Dr. Raymond Zhang and Associates

It is possible that in spite of your best efforts you may require more aggressive gum therapy. Like many other ailments gum disease can be quite painless due to its slow progression.

After a thorough periodontal screening and examination we may choose more aggressive therapies aimed at eliminating or reducing the amounts of bacterial poisons and plaque accumulating below the gum line, (generally cleaning and polishing of teeth is above the gum-line). This involves curettage and root-planning and/or treatment with site specific administration of medications to the affected gums. Curettage is the debridement of the soft tissue lining around the tooth. In disease this tissue is chronically irritated by bacteria deep below the visible gum-line and needs to be removed so that proper healing can occur. Root-Planning is the removal and smoothing of micro-amounts of root surface so that a clean and un-infected surface is presented to the healing lining of soft tissue.

These two procedures are generally done simultaneously, may require local anesthesia and are skillfully done by our well trained hygienists under Dr. Raymond Zhang & Associates prescription.

Gum disease does not happen over night and treatment generally is spread out over time as the effectiveness of a procedure needs to be assessed before the next takes place. Generally your condition is re-assessed in time and joint decisions are made about your next step. The services of a specialist (Periodontist) may be required should surgical intervention be required. Often surgery allows for complete healing of the gum and bone, reduced mobility of teeth and a greatly improved prognosis.

Dr. Raymond Zhang & Associates hygiene team will work with you to assure that you have access to the care that best suits your needs. They will also help you hone your home-care skills so that you can maintain the optimum level of health that you want.

Orthodontics and Functional Orthopedics

Though both are considered Orthodontics, Orthopedics is usually initiated earlier in an effort to assure more favorable facial growth and jaw structure. It is known that only 18-20% of malocclusion in children is genetic. This implies that the remaining 80% of poor bites arise due to environmental factors i.e., poor tongue position, mouth breathing, allergies, or enlarged tonsils and adenoids.  As these influences act upon the developing lower face almost from birth it is important to try to and counteract these negative influences early and allow for more normal development. Well timed functional therapy can have an astounding influence on your childs development often discouraging mouth breathing, poor sleep habits and a slow physical growth pattern. Functional orthopedics is usually therapy of short duration, may involve removable appliances and often makes more extensive therapy (braces) unnecessary.

Functional Orthopedics are a great way to help younger patients avoid many of the conditions that have plagued their parents, such as, poor sleep habits, T.M.J. pain, sleep apnea, small lower jaws ( weak chin profile ), and proud upper teeth (buck teeth) that my lead to poor self-image.
Orthodontics, more classically involves the use of braces that are bonded to the teeth. These braces allow us to control the teeth more accurately so that we can fine tune their relationship to one another and create that beautiful smile.

Many suffer from Tempromandibular Joint pain or Tempromandibular Dysfunction. Symptoms include:

1. Pain on opening.
2. Inability to open wide or move from side to side comfortably
3. Neck and shoulder pain.
4. Ear pain, hearing loss.
5. Ringing in the ears.
6. Clenching, night grinding
7. Chronic fatigue
8. Noise, grating or popping in joint
9. Chronic Temporal or occipital headache
10. Chronic Temporal or occipital headache

Treatment of these problems can be complicated.  The cause can often be multi-factorial.  Successful treatment may involve other professionals; Physiotherapy, Chiropractors, Massage Therapy, Cranio-mandibular specialists, and Physicians.
Meaningful treatment begins with proper diagnosis. We will do a thorough evaluation of your problem to determine the best way that we can help and the appropriate therapy.