to return the gums back to a healthy state and protective state.

The gums should fit around the teeth snugly. They should be loose enough so you can floss, but tight enough so that bacteria and other debris cannot fall down into them. To build the gum tissue back up, gum tissue will be taken from another area in the mouth and moved to the area where it is needed. Often, the tissue will be taken from the palate or another area of the gums where there is excess tissue. The tissue is then stitched down into place for healing. The tissue will also promote further growth from the gums. The end result is a gumline that is healthy, protective of the teeth, and does not allow a resurgence of gum disease.

To learn more about gum disease, recession, and gum grafting, be sure to visit our website. To schedule an appointment with Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, give us a call at (425) 271-7725 or visit our website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

The Stages of Gum Disease

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then you need to practice a proper oral hygiene routine on a daily basis, you’re already headed down the road toward gum disease. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth and there are three that you need to be aware of. You should always schedule professional cleanings and oral exams with our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center twice a year to avoid them.  

• Gingivitis – This is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. This is when you’ll notice blood in the sink after you complete your brushing routine. However, at this early stage, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.


• Periodontitis – This is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may even begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque.


• Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, and the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are officially destroyed. In this case, your teeth may begin to shift or loosen and your bite may also be affected. If aggressive treatment can’t save them, the teeth will need to be extracted.

If you experience gum inflammation, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about other services we provide at our practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center here in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

When gum disease advances, it can create deep pockets in the gums that continue the cycle of gum disease. When these pockets are too large to heal on their own, a pocket reduction procedure is necessary. At Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we perform pocket reduction surgery, sometimes called osseous surgery, so our patients can keep gum disease away.

To begin pocket reduction, your dentist will lift the gums up and away so that the deepest bacteria can be reached and removed. After the bacteria are cleared out from the gums and teeth, your dentist will replace the gum tissue so that it is tight against your teeth. This restores the proper fit of your gums around your teeth so that they do not collect bacteria.

The end result is a natural-looking gum line. It should be loose enough for normal at-home care like flossing but snug enough so that bacteria cannot reach deep down by the tooth’s root.

If you suspect you have gum disease, do not wait to seek treatment. Schedule an appointment at our Renton, WA office by calling (425) 271-7725 or by visiting our Fairwood Dental Center website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Don’t Be Tortured By Tartar

It’s no secret that we need to brush and floss our teeth on a daily basis to keep our gums healthy and our teeth clean. The reason we do this is to prevent dental plaque – a sticky film that is left behind after we eat foods that are high in carbohydrates. Plaque is bad news, because it coats your teeth, gets under your gum line, and is the leading cause of gum disease. If left untreated, these bacteria can turn into tartar, which only our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will be able to remove.

Tartar is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. It gives plaque more surface area on which to grow and a much stickier surface to adhere, which can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease. Not only can tartar threaten the health of your teeth and gums, it is also a cosmetic problem. The most common sign of tartar buildup is a yellow or brown deposit between the lower front teeth or at the gum line. Once tartar has formed, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it through a process called scaling. During a scaling, the dentist or hygienist uses special instruments to remove the deposit from your teeth above and below the gum line.

If you have tartar buildup on your teeth and are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.