Gum disease is a widespread problem, affecting nearly half of adults ages 30 and older in the U.S. Treatment can involve a range of surgical and non-surgical procedures, depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

Dr. Sanchita Mehra provides periodontic services and implant dentistry in the Pasadena dental practice of Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. Dr. Molayem and Dr. Mehra take a holistic, conservative approach in their practice, using the least aggressive methods possible with the goal ensuring the well-being of the entire patient. Our dental team is committed to providing the highest quality care in a safe and friendly environment, offering a wide range of periodontic procedures.

Bruxism (Tooth Grinding)

The alignment of the teeth may need to be corrected to treat bruxism. In severe cases, this may involve onlays or crowns to reshape the biting surfaces. A mouth guard can help prevent further damage to the teeth and may help the teeth and muscles realign.

Jawbone Corrective Treatment

The jawbone may need corrective treatment as a result of periodontal disease, birth defects, or trauma. Common jawbone treatments include:

Sinus augmentation: Before dental implants are placed, sinus augmentation may be needed to ensure that implants are firmly fixed to the bone and functional. In this procedure, the sinus floor is slightly elevated to allow new bone to form.
Ridge modification: Placing dental implants can be a challenge when birth defects, gum disease, or trauma have left an indentation in the jawbone. In a ridge modification procedure, the gum is pulled away from the bone to expose the defect, which is filled with bone graft material and sutured closed.

Regenerative Procedures

When periodontal disease has destroyed the bone supporting the teeth, regenerative procedures may be recommended to help reverse the damage. The periodontist folds back the gum, removes bacteria, and uses bone grafts, membranes, or proteins to stimulate regeneration of bone and tissue.

Pocket irrigation

The goal of pocket irrigation is to clean plaque from between the teeth and under the gumline. It is typically performed in combination with other treatments, such as dental cleaning or pocket reduction surgery.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Pocket reduction surgery is term for a group of several different procedures performed for the purpose of removing bacteria and tartar from the roots of the teeth. These procedures can help reduce the spread of bacteria, stop bone loss, facilitate cleaning, and enhance the appearance of the smile.

Soft Tissue Grafting

Soft tissue grafting is performed to treat gums that have receded due to periodontal disease, trauma, aging, or other causes. Soft tissue grafts are used to cover exposed tooth roots or to thicken gum tissue to help prevent further loss.

Oral Treatment

Periodontal disease is treated orally in antimicrobial therapy – the use of chemicals to kill or inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria. The two most common forms of antimicrobial therapy are antiseptics and antibiotics. Antiseptic rinses can help control the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Antibiotics, such as penicillin and tetracycline, are prescribed to treat difficult cases of gum disease.

Periodontal disease can have a significant impact on overall health and appearance. If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer with gum disease, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanchita Mehra at the practice of Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. in Pasadena to get started with the treatment you need.

Schedule a Consultation >>

Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

May 2020

Dear Valued Patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

All patients must wear a mask when entering the office.

Anyone accompanying you will be asked to wait in their vehicle.

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.

Upon arrival at your appointment your temperature will be taken for the safety of all staff and patients.

Prior to receiving treatment you will be asked to rinse with an antimicrobial for a minimum of 30 seconds

We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.

You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.

UV Air purifiers have been placed throughout the office.

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time, so we ask that you do your best to be on time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (626)798-7834 or visit our website at pasadenasmilecenter@yahoo.com.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely, Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. & Team

Other Periodontic Procedures