PERIODONTAL TREATMENT
Osseous Surgery
Reducing pocket depth and eliminating existing bacteria are important to prevent damage caused by the progression of periodontal disease and to help maintain a healthy smile. Eliminating bacteria alone may not be sufficient to prevent disease recurrence. Deeper pockets are more difficult to clean, thus making it important to reduce them. Reduced pockets and a combination of daily oral hygiene and professional maintenance care increase the chances of keeping natural teeth – and decrease the chance of serious health problems associated with periodontal disease. During this procedure, your surgeon folds back the gingival tissue and removes the disease-causing bacteria before securing the tissue into place. In some cases, irregular surfaces of the damaged bone are smoothed to limit areas where disease-causing bacteria can hide. This allows the gingival tissue to better reattach to healthy bone.
Regenerative Procedures
Your periodontist may recommend a regenerative procedure when the bone supporting the teeth has been destroyed due to periodontal disease. These procedures can reverse some of the damage by regenerating lost bone and tissue. During this procedure, your surgeon folds back the gingival tissue and removes the disease-causing bacteria. Membranes, bone grafts or tissue-stimulating proteins can be used to encourage the body's natural ability to regenerate bone and tissue.
Crown Lengthening Surgery
The general dentist or periodontist may recommend dental crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. Perhaps your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored. This procedure may also be recommended to improve a “gummy smile” by exposing more of the natural teeth hidden below the gingival tissues.
Gingival Grafting Surgery
Exposed tooth roots are the result of gum recession. Gingival grafting surgery will repair the defect and help to prevent additional recession and bone loss. Grafts can be used to cover roots or develop soft tissue where absent due to excessive gingival recession. During the surgery, your periodontist takes tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even your gum line and reduce sensitivity. This may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve esthetics of your smile.
Other Services:
- Frenectomy
- Alveoloplasty (Pre-Prosthetic)
- Biopsy/Lesion Evaluation
- Orthodontic Exposure and Bonding
- Non-Surgical Treatment