We are a periodontal practice, specializing in the treatment of everything to do with your gums and the bone surrounding your teeth. Our doctors, Dr. Gary Perlman and Dr. Raul Molina, are highly qualified experts in dental implant services and gum disease treatment, as well as cosmetic gum procedures that beautify your smile.
We have been practicing in the Jacksonville area since 1989, and have been in our modern and beautiful location since 1995. We incorporate state-of-the-art, minimally invasive technological advances in periodontics to provide our patients the most efficient treatment with the best possible results.
We pride ourselves on the personal care and consideration we show each of our patients. Our staff is comprised of highly trained and experienced professionals who are here to make your dental procedure as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Our doctors are highly trained and skilled periodontists. They use the latest breakthroughs and techniques to prevent, diagnose and treat gum disease, place dental implants and perform bone and soft tissue grafting procedures.
With the help of laser technology, ultrasonic cleaning tools, and digital imaging capabilities, our doctors are able to use advanced diagnostic tools and minimally invasive procedures to treat patients in an effective and efficient manner.
Drs. Perlman and Molina use a dental laser to eliminate gum disease quickly and effectively, our hygienists use ultrasonic scalers for thorough yet gentle cleanings, and a state-of-the-art imaging system provides our doctors with 3D images of your entire jawbone to precisely plan your dental implant treatment.
We have your total comfort and well-being in mind at all times. Our doctors have a reassuring chairside manner and a genuine concern that their patients feel at ease. Our friendly staff are always there for youbefore, during and after your treatment.
We do everything possible to make your treatments as comfortable and pain-free as possible. For local anesthesia, we use a computer-regulated injection system that keeps you comfortable during your treatment. We also offer oral sedation and nitrous oxide if you need stress alleviation during the procedure.
We offer the innovative LANAP laser gum disease procedure to treat gum disease, and are also one of the first periodontal practices to perform the revolutionary Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique as a minimally invasive treatment procedure for receding gums.
Drs. Perlman and Molina use the LANAP dental laser to treat gum disease by targeting bacteria and diseased tissue without harming surrounding healthy tissue. Because there is no cutting or sutures involved, your gum treatment is more efficient and more comfortable, with less post-treatment discomfort.
Dr. Perlman is one of the pioneering practitioners in the innovative Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for the treatment of receding gums. The pinhole technique uses specialized tools and techniques to repair a receding gumline, without the need of painful incisions or sutures. The entire mouth can even be treated in just one visit.
Dental implants are the most stable and longest lasting option for replacing missing teeth, and they are the closest you can get to recreating healthy, natural teeth. Our doctors precisely plan the placement of your dental implants, using our CT scanner to produce detailed 3D images of your teeth, gums and jawbone. These images allow the doctors to plan your implant procedure without the need for exploratory cutting of the gums.
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the surrounding structures of the teeth. The inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection that results from the accumulation of dental plaquea sticky, colorless biofilm of bacteria and sugarsaround the tooth.
Gum disease can range from simple gum inflammation (gingivitis) to a more serious condition (periodontitis) that can result in damage to the gums, tissue and bones that support the teeth. If the disease is allowed to progress, the teeth become loose and are often lost.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, gum disease affects 85% of Americans age 18 and older. It is a particularly insidious disease because it often shows little or no symptoms in the early stage of the disease. Since the disease can progress without pain or discomfort until it becomes severe, it often goes untreated until it is too late. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.
As periodontists, Drs. Perlman and Molina are highly skilled specialists in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease. Using the latest in dental technology, they can restore your oral health by removing the disease-causing bacteria. Their main objective is to save your teeth, heal your gums and maintain your dental health.
The mouth is home to entire colonies of bacteria. Most of these bacterial species are harmless while others help to protect the teeth and gums or play an important part in the digestive process. Trouble starts when certain bacterial strains accumulate on the teeth in the sticky, colorless biofilm known as plaque.
The bacterial plaque emits toxins that irritate and eat away at the gums and tooth enamel. The gums become inflamed. This is the beginning stage of gum disease. If this accumulation is not removed, the disease progresses in severity as the plaque accumulates further. This causes the gum to begin to detach from the tooth and form a pocket.
The plaque in the pocket hardens into a crust called tartar or calculus. The tartar serves as a trap for further plaque accumulation. If left untreated, the pocket will continue to deepen, the inflammation will worsen, the gum will detach from the teeth and the supporting bone will be lost.
Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums and is the earliest stage of periodontal disease. Plaque buildup is the main culprit as it produces toxins that irritate the gums, causing redness, swelling and bleeding.
If gingivitis is left untreated, the infection will advance to periodontitis, which is an infection of the gums and surrounding tissue and bone. With time, plaque will spread and grow below the gum line.
As the disease progresses, bacteria accumulates and hardens intocalculus(also known astartar). This irritates the gums further and accelerates the infection, gum detachment and bone loss. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.
Periodontitis has set in when the point of attachment below the visible gumline is greater than 3mm and the ligaments and bone have started to erode. Periodontitis progresses in three stages: mild, moderate and severe.
In the most advanced form of gum disease there is extensive bone loss and tissue damage. Teeth often become loose and may have to be removed. Pocket depth is 7 mm or above. The depth of a tooth root is only 10-12 mm, so at this level the tooth is in severe danger.
Its important to note that gum disease can progress without pain or discomfort. If you have any of the following symptoms, please get in touch with our office. We will help you determine the state of your teeth and gums.