Restorative & Therapeutic Treatments

Bite Adjustments

A bite is considered to be healthy when all or most of the teeth are present and not destroyed by normal daily usage.

It is destructive when teeth show wear, looseness or when TMJ (jaw joint) damage is seen. Bite therapy helps restore a bite that can function without damage and destruction. Multiple missing or damaged teeth interfere with your ability to chew properly and can lead to significant other problems such as jaw joint pain, over-stress to remaining teeth and even digestive problems. 

Bruxism Treatments

Bruxism is an oral parafunctional activity that commonly occurs in most people at some point in their lives.

The two main characteristics of this condition are grinding of the teeth or clenching of the jaw. These actions usually occur during a person’s sleeping hours, but may also occur during the day, particularly when stressed.

Bruxism is one of the most common known sleep disorders. The most common symptoms are earaches, headaches, muscle pain and tooth discomfort, but can lead to difficulty in eating or opening and closing your mouth.

Computer Guided Surgery

As dental technology continues to advance, complicated procedures like dental implant surgery have become much more precise.

With the goal of always providing patients with the best surgical care possible, Dr. Hector L. Sarmiento, is proud to offer computer guided surgery. This advanced technology is utilized during dental implant surgery for patients with more complex needs. Through the state-of-the-art system, our team is able to more accurately place implants, as well as keep patients informed throughout the process.

For any questions or concerns regarding if this treatment is right for you, please contact our office to schedule you a consultation.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a medical device commonly made from titanium and special additives to make its surface fuse to the jaw bone.

This process is called osseoinergration and occurs through a cascade of cells that approximates the bone to the implant. An implant (screw shaped) is surgically inserted in to the bone and needs an abutment which connects the implant to crown. The implant process can begin immediately after tooth extraction. In some cases, depending on the bone quality, additional healing time may be needed prior to implant placement. The surgical placement of an implant is fast, safe and requires minimal suturing. Healing of 2-6 months are needed depending on the site of the mouth prior to its restoration.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation

A full mouth rehabilitation seeks to rebuild every tooth in the mouth and requires highly educated and qualified dental specialists.

The results are amazing. Dr. Hector Sarmiento and his team can create the perfect smile according to your facial proportions. Dr. Sarmiento is very well trained and qualified in the field of cosmetic surgical dentistry.

The case shown here is a satisfied patient that was co-treated by Dr. Sarmiento and Dr. Llobell (Spain) to achieve maximum esthetics. The rehabilitation included multiple dental implants to replace the patient’s hopeless teeth and fixed prosthesis were designed to give her a beautiful natural look.

Laser Periodontics

Lasers can be used in gum surgeries, as well as to treat infections in dental implants.

Dr. Hector Sarmiento is fully trained in lasers. He lectures other dental specialist in the clinical use of lasers. In periodontics lasers are used to make procedures less invasive by minimizing patient discomfort and avoiding trauma to the gums.

Periodontal Maintenance

After Dr. Pollack, Odrich or Sarmiento has completed the active phase of periodontal treatment, he will provide you with a personalized maintenance program of care to keep your gums healthy.

Supportive periodontal therapy is an ongoing program designed to prevent recurrent disease in the gum tissues and bone supporting your teeth. Adherence to a program of conscientious oral home care and regularly scheduled maintenance therapy visits with your dentist and Drs. Pollack, Odrich or Sarmiento will give you the best chance of keeping your teeth and gums healthy and looking and functioning their best. Periodontal maintenance treatment incorporates what you’re probably used to getting during a regular dental prophylaxis treatment at your dentist, but also does more, to treat and maintain good periodontal health.

Periimplantitis

What causes periimplantitis?

The main cause of periimplantitis is bacteria. The lack of brushing or flossing of the dental implant is the main risk factor. Others include smoking, stress, previous periodontal diseases, infected neighboring teeth, suboptimal surgical or prosthetic execution, and/or improper maintenance care. Dr. Hector Sarmiento is one of the few periodontist in the nation who is treats periimplantitis. He has created methods to decontaminate the dental implant with a variety of special instruments and lasers, ultimately allowing a bone graft to be placed and save the implant. To help others minimize and thoroughly understand the disease, Dr. Sarmiento finds great pleasure in lecturing and teaching his techniques to other Specialists. The case above is one of many treated by Dr. Sarmiento that has resulted in success at a 3-year evaluation. This patient was told by his dentist he had to remove the infected implant and that he may lose more bone thereafter. This would have concluded in a non-esthetic result and could have caused an undesirable environment for future placement of a second implant. Due to Dr. Sarmiento’s minimally invasive and conservative approach which is the hallmark of his treatments, he was able to avoid any unwanted results.

Scaling and Root Planing

The initial stage of treatment for periodontal disease is usually a thorough, deep cleaning, scaling and root planing, or SRP.

The objective of these non-surgical procedures is to remove etiologic agents such as dental plaque and tartar, or calculus, which cause gingival inflammation and disease. Scaling and root planing removes bacterial deposits on the root surfaces under the gums, allowing the gums to heal.  SRP may be your only treatment for cases of gingivitis and early periodontitis, but is also included in treatment for more severe disease.

Sinus Lift

A sinus lift is surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. It’s sometimes called a sinus augmentation. The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose.

The X-rays above show a tooth that is piercing through the sinus floor (left). In order to place dental implants in this area, a sinus lift surgery is need to create space and allow the implants to fit properly. On the right X-ray, a successful sinus augmentation was performed, creating enough space for two implants.

For any questions or concerns regarding if this treatment is right for you, please contact our office to schedule you a consultation.

Soft Tissue and Bone Grafts

Receded Gums

The case above shows the initial situation of gums that have receded. The arrows indicate where the gum tissue should be. After a conservative tissue graft surgery the gums are in the appropriate area. The final picture is after 4 years.

Bone Grafts

Often due to advanced periodontal diseases, the bone and surrounding tissues disappear and need to be regenerated through bone grafting.

For any questions or concerns regarding if this treatment is right for you, please contact our office to schedule you a consultation.