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. 

Sinus Augmentation

Dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option; however, sometimes due to bone structure, they may not be possible. In order to make dental implants an option again, here at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, we are able to perform a sinus augmentation.

When a tooth is missing for a while, the bone in the area where the tooth used to be can begin to deteriorate. If it deteriorates far enough, it will not be able to successfully hold a dental implant. A sinus augmentation adds bone to the area between the upper jaw and the sinuses, a common place to lose bone or simply not have enough of it to begin with. The sinuses on either side of the nose are commonly too low for placing an implant for a molar or premolar. The bone is taken from another area in the jaw or from a place like the hip bone or shin bone. This added bone will also promote growth so the area will be large enough for a dental implant.

The process begins with cutting the tissue where the implant will be. The bone is exposed and a small opening is created. The membrane separating the sinus cavity from the jaw is pushed up and away. The bone graft material is then packed into the space. Afterwards, the area is stitched closed. The area will need several months to heal, but the end result is a large and strong jawbone that can hold a dental implant for life.

If you are interested in learning more about the sinus augmentation process or dental implants, contact Fairwood Dental Center of Renton, WA. We can be reached at (425) 271-7725 or through our website, www.fairwooddental.com. 

Flossing with Traditional Braces

As our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will tell you, flossing can be difficult when you have traditional metal braces, but it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. Therefore, we thought we would share some tips with you for flossing effectively.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. 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.

Brushing with Traditional Braces

If you have braces, you should be working overtime on practicing proper oral hygiene. This is because braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped, and inadequate cleaning while wearing these wires can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands. At Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, our doctors can’t stand behind you and monitor how you often you brush, but they can provide you with the following routine that will help make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Last but not least, don’t forget to floss in between brackets!

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. 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.

Dental Benefits of Xylitol

At Fairwood Dental Center, our doctors want you to know that the benefits of xylitol are numerous, but here we will explain a few. Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate, which looks and tastes just like regular table sugar and is widely found in nature as well as most of the fruits and vegetables that we eat on a daily basis. Xylitol can benefit dental patients who have dry mouth, and can also help protect teeth from demineralization in patients who are low risk or prefer not to use fluoride.

Xylitol is a natural ingredient in sugar-free chewing gums, candies, mints, diabetes-friendly foods and oral care products. It also reduces the acidity of saliva, which helps to fight acid-driven degradation of tooth enamel. Xylitol stimulates salivary flow, allowing calcium and phosphate to be deposited into the enamel to keep the enamel strong. Xylitol starves harmful bacteria in the mouth, reducing plaque buildup and tooth decay. This prevents dental cavities and inflammatory gum diseases.

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.

Common Tooth Extractions

Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a number of reasons why a patient may need a tooth extracted. A very common reason involves a tooth that is too badly damaged, from trauma or decay, to be repaired. If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will try their best to fix it with a filling, crown or other dental treatment. You’re probably most familiar with wisdom teeth extractions, but other reasons for the procedure may include:

• Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible.


• Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.


•  Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction.

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.

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.