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Periodontal Flap
Periodontal flap surgery is necessary when pockets
and infection still remain after root planning. After making sure
all the areas are completely numb, we gently separate the gums
from the tooth. This creates a flap and gives us access to the
infected areas. We then remove any plaque and tartar from the
root surfaces. The area is reshaped and the gum line is adjusted
to make it easier for you to keep the teeth plaque free. Any soreness
after surgery can usually be handled well by mild pain medication.
Periodontal flap surgery removes the source of
infection, reduces the size of the pockets, makes cleaning easier,
and raises you overall level of health.
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Tooth
Crown Lengthening
When a tooth is broken-down due to decay or fracture,
a crown is an excellent way to cover and protect it. In cases
like this, when the damage is more severe, there may not be enough
remaining tooth structure to adequately support a crown. Years
ago, a tooth like this would have to be extracted. But today,
by using a procedure called crown lengthening, we can increase
the amount of available tooth structure, and save the tooth.
The first step in this procedure is thoroughly
numbing the entire area. Incisions are placed and the gums are
gently pulled back. The area is then reshaped and sculpted to
the desired shape. The gums are replaced and a couple of stitches
are placed to speed healing. After a few weeks of healing, a crown
is placed to cover and protect the damaged tooth. Crown lengthening
is a minor surgical procedure that is a predictable and effective
way to save a tooth that might otherwise be lost.
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Gingival
Grafting
When everything is healthy, your gums are snug
against the teeth and the root doesn't show. Unfortunately, in
some cases we see something more like the gums have pulled away
from the tooth, and some of the root surface is exposed. This
apparent lengthening of the teeth can really age a person's smile.
If left uncorrected, the loss of protective gum tissue may also
mean even more severe problems down the road. Fortunately, a procedure
called gingival grafting can correct this problem.
The first step in placing a graft is to thoroughly
numb the involved areas. Then the graft is taken from the donor
site on the palate. In some cases, the incision heals on its own.
In other cases, it's closed with a stitch or two. At the site
of the graft, we gently separate the gums from the tooth. This
creates a flap and gives us access to the area. We then carefully
remove any plaque and tartar from the root surfaces. The graft
is strategically placed and carefully stitched in place. After
healing for a few weeks, the grafted tissue blends in beautifully.
The results: the
gums have been restored and strengthened, the root surface is
covered and protected, and the tooth now has a much more natural
and pleasing appearance.
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Bone
Grafting
Sometimes, your body needs the assistance of modern
science to repair or heal itself. This is true in your mouth when
you've lost bone from your jaw. In this situation, we can perform
a surgical procedure called bone grafting, in which we replace
missing bone with other natural bone or with artificial bone.
A bone graft not only replaces some of the bone that's missing
from your jaw, but it also stimulates your body to grow new bone
tissue. The area from which the bone was lost is frequently called
a bony defect. A bony defect may be a result of periodontal disease,
tooth removal, trauma, a cyst or long-term tooth loss.
 To
place a bone graft, we first make sure the area is completely
numb, and then we gently separate the gums from the bone or tooth.
If a tooth is present in the grafting site, we'll use a process
called root planing to remove all of the plaque or tartar from
the root surfaces of the tooth. This ensures that the area is
free from harmful bacteria. We then sculpt the surrounding bone
to the desired shape, and place the grafting material into the
bony defect. We may use bone from several sources for your graft:
your own natural bone, bone tissue from another source, or artificial
bone. After the graft is placed, your gums are then repositioned
over the graft site, and several sutures are placed. Over the
course of three to nine months, your body works to repair the
grafted site, growing new soft tissue and bone. This new bone
growth strengthens the area by connecting your existing bone with
the bone material we placed during the procedure. Sometimes, we'll
take another step, called guided tissue regeneration. In this
procedure, a special membrane is placed over the graft site to
prevent unwanted tissue from growing into the graft site, and
to enhance normal bone growth.
Bone grafting has many benefits:
- replaces lost or missing bone,
- fills in pockets of bone loss,
- and stimulates new bone and soft
tissue growth.
Though your body can't normally grow new bone on
its own, new techniques and advanced bone grafting technology
allow us to stimulate the re-growth of lost jawbone tissue, strengthen
your tooth attachment, or fill in the pockets of bone loss caused
by periodontal disease.
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Gingivectomy
Healthy gums, tight against the necks of the teeth,
are an important part of a beautiful smile. As the gums in some
people are extended onto the front surface of the teeth, the natural
balance between the length of the teeth and the height of the
gums is lost. The first step in a gum reduction or gingivectomy
procedure is making sure that all the involved areas are completely
numb. We then carefully make a small incision and remove the excess
gum tissue. After a couple weeks the area will be completely healed.
The area looks much more natural after the procedure. A gum reduction
procedure is a safe and predictable way to remove excess gum tissue
and improve the natural appearance of a person's smile.
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Extractions
