After practicing dentistry for 28 years I can say that the dental  patients today are the luckiest patients in history. There are so many  options available for so many dental problems and with a very high rate  of success.
Gum disease
We have learned a lot about  the causes of gum disease and numerous treatments are available. Of  course the best way to prevent gum disease is with good home care. Once  you have gum disease it can often be treated with antibiotics placed  under the gums. New mouth rinses can be prescribed to keep bacteria in  check but if you need gum surgery we now have new surgical procedures  which preserve much of your gums instead of simply removing the bad  parts of your gums. Not all periodontists are familiar with these newer  surgical techniques so make sure you ask about it before your treatment.
Missing teeth
Since  there are so many ways to replace missing teeth today make sure your  dentist is up to date on the new dentistry. Missing teeth can be  replaced with permanent or removable replacements. Removable  replacements can be made of flexible or rigid material. Each one has  advantages and disadvantages. Also the clips that hold them in can be  made of metal or they can look like your gums. Ask your dentist to show  you examples of each. Non-removable replacements can be done with  implants or crowns. Crowns require drilling on teeth and implants are  placed in the bone. Today implants can last longer than crowns and they  do not get decayed like teeth with crowns on them.
 















