Dr. Dante Gulino Jr, DDS, MD offers a wide variety of services utilizing the latest techniques and cutting-edge technology.
Our Services
Oral Surgery
Dr. Gulino is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon who will diagnose, treat or perform surgery to resolve your injuries or issues in the head, neck, face, jaws and hard and soft oral tissues. Dr. Gulino performs tooth extractions, implants, IV anesthesia/nitrous oxide, periodontal surgeries, facial trauma, oral pathology, corrective jaw surgery, grafting both bone and soft tissue, sleep medicine, cosmetic enhancements, and TMJ management. Dr. Gulino has surgical privileges at YNHH Westerly Hospital Campus.
Grafting
Grafting involves hard or soft tissue. Hard tissue grafts involve the placement of bone in areas of bone loss. There are three types of grafting material Dr. Gulino can use. Allograft bone is from a cadaver. Autograft bone is purified human bone from your own bone such as, hip, knee or jaw bone. The advantage to using your own bone is the reduced risk of your body rejecting the graft material. Bovin or xenograph bone is non-human bone. There are other sources of bone supplied by manufacturing companies producing mineralized and non-mineralized bone. Soft tissue grafts are used to replace gum tissue for exposed roots, or for covering lengthy implants.
Periolase
PerioLase is a dental laser treatment that has revolutionized the treatment of periodontal disease. One of the major advantages to Dr. Gulino's Periolase therapy is the Fontona Lightwalker Laser. The Lightwalker is a dual wavelength laser. It is equipped with both Er yag and Nd yag wavelengths. This is the only laser on the market that provides the dual wavelength. The advantages to a dual wavelength is a faster healing process, the formation of a blood clot, and it's capability to sterilize the pocket to prevent recolonization of bacteria. With PerioLase, periodontal therapy takes less time, involves less discomfort and has a faster healing process. Along with laser surgery, Dr. Gulino also performs traditional periodontal procedures.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
PRP is the patient’s own blood that is spun down and separated producing a concentration of platelets and growth factors above normal values. Platelets are the clotting cells of our blood, but they also have great potential in enhancing the healing process of bone, muscle, tendon, soft tissue and ligaments.
Oral Pathology
Our mouth can be the first to warn a patient of significant health problems. The tissue in the mouth is usually pink and smooth. Any change in appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process or cancerous growth. During an oral cancer screening we will check for color, consistency, contour and function. This oral cancer screening should be done one time per year. When there are suspicious areas a biopsy is taken. The biopsy can be done with laser surgery, or traditional surgical procedure.
Implants
Our dental implants are made with a titanium post that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line. This is the anchor that receives the replacement tooth or teeth. An implant doesn’t come loose like a denture can. Dental implants are also a benefit to general oral health because they do not have to compromise neighboring healthy teeth when anchoring a bridge. If you are considering implants, you must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant.
Facial Cosmetics
Facial cosmetics are a variety of elective procedures. Dr. Gulino offers state of the art treatments that focus on improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, nose, eyes and forehead. These include, but are not limited to Laser, Juvederm and BOTOX. The intraoral laser therapy is used for skin rejuvenation. The laser therapy is a non-invasive and effective treatment.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
There are a few options for treatment of TMJ. Each patient is treated based on their individual needs. One option to treat TMJ involves the use of a laser. The treatment is called laser biostimulation. This is a painless procedure using the laser light to stimulate the regeneration of tissue and decrease inflammation at the TMJ. Alternative options include orthotic splint therapy, steroid injections, and arthrocentesis. Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive surgical treatment to break up the tissue adhesions at the joint.
Sleep Medicine
Both snoring and sleep apnea can cause several health issues and are potentially life-threatening. When dealing with Obstructive Sleep Airway (OSA) Dr. Gulino provides a laser treatment using the NightLase® protocol to open the airways to reduce snoring and sleep apnea. NightLase® is a non invasive treatment. The procedure is safe, with no need for anesthesia or medication. Consequently, it produces a good night’s sleep and better quality of life for the patient and their partner. Dr. Gulino can also provide an oral appliance to advance the lower jaw to open the airway.
CBCT/3D Scanner
The Vatech Pax i /3D Green CBCT Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a cutting-edge piece of technology used in our office. This machine is FDA approved for pediatrics with ultra low dose radiation. The Vatech Pax i /3D CBCT scanner produces three dimensional (3-D) images of teeth, soft tissue, nerve pathways, and bone. The radiograph provides accurate diagnostic information to evaluate bone density, contour, sinus abnormalities, TMJ and obstructed sleep airway. With the Vatech Pax i /3D CBCT scanner we have the ability to provide the highest quality of care.