Seattle Periodontics and Implant Dentistry

We are here to help you address your dental concern. It is important that we gather enough information to fully understand the nature of the issue so that we provide the least invasive and most predictable long term solution for you.

The comprehensive clinical examination is the first part of this process. The doctor will carefully collect 5 different measurements from around each tooth. These measurements reflect the amount of bone and attachment loss that the tooth has experienced and together with radiographs allow us assign an individual prognosis assessment to each tooth. The 5 measurements include probing (pocket) depths, mobility, furcation involvement (reflects bone loss in between the roots of multi-rooted teeth), and recession and remaining keratinized (thicker quality) gum tissue.

The radiographs needed may be 2D (standard X-rays) or 3D (CBCT) depending on the nature of the problem. Typically, we need a full mouth series of radiographs to be able to comment adequately on the periodontal health of your dentition. If you have come to visit us to have a tooth extracted and or replaced with a dental implant, we will need a 3D radiograph. This radiograph allows us to visualize the boney architecture and surrounding anatomical features such as nerves, large blood vessel and also pathology, and provide us with the information we need to outline a sequence of treatment that best meets your particular needs.

Intraoral Digital Scanning allows us capture a digital impression of your bite. This can be manipulated to view your teeth from different angles. The information allows us anticipate the challenges that we will meet in order to proceed with your treatment plan. Merging the digital impression with the 3D CBCT image in specialized software allows us print a customized surgical guide for your mouth for the precise placement of your dental implant.

Photographs are an invaluable tool in our diagnostic process. We can capture images with you full smile, your lips at rest and from different angles. This is particularly helpful with highly aesthetic cases where discrepancies of a millimeter are unacceptable.

High Quality Dentistry I never realized that my gum recession could actually be fixed! This was a happy discovery and I am so glad I did this procedure especially now that it is done! Dr. O'Beirne and her team are excellent and completely trustworthy. I felt very secure in their care and I am really happy with the results. I would highly recommend them for any procedure because they do the best work and put your mind at ease. – Elise R.