Periodontal Procedures
Periodontal Procedures
Periodontal disease - gingivitis and periodontitus - is primarily caused by a sticky, colorless bacterial plaque forming around the teeth. Plaque is removed through good oral hygiene practice - brushing, flossing and mouth rinse. Gingivitis is a silent disease, which means that because there is no pain it will go unnoticed until too late. Regular visits to the dentist will prevent gum disease.
If you are suffering from a periodontal disease you should see a dentist for treatment. Gum disease can be treated by your dentist both surgically and non-surgically.
Non-surgical periodontal procedures
Non-surgical periodontal procedures include scaling and root planning. Scaling removes the scale or calcium build up from the surface of the tooth while root planning smoothes the root surfaces to remove any remaining plaque and tartar from the periodontal pockets. Finally the tooth is polished leaving it squeaky clean and gleaming.
Your dentist or hygienist will perform the scaling and polishing for you. For many patients may not require any further work to be performed but the majority of will require some ongoing dental maintenance for good oral health. In order to repair the periodontal anatomy caused by gum disease, your dentist may suggest periodontal surgery.
Surgical periodontal procedures
Surgical periodontal procedures may be necessary if the supportive bone and tissue around the teeth cannot be repaired by non-surgical means. There are four most commonly prescribed types of surgical treatment are:
A crown lengthening procedure will improve oral function or esthetics.
If you have a tooth that is decayed or broken below the gum line, or if there is insufficient tooth structure for tooth restoration, your dentist or periodontist may recommend a crown lengthening procedure. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.
If you have a gummy smile, it isn't because your teeth are too short they are, in fact, hidden by too much gum tissue. Your dentist or periodontist will reshape any excess bone and gum tissue allowing the natural tooth to be exposed. This may be done to one or more teeth, evening the gum line and creating a naturally beautiful smile.
Soft tissue grafts will reduce the progress of bone and gum tissue loss. In many cases, the tissue has receded due to periodontal disease or even aggressive brushing exposing areas around the tooth root and increasing the chances of periodontitis.
A soft tissue graft will help develop gum tissue, reduce bone loss and protect the root from further decay. Gum tissue is taken from a donor area such as your palate and grafted to the defective area. This improves the gum line and reduces sensitivity.
Regenerative procedures are used to regenerate lost bone and tissue. In a healthy mouth, the tooth is held firmly by bone and gum tissue that fits tightly around the tooth. If too much bone is lost, the tooth will need to be extracted.
Where possible, a regenerative procedure will be recommended to regenerate some of the lost bone and tissue. The procedure is to remove any disease by folding back the gum and exposing the bacteria. With the bacteria removed, bone grafts or tissue stimulating proteins are used to encourage your body to regenerate its own bone and tissue.
Your dentist or periodontist will discuss the best options available to you.
Periodontal disease causes the supporting tissue and bone to recede. This causes small pockets to form around the tooth. These pockets are ideal places for bacteria to grow. As the bacteria grows it causes bone and tissue loss and weakens the tooth. Eventually the tooth will have to be extracted.
If the pockets become too deep to be cleaned effectively at home or with a professional routine, your dentist or periodontist will suggest a pocket reduction procedure.
During the pocket reduction procedure, the gum tissue is folded back and the offending bacteria are removed. Any irregular surfaces of gum and bone are smoothed to eliminate areas where disease causing bacteria can form. The gum tissue is secured into place to reattach to healthy bone.
Daily oral hygiene and regular dental visits will reduce the possibility for surgical periodontal procedures; will increase the chances of retaining your natural teeth and a healthy smile.
Redwood City CA 94065
Office Phone: 1 650 654 6545
Office Fax: 1 650 654 6564
Email: docrocky@msn.com
